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Now before I wear out my welcome and you all get fed up with my daft questions, I am totally confused with all this weight ratio business.

I have been towing a twin axle trailer with a digger on for years, just used to hook up and trundle off to the site. positioning the digger over the wheels and judging how far my suspension went down. Not ideal I know but it worked for me.

Now I have been gajoled by her indoors to purchase a caravan and seeing as we will be going on long trips I had better do it a bit more scientifically.

The caravan , swift accord 380 has  a plate that says max authorised weight 900kg. payload 189kg. I take it that means the van is 900kg and the equipment I need  can weigh up to 189kg. (loaded sensibly).

The tow car will be my  1999 mitsubishi L200 single cab pickup and this is where I am confused, on the vin plate it is marked with the figures in this order

                              2830kg

                               5530kg

                              1- 1200kg

                              2-1800kg

What does all this mean. When I towed the van home it handled as sweet as a nut but that was only about 15 miles.

Now lastly, no don't go away, bear with me. A nose weight gauge came with the van it goes up to 90kg. With the info above would it be possible to give me the reading I should be looking for.

Whoa. hang on a bit longer. I shall be getting her indoors another car next year. It would make sense to have a tow bar fitted, but bearing in mind she uses it for work and does a lot of small trips and her MG z whatever is perfect for her job what would be a suitable choice.

Sorry to bore you all.

I'll get my coat.

You're not boring anyone, but i can't help!.....lol

I'm way past all these weight things, if i can comfortably lift the drawbar onto the car, i tow it.

There will be people giving you the letter of the law advice, which is excellent. All i'm saying is i've done it this way for  years and i ain't going to change now!

Happy towing!

I am guessing the 5530 kg is the gross train weight, ie vehicle plus contents plus van and contents.

Your van is miniscule in comparison to your vehicle so I cannot see any way you will breach the vehicles towing limits.

1800 kg sounds about right for the kerbweight based on the info I have found online.  If you check the manual I am sure it will give you the figures in plain English.

Ali

http://www.whatvan.co.uk/vandata.asp?id=85

Found this link, can't find the large figure mentioned at all.  Hmmm, I  think there are so many interpretations that to be on the safe side I would consult the manual or else a Mitsi dealership to match those weights to definitions.

Ali

Quote: Originally posted by stevewils on 17/10/2007

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Here is my guess.

1- 1200kg = Max front axle weight

2-1800kg - Max rear axle weight.

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Ah ha. I reckon you are right, Just remembered something, I was offered  the vehicle after the lease ran out for a silly price, and as I knew the history and it was a good workhorse giving 40mpg unladen I jumped at it. But I was not given a handbook which  usually only tells you how to use the radio. I will get on to an L200 owners site and see if I can get one. 

When I took out the lease I told them what it would be mainly used for and it came with a few factory mods. Front towing hitch, beefed up suspension and three different heights for the rear towbar. (16.5" now)

Whoops, should have told you that earlier. Sorry.

Quote: Originally posted by stevewils on 17/10/2007

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Here is my guess.

2830kg = Max weight of vehicle and payload.

5530kg = Max train weight (vehicle + pay load + trailer + payload)

1- 1200kg = Max front axle weight

2-1800kg - Max rear axle weight.

Your handbook will give you the unladen mass and max noseweight.

Steve.

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Yep thats right

Lets get this straight, When I leased the truck, I asked for something that would pull a trailer with a digger on. I told them the weight and dimensions of the load. They being experts in commercial vehicles and such, went through the options and came up with my vehicle. I saw no need at all to know what the technicalities were all about. I am a gardener, not a professional tow truck driver.

Now I have just started caravaning and joined this forum and found out theres a lot more to this than meets the eye, I expect  everybody else was in the same position once. So don't knock us we are learning.

How many of us got their first van second hand, and without the expertise of a salesman gladly trundle off ignorant of all the knowledge you longtimers have. 

Frightening I know, but thats the way it is, What was it like before the internet,! at least these sort of forums are contributing to a bit of safety on the roads, Your remark is likely to put people off asking their silly questions.  

Quote: Originally posted by daviddaw on 20/10/2007

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Big Dan & stevewils are correct; it worries me that lots of people here, who presumably tow caravans, have no idea of how to read the weight plate on their car.  It is no wonder that people experience problems.

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That's hardly a fair comment when manufacturers present data differently on their vehicles!  That is why I directed the poster to his handbook/the manufacturer to be sure.  It is unusual to just have 4 figures with no explanation next to them, it would normally say kerb weight X, GVW Y etc.

Ali