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Topic: Towing - help

Lou15e

10/7/2013 at 12:39pm
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Hi, I know this question has been asked numerous times before. We have made a bit of an error. Our car can tow maximum (this is according to the log book) of 1200kg. Our carvan is unladen 1029 and laden 1209kg. Now our van will never weigh 1209 as we take very little but I am getting differnent people saying different things. Most are saying as long as you dont load over 1200 you will be fine, which I know we wont, but im sure legally we will have a problem, and obviously we want to be safe. Thank you.

audicab26

10/7/2013 at 1:00pm
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If you can advise the exact make, model, engine, and year of your car and the year, make and model of your van it will be easy to check for you on one of the tow match websites.

Basically the kerb weight of the car should be more than the van. Ideally the van, loaded, should weigh around 85% of the cars kerb weight.

The stated max tow weight of the car should not be exceeded of course but is only an indication of what the car will tow without breaking, not what you CAN tow safely and legally.

Grampian91

10/7/2013 at 1:41pm
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2 views on this.

I think its over the gross plated limit so not legal.

Others think its safe as long as its not loaded above that limit.

Personal;ly i dont want to be the person in court with huge legal fee's proving it either way.

The max tow is not whats safe to tow anyway. Its the maximum limit the car can pull away on a steep hill without getting dragged back down or blowing up or breaking.

Lou15e

10/7/2013 at 2:17pm
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Thank you both for your replies. Some sites seem to say if you are 1kg over the amount you are allowed to tow its illegal and some dont, and I have heard that the tow match websites are just a guide, again they dont seem to be helping me. I have just looked in the car door and this is what it says, bearing in mind the log books says max towing is 1200kg

W 1870kg

CW3070kg

AD925kg

1070kg

If that can help in anyway it would be appreciated thank you.

The 2 Tops

10/7/2013 at 3:23pm
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This is what would appear to be the case:
CW3070kg = combined weight
W 1870kg = vehicle weight (probably kerb weight)
This gives you the 1200kg max. trailer weight.

The 1209kg is your caravan's maximum permissible weight, usually plated as MTPLM.
However, if you keep your loaded caravan within 1200kg, then you are legal.

Bertie.

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The 2 Tops

Lou15e

10/7/2013 at 3:28pm
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Thanks Bertie, I was in a panic and just spoken to the technical guy at the caravan and camping club who assured me that it is not illegal if you passed your test before 1997. We will probably quite easily even keep the weight in the caravan below 1200kg so I assume that is ok. Clothes and food will be in the car which isnt much as its only for a weekend. The guy I spoke to was quite surprised that there are websites saying its illegal to tow even 1kg over what your car is allowed (we are 9kg over as the plate says 1209kg). I was concerned about our insurance etc but all seems to be ok. Many thanks

janus

10/7/2013 at 5:16pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Lou15e on 10/7/2013
Hi, I know this question has been asked numerous times before. We have made a bit of an error. Our car can tow maximum (this is according to the log book) of 1200kg. Our carvan is unladen 1029 and laden 1209kg. Now our van will never weigh 1209 as we take very little but I am getting differnent people saying different things. Most are saying as long as you dont load over 1200 you will be fine, which I know we wont, but im sure legally we will have a problem, and obviously we want to be safe. Thank you.

You will have no problems. Just make sure that you keep within the plated train weights and the plated maximum weights of the vehicles and you will be perfectly legal. There is no Uk law that defines anything else as an offence

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Bill

For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013

Mondeo Titanium 140 tdci

Grampian91

10/7/2013 at 11:07pm
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Get the van on a weighbridge.

One guy in the caravan magazine write in warning people when he found his brand new van weighed a lot more than the book figures.

Instead of nearly 300kg loading capacity he had only 64kg.

Even loading the essentials would easily exceed 64kg.

What caravan is 1209kg? Thats an odd figure.. Are you sure thats right?

2 tops post above the W is probably the cars max kerb weight. All passengers luggage and fuel etc.

Will they put it in writing?

The 2 Tops

11/7/2013 at 11:42am
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Grampian91 is correct in saying that the GROSS weight (MTPLM) of the caravan must not exceed the UNLADEN weight of the towcar.
Some vehicle manufacturers give varying ways of specifying loading limits. In the case of my own towcar, the UNLADEN and GROSS vehicle weights are given, along with a maximum TRAILER weight. With no other limitations, I can tow my MTPLM of the caravan with my towcar at GROSS vehicle weight.
The danger comes where a vehicle manufacturer may specify a Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) or a Gross Train Weight (GTW) for the vehicle plus trailer, which could be lower than the actual combined Gross Vehicle Weight and the caravan's MTPLM.
In this case, the loading of the car AND caravan should be limited so that the whole outfit weighs no more than the MAM or GTW.
Bertie.

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The 2 Tops

Lou15e

11/7/2013 at 3:48pm
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Thanks again everyone for your replies. Feel free to keep them coming. Its the Alpine Sprite 4 2011. Yes 1209kg is correct. They are making them lighter, i.e there is no window in the door. The door to the bedroom is material and not wood. There is no mircowave etc, I could go on. Many thanks

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