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my caravan mtplm is 1291kg the kerbweight of my scenic is 1504kg

on towcar the ratio is 83% and it says its a perfect match for my sprite.

I have looked at direct gov and its mind boggling so Im completly confused.

Ive only been driving and too be honest the rules totally confuse me, I have to take a test dont I? To legally tow the sprite with my car?

angela

The direct gov website is VERY confusing on this point but as Tentz says - no you don't need to take another test.

you don't need to take any training either but you may want to.

Hi Angela, I have a scenic 1 (1998) & the max towing weight for mine is 1300kg so be careful when loading your caravan because you may be a lot over the 85%,

im just off on 86% had to rework it out as the towcar.com site didnt seem write to what i looked up regards my car.

steve & sue

i think you are confusing the max tow weight of your car and the 85% giude you don't need to tow at 85% of your cars tow limit but 85% of your cars weight.

Hi wongers, I’m always confused , i thought it was 85% of towing weight, glad you’ve told me that, still new to caravanning only had ours about 6 months, i better not tell my wife about the weights or she will want a bigger caravan

Hi Angela, sorry about that, happy caravanning

Quote: Originally posted by Zafiral on 02/3/2011

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We had a Scenic 2 1.9 dCi and unless Renault have changed the way they quote their tow weights you have to be very careful. On our Renault, the quoted tow weight was driver only. Once the car was laden with junk for the three of us we were unable to tow a 1175kg caravan.
If you post the weights that are on the car's weight plate & on the v5 I can let you know what the situation is.

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my license is due for  renewal and as i tow with a heavy vehicle I rang DVLA. They inform me of the following:

 If on the licence you have category B the the overall max weight of car plus trailer is 3.5 tons. However if you have B + E then only the car has a max weight of 3.5 tons. The trailer can weigh anyything providing it is within the towing weight of the car. 

Not made very clear on their website!!!!!

its quite simple to just have a retake of what taken. you will be shocked at what can be reduced.

I switched to plastic patio table and chairs from folding table and folding chairs. changed gas bottle to a 7kg from 16kg. empty water and waste containers "water weights 4.5kg a gal" when moving except for kettle full etc for stops.  buy 90% of food in tins etc from nearest towns supermarket when I get there. old heavy awning sold and lighter one with Ali poles bought second hand.  only take awning ground carpet/cover if it a wet season or site is known to be muddy, carry spare tyre in cars boot and very little else and more.

result was some 50kg+ to almost 80+kg  taken from vans weight at times

but unless you are greatly over loaded the chances you will be weighed are nil and as long as you drive at a safe speed you will be fine.  its when they follow you going fast and/or around bends that they notice a potential problem.

another trick is to take your van stripped of everything battery awning etc etc to a weigh bridge and get the ticket to state weight. if stopped show it in your papers and then allowing for items carried clothes and bike table or what ever you are 'on paper' within data. awning battery bottle was 'of course' in van when weighed.

modern vans are a lot more heavy than some (not all) older vans.  as MDF is used more in units and doors. and microwaves, proper cookers, TVs video/dvd players etc are fitted and this all adds to weight. my unit is 21ft with A frame and yet is only 900kg ex works.

It's the MTPLM that counts, not what it actually weighs.  The stripped down weight ticket won't do you a bit of good.  The limits are there for a reason, and are not something to get around if we can.

Jim

Quote: Originally posted by PhoenixLager on 04/3/2011

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I've just done a days towing course and the B+E test, and to be fair its really suprising the bad habits i had and took for granted. Its well worth anyone who tows going on a refresher course even if you have the appropriate license.

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cant agree more with you !  I not only tow caravans but also Livestock "not at once of course" for a living at times, and its a real eye opener what many darlings do on the motorway and other roads.  worst of all are by far the shiny 4x4 middle lane luvs. the sort often quoted on the usual remarks about caravans.  that are convinced the lane rules are slow fast and top speed limit Im doing 65 so its outer lane for me!!! esp at night.

many dont know that with the newer caravans the weight is available to certain trafic units so they just log trailer and car and it comes up on limit or over. only thing is they cant with older and classics. as the data base is not set up for all trailers but it is for the cars etc. so if you have the info in print they cant (at times) prove other. its the same with us and livestock they have to accept what we inform them.