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Hi all. We've been camping under canvas for about 3 years now and love the outdoors. However, we have been given the opportunity to buy a Windrush 152s for a good price with an awning. Now, I need to know if a Renault Megane Dynamique 1.6 will tow this van.

I'm just a little confused about kerbweight, all-up weight and all the other figures. Help me please!!!!!!

Thank you

Hi,

it's a bit confusing, yes!

Kerb weight is the weight of your car alone.  (without any people, luggage or caravan.)  You'll get this figure from car review web sites, just google megane dynamique kerbweight.  According to autoexpress it's 1215kg.

Then your car manufacturer will give you the maximum allowed trailer weight (or sometimes the maximum allowed total weight too.)  This is the maximum weight of a caravan that you can tow.  (Legally you can't exceed this.)  However, this figure is usually higher than your kerbweight.  (ie: You could tow a caravan that weighed more than your car.)  However, this is really not recommended, unless you know what you're doing towing.  (I have lots of towing experience, also used to tow cars with a recovery truck, and i wouldn't do this if i didn't need to.)

So as a guide you want to tow to about 85% of the weight of your car.  So if your car weighs 1250kg you want a caravan less than about 1060kg.  this is because you really really need it to be stable.  It makes a big difference.  The maximum permitted many people don't think is actually safe, so stick to 85% rule.  I'm fortunate to own a light 4 berth marauder at about 750kg (from memory) and a car that weights over 1400kg. Very stable.

Now that's the weight.  But you also need to think about engine power.  A 1.6L isn't big for towing, so you'll find it slow going, specially uphill.  Personally i wouldn't tow with a megane (i used to work as a mechanic, not the best option, but you've already got it, so hey..). 

So, get something bigger if you can.  If you stick to the megane then tow up to about 1100kg is my advice.  good luck!

(check that kerbweight figure above is right in your manual though!!!)

Thanks so much guys, thats been a huge help.

The good thing is I'm only pulling the van on the Megane till October. I get a company car then and I'm looking at a Mondeo estate 2 litre diesel or something similar, so that will be a better pull. I think the van is 1100 fully laden, 960 unladen, but I'm gonna check with the Windrush club.

Again, thanks and thanks.