Hi All . I am thinking of upgrading my caravan to a Bessacar cameo 625 twin axle. Can any of you help me with the tow /weight ratio and will my 2004 Rover 75 2.0 ltr diesel estate will be ok.
Thanks
Steve
What is the kerbweight of the Rover? What is the max towing weight of the Rover? What is the max laden weight of the caravan? The weights of the car will be on the weight plate inside the door or under the bonnet, the caravan weights will be on the plate by the door. If you can give us the weights we can offer more help. Do you have a pre 1997 driving licence?
I'm sure you won't be buying the caravan without verifying its max laden weight from somewhere other than an internet forum. Then look in your car handbook, in weights it should give you kerbweight, max braked towing weight & gross train weight. You can then work it out for yourself.
If you do want to take advice from an internet forum based on info I have just found with a quick google, at nearly 1800kg laden weight for caravan & with max tow weight & also kerbweight of your car at 1600kg you can't tow it or any other twin axle caravan of that size.
Quote: Originally posted by smh582003 on 10/6/2013
Hi All . I am thinking of upgrading my caravan to a Bessacar cameo 625 twin axle. Can any of you help me with the tow /weight ratio and will my 2004 Rover 75 2.0 ltr diesel estate will be ok.
Thanks
Steve
Change your car if you want a big twin , I had a MG ZT estate diesel which is the MG varient of the Rover 75 and its kerbweight was was only around 1585kg so no where near heavy enough for a big twin axle at 1800kg MPTLM
If you followed the 85% recommendation you'd need a car with a kerb weight of about (If 1800kg is the maximum technical permissible laden mass) 2117kg. That's quite a heavy car.
Others have told me they tow with higher percentages, but your current car sound too light to me.
Not a good idea if the van's mass is more than the car. I think it is illegal too - but if that isn't right I'm sure other members will correct it.
Quite apart from the weight factor, and even though the (BMW) engine in the diesel 75 is a beauty, it doesn't put out a terrific amount of power. I used to work at BMW in Oxford for a while on the 'rigs 'n' rollers' and found all the 75 models really nicely built (compared with the terrible cars in my days twixt '69 and '76). I am quite surprised to note the light weight of the 75 estate, coming in at slightly lighter than our Saab - I thought it would have been heavier.
As has been said on this forum many times, it is all about presence of the tow car as well as manufacturers' recommendations. EG, our old Rover 45 TDi had plenty of power to pull our folder (1000 kg) and later than the Whirlwind (also 1000 kg) but with a towing limit by the manufacturer of 1000 kg, that was it.
I personally would not want to drive any outfit where the tail would wag the dog.
All comments aside, best of luck Steve in finding a suitable caravan to match your 75, which is a nice car.
Pete