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Topic: weights dont make sense

ukwoody

05/8/2007 at 9:28pm
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HI all,

My Renualt Laguna (mk1) has a kerb weight of 1310 kgs.
But regarding towing the handbook clearly states it can tow 1600kgs braked. The max train weight is 3300kgs.

Now 1600kgs is more than the kerb weight of the car and so would 85% be.
So what could I tow?
Just for clarity it's a 2000 1.9tdi
woody

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richard615

05/8/2007 at 9:47pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: 07 Lunar Quasar 615 2.0tdci Smax

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Structurally it can tow 1600 kg, and you can legally tow that much, recommendations for caravans are less as other forces come into play, but is only a recommedation.

jonespa

05/8/2007 at 10:05pm
Location: Worthing
Outfit: Bailey Ranger 620 6 Frontera Estate

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Most police forces use the manufactures recommended towing limit as their guide.
The 85% rule is a best practice figure and not law. It has been derived from years of towing data obtained by the various clubs and it suggests that if the trailer weight is correctly distributed you will be able to drive the outfit comfortably, i.e be able to accelerate from corners and round abouts and off slip roads. If the trailer does become unstable you will have a good chance of recovering if your match is 85%.
If you exceed 100% match the trailers mass exceeds the towing vehicles and you could end up in a tail wagging the dog scenario and your probability of recovery from that is slim.

I would er on the side of caution.

ukwoody

05/8/2007 at 10:13pm
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Thanks, just to clarify, I wasn't planning to exceed the 85% kerbweight ratio, but was just confused by the data.
woody

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Daydrimor

05/8/2007 at 11:44pm
Location: Eastwood Notts
Outfit: Mondeo tdci + Lunar Chateau 400

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As far as I know,you must not tow anything which is heavier than the towing vehicle.

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JOHN

Daydrimor

06/8/2007 at 12:00am
Location: Eastwood Notts
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Category B vehicles with larger trailers i.e. > 750kg, provided that the combined MAM does not exceed 3.5 tonnes and the gross MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle. To be able to tow combinations outside this ruling requires the passing of an additional test.

For your info!

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JOHN

bordercaz

06/8/2007 at 9:36am
Location: Shropshire North Wales borders
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But that's if you passed your test after 1/1/97, John. Those of us who passed before have 'grandfather rights' (as they call it) and can legally tow a trailer that does weigh more than the towing vehicle.

There can be a world of difference between what a vehicle is capable of pulling away from a standstill on a slope (the manufacturers towing limit) and what it can actually safely tow at normal driving speeds..

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Caz
If you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, just keep going till you go round the bend.

Dave + Jan

17/8/2007 at 12:28am
Location: Great Yarmouth Norfolk
Outfit: Fleetwood Cavendish

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All this talk of weights is so confusing mostly because there are so many different ways the people use to describe them. I have a Citroen C5 (01 model of 90 bhp) and my maximum towing weight is 1500 kg. My 97 Fleetwood Cavendish (cant find out any online forum that has ever heard of it) says its ex works weight is 961 kgs and the allowable caravan payload is 4..92 kgs and the autorised weight is 1250 kgs. So am I legal pulling this. I did try that sight whattowcar that computes the compination I have but for some reason it does not seem to work with Windows Vista. (Yes, fool that I am, I changed from XP).

Oh yes the length of the van is 6.63m by 2.13m wide by 2.49 in hight. If any really nice person can tell me I'd be grateful.

Sincere regards from David N Jan

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Dave & Janet

Bill Lord

17/8/2007 at 4:01pm
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Looking at this site http://www.cuddles.abelgratis.net/citroen.htm#c504 it gives your C5 a kerbweight of 1360kg, your van has a MTPLM of 1250kg which gives about 92% so yes it is legal. What is more the values are quite reasonable, but the judge of whether it is a good match come when you put the outfit on the road, if it tows well and easily and comfortably then it is a good match.

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michael

17/8/2007 at 4:44pm
Location: Lancashire
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hi look here

http://www.cuddles.abelgratis.net/renault.htm#laguna02

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pinkfloyd

18/8/2007 at 8:08pm
Location: The Beautiful Lake District
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Hi, Almost every new car manufactured today will have a maximum towing weight greater than it's own kerbweight. We would all be surprised at the weight that even the smallest 2 door family hatchback could pull. Sadly though these weights are not based on caravan towing and this is where most people become confused and misinformed when checking what their particular vehicle will tow. These figures are determined by the vehicle pulling a weighted flatbed trailer and there is no comparison whatsoever to caravan towing. The most important factor to remember is the car's kerbweight (empty vehicle with a full tank of fuel) against the caravans maximum allowable weight. I would never myself recommend towing above 85% of the car's kerbweight even for an experienced tower. It may well be legal to tow at 100% but it's not for me. I have seen many outrageous 'outfits' over the years such as a Vauxhall Cavalier at Gordano services several years ago pulling a whopping twin axle German monster caravan! ...must have been around 140%....Safety first for me every time....

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