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Quote: Originally posted by ttdave on 21/8/2014

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Good evening all,

We are looking to go from a trailer tent to a caravan and we have become thoroughly confused with all the terminology used while trying to work out if we can tow the van we like legally.

I wonder if you knowledgable people would mind looking at my vehicle weights etc and advise if i would be legal to tow the caravan or not on a post 97 driving license?

Car: ford mondeo estate 2.2 tdci titanium x sport;
Figures from V5C
mass in service = 1615kg
max permissible mass excluding m/c = 2320kg

Caravan: swift challenger 530 se 4 berth 2002;
Miro = 1167kg
Max allowable weight = 1404 kg

which of the 2 weights are added together that i need to be under 3500kg so i can legally tow.

Kind regards

David

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Quote: Originally posted by ttdave on 22/8/2014

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what is the law based on?

What you actually weigh
or
what the plates say you could weigh

we already have a detachable tow bar fitted to the Mondeo.

Post last edited on 22/08/2014 12:06:19

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Quote: Originally posted by TrigGLX on 22/8/2014

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Hi look at some of the adria range we have a Adria Altea 542 Uk with MTPLM of 1300 Kgg. We have come across the same problem you think great 2.2 ltr engine will put anything, not so. Like alreadt mentioned take the kerbweight and find 85% of this which happens to be c.a. 1372 Kgs, this is what as a guideline is safe to tow, you can go higher and people do if more experienced

Otherwise get the van you want but don't put as much in it. We had a 2.0 ltr Ford Focus II estate (2006) and pulled the van with this. the KB was 1429 Kgs, which meant we could only tow at c.a. 1214 Kgs and not the 1300 Kgs.

hope this helps. And do your test as mentioned above.

rgds
Chris

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Quote: Originally posted by Paul B on 21/8/2014Woooo not so fast...now I've not worried too much about the regulations on this as I have a pre-97 license, but my understanding is that the law is in relation to maximum gross weights, regardless of whether the tow car or trailer are at their weight limit.

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In this case (my understanding is) that you should be adding the 2320kg car and 1404kg van together = total 3724kg and therefore overweight if you don't have B+E category on your license (which you won't have if your post '97 without taking additional test).

Sure someone with more knowledge on this will come along soon, but didn't want you rushing out tomorrow to spend money on a van if you couldn't legally tow it!

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