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Been doing some research regarding a possible caravan purchase , after a little head scratching i think its sunk in.
I have a VW Golf GT TDI 140bhp with a kerb weight of 1400kg ( 1400 x 85% = 1190kg )
Using the 85% rule i have found a few good matches with the end bedroom layout we prefer.
Sprite Alpine 4 with a MTPLM of 1170kg
Bailey Ranger 460/4 with a MTPLM of 1208kg slightly high but would it cause a problem ?

Would appreciate any advice and tips regarding the above and also with possible vans.

Cheers

Jim

Sounds ideal. The 85% of kerbweight rule gives the stability.

The max towing weight gives the cars ability to start on a hill without doing damage. For many cars this will be subject to being within the Gross Train Weight which is the total loaded weight of the car plus van. If you load the car too much you may have to reduce the Max Tow weight.

You also need to check the noseweight allowed for your car and tow bar and load the van so you don't exceed it.

Load all the heavy items over the axle with nothing heavy especially at the back. The fixed bed is a great place for storing everything but if you fill it with heavy items the van will be very unstable to tow.

The MTPLM is the maximum weight the van can be loaded to. Its not the weight it will be when you have put everything in it. It might be more or less.

According to cuddles the kerb weight of your car is 1451kg and the TOWING WEIGHT is 1400kg. Make sure you are correct. Get the figures from your carf handbook.

Have a good look around - some non-uk brands are made from alloy and are therefore lighter than the more common brands of van - also some of the older uk vans are alloy also - we have a 5-berth and tow with a 1.6 TDI Focus and get 46 mpg when towing. The 5-berth is 950kgs and therefore when fully laden is just under the 85%. Searching around can mean you can get the right van without having to change your car and achieve excellent MPG.

Martyn n Helen

Quote: Originally posted by navver on 09/8/2009

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Sounds ideal. The 85% of kerbweight rule gives the stability.

The max towing weight gives the cars ability to start on a hill without doing damage. For many cars this will be subject to being within the Gross Train Weight which is the total loaded weight of the car plus van. If you load the car too much you may have to reduce the Max Tow weight.

You also need to check the noseweight allowed for your car and tow bar and load the van so you don't exceed it.

Load all the heavy items over the axle with nothing heavy especially at the back. The fixed bed is a great place for storing everything but if you fill it with heavy items the van will be very unstable to tow.

The MTPLM is the maximum weight the van can be loaded to. Its not the weight it will be when you have put everything in it. It might be more or less.

According to cuddles the kerb weight of your car is 1451kg and the TOWING WEIGHT is 1400kg. Make sure you are correct. Get the figures from your carf handbook.

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Cheers for the advice, The car handbook states Kerb Weight as 1400kg and ideally i do not want to change the car.

Rachtex , the golf is a superb car although i have never towed with it, sticks to the road like glue and plenty of power if needed good on fuel 

Van wise don't know whether to go new or get a nearly new one , but the weight ratio limits me quite a lot in the used market.

We are looking to get all set up for 2010 and will continue camping for the remainder of this year so plenty of time to do more research  poss buy Nov / Dec may get a better deal then ?, and if a bargain comes along in the mean time we could snap it up

Note that the 85% ratio is a guide not a rule, so going just a little over will be no problem as long as you are definitely within the Gross Vehicle Weight and the Gross Train Weight.  These weights are laws not guides so are far more important that the 85% ratio.

Re purchase time, caravan sales (new and 2nd hand) have been strong this year so if you find a van that suits you may be best to snap up as soon as possible, who knows what will be available in nov time.

Booking next year's pitch for peak times should not be left too late either!!!

Sorry Jennifernn. What I was trying to say was that the MTPLM is not necessarily the weight of the van when they have finished loading. They may have overloaded it or underloaded it. I'm sure there are many vans on the road that are overloaded.

I did also say "The MTPLM is the maximum weight the van can be loaded to"