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Subject Topic: Towing over 85%
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Personmickyab
28/4/2015 at 10:50am
 Location: Cambridge
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Hi, I have just purchased a car. I went for a 2 litre diesel Skoda Octavia with a manual gearbox as several reviews rate it as a good tow car, and I bought a Swift Challenger SE 480 caravan as it is a light 2 birth caravan.

NOW FOR MY BIG MISTAKE.

I clearly didn't do my research. Only after paying for both did I think to check on Caravan Clubs tow matching site!!!! This tells me that I have a 97% match.

I have been towing for years so have experience and I know that I can put heavier items in the car.

My question is, am I doomed to failure is 97% to high.
I would welcome your views. Thank you


Personbessie500
28/4/2015 at 11:27am
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Hi micky i'd start with weighing you car, the brochure may state x but in reality it may well be y.
The brochure weight for my mondeo is 1550kgs the true weight is actually 1705 including the 70kg allowance for the drive and 5 kg for load ??.
dont forget the higher the spec the heaveier the car

bessie


PersonOctavia4x4
28/4/2015 at 12:29pm
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The Caravan Club matching service lists mine as being lighter than it is, it does not include the 90% tank of fuel and driver 75kg, check your V5C document for mass in service and work it out from there. The 85% is only a guideline.

My mass in service is 1,495kg.



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Skoda Octavia Estate 2.0TDi 4x4 (2012) towing a Compass Omega 482 (2014)


Personbilly
28/4/2015 at 2:24pm
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You can look at 85% how you like. Start with the 'guide' of fully laden caravan should weigh no more than 85% of car kerbweight. You don't really want to load caravan to full weight anyway & car including passengers & luggage will weigh somewhat more than kerbweight so your 'ratio' may still only be about 85% anyway.

The figure is just a sensible guide that tells those that do not know that caravan should weigh a bit less than towcar, provided it does then you should be ok. If you stick with mtplm of caravan at 85% of kerbweight then after loading it might be only around 75%.


Persondiesel steve
28/4/2015 at 6:15pm
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how old and what model of octavia did you get.my partner has a new 2.0,150 bhp elegance estate which weighs in at only 1420 kgs, my previous scout was 1725 kgs on weight bridge full tank no driver.


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Personmillermicm
28/4/2015 at 10:10pm
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An experienced tower should be ok with this. It's probably not 97% loaded anyway.

Not recommended for a novice though.

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Steve


PersonROG.
29/4/2015 at 6:55am
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The CC tow match uses a fully laden caravan with an empty car

Will that be the reality in your case ?

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EX Advanced driving observer (IAM)
EX LGV & B+E instructor


PersonColin21
29/4/2015 at 8:48pm
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Many years ago I used to do a lot of towing with a Mk2 Cortina. I used to tow a caravan, and I used to tow a large flat-bed trailer, which could carry a 2 ton load. The empty trailer weighed as much as the Cortina, and I often carried cars weighing more than the Cortina on it. So, I think that was a bit more than 85%. I had no problems, but then I had considerable experience. I would never recommend anyone with less experience than mine to attempt that. I doubt whether it would be legal today anyway.

I only mention this because it shows that towing well over the 85% is perfectly possible, but whether it is advisable is another matter.

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Best Regards,
Colin


VangoMan02
29/4/2015 at 10:59pm
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Jeremy Clarkson pulled a Boeing 747 with a VW Touareg so pulling a heavy weight is the easy bit.
Stopping it, controlling it and doing a steep hillstart is another matter.

If you are confident that your towcar could manage the above, then its safe to tow.

Apart from towing a 747

Post last edited on 29/04/2015 23:31:38

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It is a wise man who has something to say.
It is a fool who has to say something.


PersonColin21
30/4/2015 at 7:53am
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I would add stopping when going down a steep hill to that, VangoMan02. Otherwise I quite agree.

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Best Regards,
Colin


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Personlisterdiesel
30/4/2015 at 10:12am
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It's a moot point whether you can safely tow at these weights, and it does depend a lot on the towing vehicle, its engine power and braking.

Most of the Land Rovers have 3500kg towing weights even though they are a fair bit less themselves. A Discovery 2 is about 2200kg with max towing weight of 3500kg, so getting on for 160% weight. They also have a nosewight limit of 250kg, far higher than most cars.

These are not really 'everyday' cars, but do illustrate the point that a recommended weight ratio is just that and not set in stone.

I'd be happy with the OP's choice, but with the usual addendums about weight distribution in the caravan and car.

Peter


Post last edited on 30/04/2015 10:19:48


PersonSkoda Bob
30/4/2015 at 12:00pm
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Don't forget the stated max tow weight anything under will be fine

http://www.towcar.info/gebruikservaring.php?merk=Skoda&serie=Octavia


Personmickyab
30/4/2015 at 5:46pm
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Thank you for all your replies. I believe that I have the experience as I have been towing caravans for a while, but never at 97%.

I don't pick the caravan up until the 9th May. I will be planning a couple of short trips to get used to it.

Again, thank you all for you replies.


Personnaturlist123
30/4/2015 at 5:56pm
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My daily use vehicle manual says I can tow 1700kgs braked which works out by CC percentage as 120% way over the recommended 85%.
Car cannot drive without a driver or fuel plus oil, brake fluid radwater unless air cooled.
so fill your tank sit your self in it on weigh bridge this is your working kerb weight.
find if this is 15% over your MTPLM of van and go from there 90% should not cause you a problem if not happy reduce caravan weight by buying your food and booze when you reach site use only one gas bottle throw out any unnecessary items like four sets of cutlery in a two berth and all those extra cups glasses etc.
If I invite anybody over for a drink I tell them to bring their own glass.


PersonHairywol
30/4/2015 at 11:09pm
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The braked towing weight of a car is a measure of how tough the car's engine, gearbox and drivetrain are. It's not a recommendation by the manufacturer that the car should actually tow a trailer that's perhaps 1.5 times the car's weight.

The figure is what weight of trailer a car can tow from a standing start on a 1:12 incline without damage to itself.

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Camping Gear expands so as to fill the space available for its transportation.


PersonHairywol
30/4/2015 at 11:10pm
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Quote: Originally posted by naturlist123 on 30/4/2015
... and all those extra cups glasses etc.
If I invite anybody over for a drink I tell them to bring their own glass.


And their own drink



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Camping Gear expands so as to fill the space available for its transportation.



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