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   Caravans and Caravanning -  Caravan Towcars and Towing Advice 		Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email  Printer Friendly Version Print
Subject Topic: help kerb weight with driver? Post Reply Post New Topic
Persontayorst
29/6/2009 at 5:41pm
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Help! Thought we had the 85% rule worked out - but now confused again. We are looking at a Volvo xc60 D5 Geartronic SE model. Volvo advise us the kerbweight is 1885, which would leave us at 90% with our choice of van. BUT in Practical Caravan magazine bought today dated Aug 2009, they state the car has a kerbweight of 1960kg. On closer inspection this seems to be because the kerbweight figures they quote include 75kg for the driver. This 75kg makes all the difference to us - please advise are we ok to use this higher weight - surely the Practical caravan people know what they are talking about? The xc60 won the best tow car award in the over 1900kg category by the way, so if it doesn't weigh that much it is all a little strange!


PersonKhanny
29/6/2009 at 6:36pm
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as long as the car is the heavier of the two it is ok. they say 85% is the recomended weight for your van this is a safe guard but there is room for variation not everyone can get exactly 85% 


Personmike+judi
29/6/2009 at 7:51pm
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Slightly off topic but I weighed my car at a weighbridge with full tank of fuel and me in the car, came out at 1680kgs, I've seen it on cuddles abelgratis(?) listed at 1532kgs ??. Could you weigh the car before taking the plunge as it's a lot of money if you're not sure re the weights.

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Mike+Judi.


PersonCandP
29/6/2009 at 8:50pm
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In my opinion the kerbweight should include the Driver and at least 1/2 a tank of fuel.

As the car will not drive with no fuel or a driver.......


Personsnowy747
29/6/2009 at 8:52pm
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We discovered Cuddles Abelgratis was not giving accurate figures a couple of months ago so you really do have to go with the handbook figures and/or a weigh bridge ideally.

It isn't always the case that the kerbweight being heavier than the van is ok, because some manufacturers place a lower towing limit than the kerbweight so do be sure you know what Volvo place as the max tow limit before you commit.

Ali


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PersonKhanny
29/6/2009 at 8:56pm
 Location: Aberdeenshire invernowhere
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you are best weighing the car empty which would give you the lightest option then anything added on to that weight would be a bonus as it would give you more weight in the  tow car because if you half fill the tank and your own weight and you have a slight margine you will never want to go less than half tank when towing incase your van becomes the heavier


Personbordercaz
30/6/2009 at 12:44pm
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The definition of kerbweight in the UK has traditionally been:

"The weight of your car including

all normal oils and lubricants as it leaves the factory,

plus a full tank of fuel. It does not include driver,

passengers or any luggage."

And that is what the UK caravanning fraternity base their 85% recommendation on.

However, it is only a recommendation and many caravanners tow at slightly higher figures with no problems.

 



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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.


Persontayorst
30/6/2009 at 3:49pm
 Location: Midlands
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Bordercaz, that's what I thought the definition was too - so I wonder why Practical Caravan magazine include an additional 75kg for the driver's weight in the kerbweights when doing their towcar tests?


PersonOpensauce
30/6/2009 at 8:25pm
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You should only use info on internet sites like 'kerbweights' as a guide, always check makers handbooks before you buy.

The 85% thing is just a guide, provided your caravan is well within the manufacturers towing limit as stated in the car's handbook you will be ok.


PersonG7ACU
30/6/2009 at 8:26pm
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Quote:
...Volvo advise us the kerbweight is 1885...
...surely the Practical caravan people know what they are talking about?...
I've known both manufacturers and publications to be wrong. To add to the confusion, the Volvo UK website shows the kerbweight of your choice of car to be 1840kgs (max tow-weight 1800kgs). The Cuddles website is fairly accurate, you must remember there are a great number of variants the site can't always consider (mid-production engine changes etc). Whattowcar.com is a useful alternative to compare.
Out of interest, you don't mention your choice of van your looking at...

-------------
Paul

Every day's a school day!


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Persontayorst
30/6/2009 at 9:07pm
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Volvo have confirmed the car weighs min 1885kg with a max tow-weight of 2000kgs (it is the manual transmission that has a max tow weight of 1800kgs). The 1960kg kerbweight figure that practical caravan magazine quote is the 1885kg figure quoted by Volvo plus an allowance of 75kg for the driver - all their kerbweight figures include an allowance of 75kg for the driver.

The caravan we are interested in is the Swift Fairway 620 twin axle which has a MTPLM of 1695kg which is  90% of 1885 kg (the kerbweight without driver), and 86% of 1960kg (the kerbweight with driver).

Practical Caravan, in their towcar tests include this 75kg allowance for a driver in all their kerbweight calculations - I just wanted to check that this is ok as it makes the difference between a match of 86% and 90% in our case.

 

 


Persontayorst
01/7/2009 at 12:41pm
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I have now emailed Practical Caravan magazine to enquire as to why they include 75kg for the driver in their kerb weight figures. I'll let you know what they say.


PersonOpensauce
01/7/2009 at 1:29pm
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It matters not whether the kerbweight includes driver or not, & certainly not with the car you have. The 85% thing is just a guide, you could even argue as to whether it's 85% of empty car or 85% car loaded as you personally drive it when towing your caravan.

It really aint that critical.


Persontayorst
01/7/2009 at 1:37pm
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So do you think it is a reasonable match then? We don't want to go to a different car if this one will be heavy enough.


Persondarthillcat
02/7/2009 at 6:56pm
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the accepted guide for weighbridge operators is CAR + FULL TANK OF FUEL + DRIVER = kerb weight , I have been operating a public weigh bridge for 10 years and am Certified by trading standards.

Dave



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men don't need or read instructions



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