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**HELP PLEASE**

I know there are LOADS of websites that are supposed to help me see if my car is suitable to tow my most favourite caravan ever.  But I just can't seem to work it out, please please please can someone help me.

I have a Nissan Primera T-Spec, 2.0L 5 door automatic  (04)

Kerbweight - 1359

85% - 1155

Towing Capacity - 1500 (got all this info off uktow.com)

and the van I want to buy is:

Lunar Quasar 615 5 berth, twin axel - 2005

The problem comes in because I can't seem to pin down the proper weight, all the adverts I look at are different numbers :(

In all honesty - I have not got a clue and neither has my husband :(

on a report from TowCar.info, they didn't have a 2005 caravan so I used the 2008 info?? (it still said "615") it says caravan 1450kg car 1415kg 102% and states it's not safe to tow THEN it gives this glowing report f 3/4/5 stars of all this things it will be good at?????

So what do we think??

Btw - I passed my driving test 29 years ago if that makes a difference and we've owned a swift azzura 490 for a couple of years but just had it written off beecuase of a blowout on the motorway :( so not the most experienced but not a novice either.

thanks

Thank you for taking the time to try and explain this to me.  I can't claim to be an expert now however, I do clearly understand  my car is not suitable for this van.

I'm gutted :(

But grateful for the advice and will have to re-think - newer car or smaller van!!

Thanks again.

Nic

Hi Nic,

As I have mentioned on previous posts take your car to a local weighbridge (most large council will have one at the local tip) and weigh it with you in the drivers seat and 3/4 tank of fuel. This will give you a true "kerbweight" figure for your car as the ones on the internet, although close, will be a general one for that year & model. Also many car producers refer to MIRO (Mass in running order) as the kerbweight which is not quite the same as this doesn't include the fuel and driver. An EU directive defines the term "kerbweight" and includes both of these as, if you think about it, its a bit hard to tow without you in driving seat and some fuel

I would then certainly stick to 85% of whatever your actual kerbweight is and make sure you don't exceed your maximum braked towing weight (which I see above is 1500kg) and vehicle train weight (shown on a plate normally under the bonnett). Also check your nose weight for your car. This is the maximum weight that the car should have on the tow bar and is checked by using a nose weight gauge (or bathroom scales) on the caravans hitch. Some cars have a low noseweight (less than 70kg) others will take upto 100kg - 150kg (normally 4x4). On a bigger van you will need to factor this in and its worth checking the van before buying.

I suspect that if your quoted kerbweight is 1359kg then you will probably find it coming in between 1400-1500kg when weighed. If so this will give you a little bit more scope for a van but to be honest you probably won't be able to even consider twin axles and will also be limited on some of the larger berth single axle vans. Depending on how many berths you are looking for you should be able to look at things like the Bailey Ranger or other "lighter" weight vans. Lunar vans are also fairly light but remember to check the MTPLM for the van (this will be on a plate normally near the door) as this is the weight to work to for the van.

We were in the same boat as you last year and ended up changing cars this year to get the van we wanted in the end!