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 Topic: Unstable unit - help please!
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17/8/2013 at 8:07pm
Location: Bradford West Yorkshire
Outfit: Ssangyong Korando & Sprite Major 6TD
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Firstly apologies for the long posting, but wanted to make sure I had included all the details!
Here’s the problem, we share a caravan with my parents in law, which we changed at the start of the year. The previous van was a 2009 Sprite Major 6, which neither of us had any issues towing despite the van being over 85% of the kerb weight. (Should note that father-in-law is an HGV driver so has plenty of experience of driving/towing all sorts of vehicles).
The new van (2013 Sprite Major 6 TD) is very similar weight, and towed behind our Kia Sportage feels better than the old van; father in law however is struggling with the new van swaying all over the place…
When the van left today it weighed 1440kg (therefore 40kg underweight) – checked on a Reich Caravan Weight Controller. The nose weight was 78kg – checked on a Milenco precision noseweight gauge.
Tyre pressures were exactly right on the van, checked on a brand new digital tyre pressure gauge. Front and back of the van is loaded with duvets, bedding etc. All food and equipment is central in the van.
There’s no excessive temperature in the van tyres, or wheels to indicate any issues with the brakes.
The only thing I can think of is the match percentage – but why would it be any worse on this van than the last which he towed with ease (it was even re-plated to 1500kg and he towed it full!). I’ve attached the match reports from the Caravan Club website for both his and our cars… as I say the only potential issue is the % match – but don’t know what the difference is between old and new vans.
Any help/suggestions very gratefully received!
Match report - Mondeo (Unstable)
The Club advises that a Ford Mondeo Zetec 2.0TDCi 140 PS (2007) can, with warnings, tow a Sprite Major 6 TD (2013)
• 2 Kerbweight ratio: 95%
• The caravan's laden weight is close to the car's kerb weight, increasing the risk of stability concerns. This outfit should not be driven by novice towers, and does not meet Club guidelines. Note that a small increase in ratio (to perhaps 90%) is acceptable if all other criteria are passed.
• 1 Towing limit ratio: 82%
• The caravan's laden weight is within the car's stated towing limit, and therefore meets legal limitations.
• 1 Gross train weight ratio: 92%
• The sum of the car and caravan’s fully laden weights is within the car’s gross train weight. This outfit can therefore be used legally with both the car and the caravan fully laden.
• 1 Nose weight ratio: 125%
• The car's nose weight should be fine to safely tow this caravan. If this figure is high, however, (typically over 100%) care will be needed to load the caravan so that the car’s nose weight limit is not exceeded, but this should be practically achievable. Aim for 5-7% of the caravan’s actual laden weight without overloading the car.
• 1 BHP per ton : 43
• The car’s engine power should be fine to safely tow this caravan.
B+E Licence required
The maximum combined weight of this car and caravan car gross vehicle weight + caravan MTPLM) are over 3500kg, which means you need to have a category B+E driving licence. If you obtained your standard car driving licence before 1st January 1997, you already have this – if not you will need to take a B+E test to legally drive this outfit.
Ford Mondeo Zetec 2.0TDCi 140 PS (2007)
Make Ford
Range Zetec 2.0TDCi 140 PS
Model Mondeo
Year 2007
Fuel type Diesel
Transmission type Manual
Body type Hatchback
Kerb weight 1559.00kg
Towing limit 1800.00kg
Gross vehicle weight 2170.00kg
Gross train weight 3970.00kg
Nose weight 80.00kg
BHP 140
RPM for maximum BHP 4000.00
Maximum torque 340.00
RPM for maximum torque 1750.00
More info
Overall height 1500.00mm
Overall width 1886.00mm
Overall length 4778.00mm
Engine size 2.00
Driven wheels Front
Number of doors 5
Number of speeds 6
Self levelling suspension No
Stability control Standard
Trailer stability prog. Unknown
Transmission description Manual
CO2 156
Emission standards met E4
Trailer braked % incl. 12.00
Trailer unbraked % incl. 12.00
Sprite Major 6 TD (2013)
Make Sprite
Range Major
Model 6 TD
Year 2013
Type Caravan
Berths 6
Number of axles 1
MTPLM 1480kg
MIRO 1274kg
User payload 206kg
Hitch limit Unknown
Shipping length 7.48m
Overall width 2.23m
Overall height 2.65m
Match report (Sportage - No stability Issues)
The Club advises that a KIA Sportage 2.0 CRDI TITAN 4WD (2008) can, with warnings, tow a Sprite Major 6 TD (2013)
• 1 Kerbweight ratio: 80%
• The caravan's laden weight is within 85% of the car's kerb weight, and therefore meets Club guidelines.
• 1 Towing limit ratio: 82%
• The caravan's laden weight is within the car's stated towing limit, and therefore meets legal limitations.
• 1 Gross train weight ratio: 92%
• The sum of the car and caravan’s fully laden weights is within the car’s gross train weight. This outfit can therefore be used legally with both the car and the caravan fully laden.
• 1 Nose weight ratio: 133%
• The car's nose weight should be fine to safely tow this caravan. If this figure is high, however, (typically over 100%) care will be needed to load the caravan so that the car’s nose weight limit is not exceeded, but this should be practically achievable. Aim for 5-7% of the caravan’s actual laden weight without overloading the car.
• 2 BHP per ton : 39
• The car's engine power is quite low to tow this caravan. It may be sluggish and uncomfortable on hills or at junctions.
B+E Licence required
The maximum combined weight of this car and caravan car gross vehicle weight + caravan MTPLM) are over 3500kg, which means you need to have a category B+E driving licence. If you obtained your standard car driving licence before 1st January 1997, you already have this – if not you will need to take a B+E test to legally drive this outfit.
KIA Sportage 2.0 CRDI TITAN 4WD (2008)
Make KIA
Range 2.0 CRDI TITAN 4WD
Model Sportage
Year 2008
Fuel type Diesel
Transmission type Manual
Body type Sports utility vehicle
Kerb weight 1842.00kg
Towing limit 1800.00kg
Gross vehicle weight 2260.00kg
Gross train weight 4060.00kg
Nose weight 75.00kg
BHP 138
RPM for maximum BHP 4000.00
Maximum torque 305.00
RPM for maximum torque 1800.00
More info
Overall height 1730.00mm
Overall width 1840.00mm
Overall length 4350.00mm
Engine size 2.00
Driven wheels 4x4
Number of doors 5
Number of speeds 6
Self levelling suspension No
Stability control Standard
Trailer stability prog. -
Transmission description Manual
CO2 187
Emission standards met E4
Trailer braked % incl. Unknown
Trailer unbraked % incl. Unknown
Sprite Major 6 TD (2013)
Make Sprite
Range Major
Model 6 TD
Year 2013
Type Caravan
Berths 6
Number of axles 1
MTPLM 1480kg
MIRO 1274kg
User payload 206kg
Hitch limit Unknown
Shipping length 7.48m
Overall width 2.23m
Overall height 2.65m
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