Home Log in or Register

Message Forums

Welcome Guest

Reception - All Forums

Caravans and Caravanning - Caravan Towcars and Towing Advice

Topic: Tow weight etc

allysson

13/9/2013 at 2:06pm
Location: Derbyshire
Outfit: Ace Award Daystar 2002

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 09/9/2013

Standard Member

Forum Posts: 33

Site Reviews Total:	0

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	0
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	0
Site Nights 2018:	0

Hi

I am totally confused about kerb weight, tow weight, laden weight, unladen weight, tow bar weight to name but a few. There are so many things I cant get my head around. Wish we had just kept the tent. All I know is that our car is ok to pull our caravan, I double checked with the caravan club.

Our car has:

Kerb Weight 1387kg

Towing Limit 1200kg

Gross vehicle weight 1880kg

Gross train weight 3080kg

Nose weight 75kg

BHP 90

Max torque 215

RPM for max torque 1750

Caravan: Ace Award Daystar 2002, 2 berth

MTPLM 1190kg

MIRO 980kg

User payload 210kg

When the car was paired with the caravan the results were:

Kerb weight radio 86%

Towing limit ratio 99%

Gross Train weight 100%

Nose weight radio 111%

We do have a thingy for weighing the nose weight

PLEASE HELP

Al+Mel

13/9/2013 at 2:31pm
Location: Hants
Outfit: Fleetwood Heritage 640 EB & ML270

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 18/9/2010

Platinum Member

Forum Posts: 1312

Site Reviews Total:	0

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	0
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	0
Site Nights 2018:	0

All looks fine. Only confusing thing is your "Nose weight radio"

75kg noseweight will be fine.

janus

13/9/2013 at 2:33pm
Location: Rochdale
Outfit: Hymer Nova 470 Mondeo titanium 140tdc

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 05/2/2008

Diamond Member

Forum Posts: 2979

Site Reviews Total:	0

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	0
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	0
Site Nights 2018:	0

It will be fine, it meets all of the criteria for being a stable unit. The power is a little light for the job so you may need the stirring stick a bit more often, but it as plenty of torque. The noseweight is a movable feast, load the van as you would like it to be and then check the noseweight ( a piece of wood the same height as the towball and our athroom scales will do the job nicely ). If it is too high you need to move some things from in front of the axle to a point just behind the axle on the floor, doing this you should be able to achieve this.

-------------
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

13/9/2013 at 2:40pm
Location: Midlands
Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 11/5/2008

Diamond Member

Forum Posts: 6893

Site Reviews Total:	2

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	0
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	0
Site Nights 2018:	0

Noseweight ratio would be at the recommended 7% figure thats why its 111%.

Mines 102% because my limit is also 75kg.

for a 1200kg caravan your looking at 84kg for the noseweight for the 7%.

Just load as close to 75kg as you can without going over.

Try and load lightly your close to the limits. So it will be easy to exceed them.
Get the caravan and car weighed so you know the true figure.

Dont rely on the caravans unladen weight plate. It maybe off by a fair few kg.

A letter in one mag had someone complaining because his van was so heavy unladen instead of having 220+kg loading margin he actually had less than 60kg.

Had to get it replated. Which is not always an option if the weight is on the limit like yours.

90bhp isnt a lot for that weight.

josey60

15/9/2013 at 1:15pm
Location: Blackpool Lancashire
Outfit: Conway countryman.

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 08/7/2010

Platinum Member

Forum Posts: 819

Site Reviews Total:	5

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	1
Site Reviews 2022:	2
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	0
Site Reviews 2018:	0

Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	7
Site Nights 2022:	8
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	0
Site Nights 2018:	0

we are thinking of upgrading to a caravan, Our car is a Citroen Xsara Picasso 2005 2.0 HDI which has a towing capacity of 1300kg,but we have been told by a local caravan dealer not to go upto this but to stick to around 1100kg,can anyone recommend any vans that will be suitable please,we have set a budget of around £6000,and vans of around year 2000 to 2006,and 4 berth.

Many thanks in advance....

Post last edited on 15/09/2013 13:23:55

-------------
Exercise every day and Die Healthy....

JOSEY60

In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here

Prev Next
Quick Links - All Forums - Caravan Towcars and Towing Advice - Top of Page

Printable version

Latest News, Discounts and Competitions see all...

5001 Visitors online !

Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker - Recommend to Friend - Add a Missing Campsite

[Message Forums] [Caravan Sites & Camping] [Company Listings] [Features / Advice] [Virtual Brochure] [Shop!]
[Reception] [Competitions] [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale] [Event Diary] [Contact Us] [Tent Reviews]

Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024

UKCampsite.co.uk
2024 Advent Calendar

24 Daily Prizes PLUS a Christmas Day Star Prize worth £999

Request a Reminder