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Quote: Originally posted by Grampian91 on 30/1/2012

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Why are my facts wrong?

Towing and the Law



4% OR 25kg whichever is the higher...

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That is only a third party website (Swift Owners Club), so it is not guaranteed legal information.

Do you know, this place is getting more like a Court of Law every day.  We don't have to prove anything at all.  If you want to push the boundaries, that's up to you. I prefer to be well within the guidleines.

The European Directive, as quoted by the Caravan Club, is not a third party website, so we can take that as law.

They don't believe the Skoda and the Ranger would be a good match, only "possible".  At 97.5%, I wouldn't be keen.

You admit that a bigger towcar will provide a better match.  Why not just do that?  Why try to tow with the smallest possible car?  I just don't see what advantage you gain.

You may not agree with decisions based on weight, but the CC do.  Here's what they have to say:-

What does The Club recommend as a safe outfit/weight ratio for towing a caravan?

The principle must be to have the heaviest possible towcar for a given caravan, otherwise the chances of a swaying trailer becoming uncontrollable and snaking are very real.  Aim for a towed load 85% of the car's kerb weight (KW), or the vehicle manufacturer's towing limit, if lower.  The nearer the caravan laden weight approaches the one-to-one ratio, the more careful the driver must be.  Remember that the towed weight is the actual laden weight (ALW) that the car is asked to pull (empty weight of caravan plus what you add), not the theoretical Maximum Authorised Weight (MAW) or (from 1999 production models) Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass (MTPLM).

We are often asked, ‘why 85%’, rather than 90% or 75%, say? The connection between weight ratio and stability has been proven through The Club’s own testing of cars and caravans, the wealth of member feedback we receive, and not least the scientific research we have sponsored. We picked 85% as the highest ratio we were comfortable using for universal recommendations, thus allowing the widest choice of compatible cars and caravans, while being confident that owners should find their outfit safe and comfortable to tow. We have, in fact, increased the ratio recommendation over the years, as car and caravan technology has improved, and more research has been carried out. When this advice was offered in the 1960s, the recommended maximum weight ratio was 70%. This increased to 80% in the 1970s, and to 85% in the 1980s. It is not likely that we will increase the recommendation further for the foreseeable future, though.

This does take into account the safety features you mention.

I've already said I would be OK with 5% on a twin axle, so you don't need to keep looking.  The CC agree, but they prefer 7% where possible.  It is possible, with a car having sufficient download allowance.