Message Forums

Quote: Originally posted by Jimmy1980 on 10/8/2015

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Ha ha the converted van would be within weight but I like the ability to detach my tow car and leave the van!!!

I probably would take my B+E but my wife really doesn't want to, and we both want to be able to tow.

I'd be interested to know whether anybody out there has a nicely matched tow car with 4 berth van within the 3500kg limit? It just seems to me that it probably makes people less safe as you really need to opt for a lower weight tow car and ensure the van is within the towing ability of that tow car. My ideal tow car would be a Vauxhall Antara, or a Ford Kuga but sadly these would limit my choice of van too much, yet their weights are excellent for towing.

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Quote: Originally posted by iscacamper on 11/8/2015

Quote: Originally posted by Baileyjake on 11/8/2015It's crazy isn't it. The 3500kg limit is set for goods vehicles and clearly not caravans. To my mind it's encouraging less than perfect outfit matching. Which is the opposite of which it aims to achieve. However. It certainly doesn't exclude anyone from owning a caravan. Just heavy cars and heavy caravans.

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Agreed. I also have the Ranger 550/6 (1280kg) so I am restricted by my B licence to towing with a vehicle under 2220kg gross weight, even though a heavier towcar would be safer. Crazy, really.

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Quote: Originally posted by GCMS2012 on 11/8/2015

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Quote: Originally posted by Jimmy1980 on 10/8/2015Ha ha the converted van would be within weight but I like the ability to detach my tow car and leave the van!!!

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I probably would take my B+E but my wife really doesn't want to, and we both want to be able to tow.

I'd be interested to know whether anybody out there has a nicely matched tow car with 4 berth van within the 3500kg limit? It just seems to me that it probably makes people less safe as you really need to opt for a lower weight tow car and ensure the van is within the towing ability of that tow car. My ideal tow car would be a Vauxhall Antara, or a Ford Kuga but sadly these would limit my choice of van too much, yet their weights are excellent for towing.

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I'm bang on 3500kgs if I wanted to be with out outfit....

LWB Shogun (2200kgs) and the caravan plated to 1300kgs max.

We've not been at the total weight as we don't take loads of 'extra' stuff...

I'm lucky though, I passed my test in '95 so I'm able to a higher weight, hence buying the Shogun. It's giving me peace of mind when we change our van to nearly anything and not worry about matching weights etc.

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Quote: Originally posted by Baileyjake on 12/8/2015

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Quote: Originally posted by iscacamper on 11/8/2015

Quote: Originally posted by Baileyjake on 11/8/2015It's crazy isn't it. The 3500kg limit is set for goods vehicles and clearly not caravans. To my mind it's encouraging less than perfect outfit matching. Which is the opposite of which it aims to achieve. However. It certainly doesn't exclude anyone from owning a caravan. Just heavy cars and heavy caravans.

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Agreed. I also have the Ranger 550/6 (1280kg) so I am restricted by my B licence to towing with a vehicle under 2220kg gross weight, even though a heavier towcar would be safer. Crazy, really.

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Hi Iscacamper as a fellow 550/6 owner, how do you find it tows? what do you tow with?

i have a mitsubishi outlander which weighs in at 1700kg kerb weight empty so 75% ratio (accrding to whattowcar, 70% with driver and fuel)but. I always carry the awining in the car and indeed load the car up as much as i can with food, drinks, cadac, bikes etc... However i never feel the outfit is stable. on single track roads never a problem but on motorways it can feel a bit twitchy whether its cross winds or ruts in the road. i also have an Alko stabilizer hitch. i have only been carvanning for 2 years so it may well be that all long caravans are like that.

i also struggled to get the nose weight down. i find i have to load a lot of items under the rear bunk to get the weight down to 60kg.

i have a digital gauge now as i suspected the spring balance type i had was overreading.on my next trip in a couple of weeks i will try to put a bit more weight on the nose.

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Quote: Originally posted by cuz62 on 13/8/2015jeep patriot 2007 * 2010

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Weight and Capacities
Minimum Kerbweight     1685
Gross Vehicle Weight     2010
Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres)     51.1
Max. Towing Weight - Braked     1500
Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked     450
Max. Loading Weight     325
Luggage Capacity (Seats Up)     536
No. of Seats     5
Luggage Capacity (Seats Down)     1357
Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb     10.8
pulls like a train £225 a year to tax the 2.2 version is even cheaper and more powerful

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