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Mike Have a look here. Doesn't look good.

http://www.whattowcar.com/

If I have got the right weights your car is not suitable. Van =102% of weight of car.

Most salesmen haven't got a clue and have probably never towed a caravan in their lives in anger.

According to this, it gives the MPTLM of your caravan as 1300kg.  According to the list in my link above, the only Cee'd that comes within the manufacturer's maximum permitted towing weight is the 1.6 CRDi.  For all other Cee'd's the manufacturer's maximum towing weigh is 1200kg.  Even by using the 1.6 CRDi vehicle for towing, you would be towing at more than the 85% recommended by the clubs and motoring organisations.

I have quoted from the front page of the 'cuddles' site here:

85% (or even 100%) rules are not "rules" but guidelines which have no substance in law. They are designed to ensure that the outfit will be stable (all other factors being equal). Exceeding this figure, whilst not illegal in itself, COULD lead to prosecution if the driver was stopped because of (say) instability or after an accident as there is a requirement on the driver to ensure the safety of his vehicle in the Construction and Use Regulations.

Usually a manufacturer will quote a tow weight which is far greater than the mass of the vehicle. Generally this is based on the total train weight (car + caravan) which can be started on a 12% gradient.

Where this weight (or any other e.g. nose weight) is given as lower by the manufacturer the user ignores it at his peril. Insurance could well be void after an accident - worse, the illegal combination could cause the accident if the towing vehicle is unable to handle it.

The big problem we have in the UK is the traffic density, especially on Motorways, which has caravans in close proximity to both cars and large goods vehicles, all travelling at speed. The vortices encountered can cause trailers to wander if not loaded correctly and matched to the towing vehicle.

The stability of a towing outfit also has much to do with sensible loading of the unit.  I have been towing for almost 30 years and even with that experience would keep within the 85% guidelines, although I know there are many who would disagree, and no doubt they will argue their case.

This is probably not what you wanted to hear, and, of course, you need to check the figures independantly.  I could by wrong, and my sources for the figures could be wrong, but I hope at least I have given you a guide from which to work.

Best wishes

Quote: Originally posted by naillig on 19/10/2010

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Hi David thanks for that the 85% rule says that I can tow up to 1073kg the caravan is 1065 kg so is that legal ?
I have been back on to the dealers and they say it is ok

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Is the MTPLM of the caravan 1065kg?  If so then this is good news.  If the 1065kg is the MRO (Mass of vehicle in running order) - in other words, the van when its completely empty, then you still may have a problem.  Now I have to admit, I'm not sure about this at all.  If you are pulled up for a check and you can argue that your van is loaded up to 1200kg (the maximum) but you van is plated as MTPLM 1300kg, what would the result be?  If this is OK., then why is it that caravan manufacturers often plate their vans at a lower MTPLM than they are actually capable of, in order to sell the caravans so that they can be pulled by cars with a lower maximum towing weight?  I don't know the answer to these questions, so I hope someone else with more knowledge than I might be able to step in.

Whatever the case, I have learnt never to take a caravan retailers word for it.  Their job is to sell you the caravan, and sadly, some of them do it either without full knowledge, or worst still, just to make a sale at any cost.  In the past, I have ended up in changing my car because I have been sold a caravan on the basis of 'of course that car will pull it'.

The question you need to ask is:  If my caravan has an MTPLM of 1300kg, but a MRO of 1065kg, is it legal for me pull the empty caravan with a car that the manufacturer's maximum towing weight is 1200kg.

If the answer is YES, then the next question to ask is, 'What am I going to do with all the stuff I would have liked to have put in the caravan?'

Mike

I really do think you are not onto a winner here. Either way you are working very close to the weights and knowing the C'eed as I do (I had one) it is not a heavy car. Goes like hell and has fantastic brakes but no way could you call it a good car for towing. It is just not heavy enough.

I still think you would be over 100% when you put all your stuff in the van and although there is no law against that you must not exceed the maximum train weight for the car.

Quote: Originally posted by naillig on 19/10/2010

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I dont want to not have the caravan so I think I need to either try to buy a bigger older car for towing or part ex mine or better still use my brothers Peugeot estate hee hee

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