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I'm looking to get my first caravan and the other day I drove past a weighbridge so I thought I would weigh my car.  I was was shocked at the difference between the kerbweight in the manual and the actual kerbweight.

Manual says 1580kgs

My car actually weighed in at 1790kgs.   Ok this included wife and two small children so after deducting their weight it is 1690kgs.  Still...thats 110kg heavier then what is used matching programmes.  Also it included only half a tank of fuel but it did have an extra 15kg more (thats me!) than the usual 75kg allowance for driver and luggage.

I do have a factory fitted towbar that folds away which will accounts for some of the weight but still surprised about the rest. 30ish kgs for towbar I guess.

Makes me wonder if all quoted kerbweights are on the low side and actually how accurate matching programmes are or is it just an extra safety margin in the 85% rule?

To us this means that a caravan I had previously discounted at a 90% match is now bob on 85%.  

Hi Grifterman my brochure weight states 1557 kg yet my car weighs 1660 kg excluding 75kg driver.

Thats a massive difference of 178 kg, the higher the spec the heavier the car.

A mate of mine was worried about his match so took his C Max to a weigh bridge and again got massive difference to his brochure weight

What car do you have ???

Bessie

Can I just check my weights with you good folk

My manual says (and matching programmes all use) the following

1580kg  Kerbweight (kerbweight + 75kg + 90% fuel without optional extras)

2045kg  Permitted Gross weight

1600kg  Max Tow Weight

3645kg  Train Weight  (got this from Towsafe...is this my max train weight?)

I reckon my actual kerbweight on same basis as above is about 1690kg.  This leaves me with technically 355kg avilable for further car loading although not going to max this out.  This has to cover additional passengers, noseweight plus any other luggage.

Caravan I want to tow is 1450kg MTPLM making match 92% on car manual figure or 86% on actual figure.  Have I made any errors so far?

Then just to make things more confusing car manual has a section on weights when towing a trailer and for my model the following is different

Permitted Gross Weight 2120kg (75kg higher which coincidentally is my nose weight limit).  Still says 1600kg max tow limit.

Anyone know why it says this? and does it change my gross train weight, infact thinking about it am I breaking any train weight regs with any of this.

Sorry for long post but any advice gratefully received! 

Quote: Originally posted by grifterman on 04/10/2011Hi Grampian - have thought about it but not sure I understand your 85% comments.

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1580 is brochure weight (normal definition ie kerbweight +90% fuel + driver)

1690 is my actual weight give or take a few kg

Cheers

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Hi CandP - where did you get you weights from?  the dealer? 

I think 1580 figure must be a standard base model with a 318d engine as well as weights are the same as the 320d.  I know the 318d is basically the same engine but there must be some uprated stuff associated with the 320d model and so some added weight.  Also I reckon the standard base model may not be the same as the base uk model spec as the 1580 is also quoted on the european whattowcar website.

My only extras are a factory fitted towbar, bluetooth phone kit and metallic paint (thats it...it will be the metallic paint!).  Do have 17inch wheels though.  With the exception of the wheels I would expect your car to weigh more in every aspect but it seems hard I to believe the wheels account for the difference though.  I suspect your car is heavier than you think.

Right need to remember to take those gold bars out of the boot tomorrow!

Quote: Originally posted by grifterman on 05/10/2011

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Hi CandP - where did you get you weights from?  the dealer? 

I think 1580 figure must be a standard base model with a 318d engine as well as weights are the same as the 320d.  I know the 318d is basically the same engine but there must be some uprated stuff associated with the 320d model and so some added weight.  Also I reckon the standard base model may not be the same as the base uk model spec as the 1580 is also quoted on the european whattowcar website.

My only extras are a factory fitted towbar, bluetooth phone kit and metallic paint (thats it...it will be the metallic paint!).  Do have 17inch wheels though.  With the exception of the wheels I would expect your car to weigh more in every aspect but it seems hard I to believe the wheels account for the difference though.  I suspect your car is heavier than you think.

Right need to remember to take those gold bars out of the boot tomorrow!

 

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