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Quote: Originally posted by erik on 17/8/2007

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I am still confused - sorry!

I have a vitara which weighs in at kerbweigh of 1330. should I be looking at the  MLO or the MTPLM of the caravan when assesing suitability. I have tried the towsure site. Even at 86% it is suggesting that the caravn is too heavy for my car - surely a Vitara should be able to safelly tow an average size 4 /5 berth such as a Bailey Pagent at1205 MRO or1420 MTPLM? or am Icompletely confused??

 

Thanks for any help - hoping to upgrade in next few days so I desperately need the advice!

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I would be very unwilling to tow more than the 1330kg that the vitara weighs for it's kerbweight, if your licence is dated before 1997 it would be legal but not to be advised. If your licence is dated after 1997 then it would be illegal. The last part says it all for me they changed the rules to make things safer, it would have been difficult to enforce it for people who already had a licence but I'm sure they would have wanted to. I for one do not want to be one of the accident statistics published each year, for me the 85% guideline is a good start, and the 100% maximum is a top line that I would always want to be below.

Quote: Originally posted by caradad on 17/8/2007

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 The manufacturers of cars will quote the maximum towing weight, as a figure that they have designed the car for, ie it is strong enough to pull this, and if you exceed this weight you are likely to break something!  It is also the agreed figure on their "licence" to manufacture the car.  The authorities require this figure to be submitted as part of the design approval process.  On some cars ie the Mondeo ST, Ford did not submit a towing figure, so although Mondeos are great tow cars, it would be illegal to tow with the ST model as it is not licenced to do this!

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On a point of interest manufacturers are required to quote a maximum train weight not a towing limit, so anyone who has a Mondeo will never find in the ford specs a max towing weight, they will however find a max train weight plated on their vehicles. It is this figure that must never be exceeded, as is the case with all cars.

 

Quote: Originally posted by Bill Lord on 17/8/2007

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..... so anyone who has a Mondeo will never find in the ford specs a max towing weight ......

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This is not quite true Bill, I have the Ford mondeo brochures for all models from 1996 to 2000, and 2000-2007 in my hands now, and they quote the "Maximum towable mass (kg)" as 1800Kg for most models in the Model availability weights and loads table on pg 31. 

I agree that the max train weight is on the VIN plate which legally must not be exceeded, which incidently is usually situated on the drivers door pillar on the Mondeos.

Quote: Originally posted by caradad on 17/8/2007

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Quote: Originally posted by Bill Lord on 17/8/2007

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This is not quite true Bill, I have the Ford mondeo brochures for all models from 1996 to 2000, and 2000-2007 in my hands now, and they quote the "Maximum towable mass (kg)" as 1800Kg for most models in the Model availability weights and loads table on pg 31. 

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I stand corrected, but it certainly isn't in the handbook for my 55 plate Mondeo. My son nicked the brochure that I had for my car and I'll bet he has disposed of it since then.

try these

www.cuddles.abelgratis.net/kerbweights.htm   www.cuddles.abelgratis.net/vandata.htm

eric

what model vitara do you have?

they dont make terribly good tow cars as they are quite light, and the 1600cc petrol  model is well underpowered for towing, however if its a new van you want I would think the Avondale Dart ot a Lunar would just about come in under the weight limit

little jack