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   Caravans and Caravanning -  Caravan Towcars and Towing Advice 		Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email  Printer Friendly Version Print
Subject Topic: Tow weight, legal or not Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonJohn M0GWR
15/9/2013 at 10:08am
 Location: Nottingham
 Outfit: Swift Challenger 530se Ford Galaxy 1. View John M0GWR's Profile View Profile   Reply to John M0GWR Reply   Quote John M0GWR Quote  
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Hi People


I have the chance to get a Bailey Ranger 620/6 caravan and i have been looking at the tow car info site, It looks legal to me but just wanted 2nd opinions as i do not want to buy it and then find myself in trouble with the law. Here is what it says about my car and the Bailey


Car make and model     Skoda Superb - 2.5 V6 TDI
Year of issue     august 2003 - september 2008
Power     161 bhp (120 kW) at 4000 rpm
Torque     258 lb/ft (350 Nm) at (or from) 1500 rpm
Kerbweight (may differ in the UK)     1645 kg and 'ballasted' with 250 kg
Tyres     205 / 55 R 16
Transmission     Manual (or automatic without torque converter)
6 speed
Caravan     Bailey
Actual laden caravan weight     1481 kg (car towing limit is 1600 kg)
The airflow is:     average (height = 2.59 m and width = 2.19 m)
Gross Train weight (car+caravan)     3376 kg


Thank you

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PersonChrisPolly+Oscar
15/9/2013 at 11:29am
 Location: Lancaster
 Outfit: Landcruiser & Avondale Mayfair 510-5L View ChrisPolly+Oscar's Profile View Profile   Reply to ChrisPolly+Oscar Reply   Quote ChrisPolly+Oscar Quote  
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On the high side for ratio of caravan MTPLM to Car kerbweight, 1481kg/1645kg = 90%, but nothing illegal.
If you are a confident towist, and load car & caravan carefully, then you should be fine. More than enough bhp & Nm to make decent progress up hill & down dale.
Whattowcar.com gives a whole series of information, including compatability of the all important noseweight.
Just take a look.
whattowcar.com

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Regards
Chris
Caravanning for 22 years
1997 Toyota Land Cruiser 3.0TD & 2004 Avondale Mayfair 510-5L
Previous towcars:
2002 Nissan Primera - sold
2002 Ford Galaxy - Died & scrapped. Good riddance.
1998 BMW 525TDS SE - PEx
1998 VW Passat SE - Crashed into & scrapped
1997 Peugeot 406 GLX - PEx


PersonBill Terry
15/9/2013 at 11:36am
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I think you will be close to 90% with your tow car.someone here will comfirm this.

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Roughing it in style at Calloose caravan and camping holiday park nr St Ives.(seasonal pitch)
Its not a hangover, its wine flu!


nant mill.N/Wales
just dont go there.


PersonPetemate
15/9/2013 at 11:53am
 Location: Kennington OXFORD
 Outfit: 2005 Eccles Sterling Topaz 2 berth View Petemate's Profile View Profile   Reply to Petemate Reply   Quote Petemate Quote  
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As said on many an occasion, 85% is a guideline but worth sticking to if towing 'newbie'! However, with an experienced driver and careful loading etc this outfit should be OK. Plenty of power there. Scrupulous attention to loading, noseweight, tyre pressures (always recommended set COLD!), and of course driving style.
Many advocate sticking to 55-56 and tucking in behind HGVs - IMHO not a good idea to get too close behind them as the bow wave can set up a nasty imbalance of ones outfit. If going down this speed/proximity route, then stay back a bit out of the way of the effect from the HGV.
Personally I find sticking at 60 on m/ways and DCs gives a far more relaxed drive, even when having to hang on for a while before overtaking them once the road behind is clear (to avoid being part of an 'elephant race'!).


PersonGrampian91
15/9/2013 at 12:04pm
 Location: Midlands
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The gross train weight is the cars max laden weight + the caravans max laden weight.

When did you pass your driving test?

How old is the caravan? Figures i have are 1540kg for the 620/6.


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PersonJohn M0GWR
15/9/2013 at 12:28pm
 Location: Nottingham
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Thank you all for the reply's.

In answer to your questions

Test past, er quite a while ago 1985

Caravan is a 2008

Not a newbie to towing.

I don't like the idea off sticking to the rear of HGV'S on the motorway i like to cruise at 60 with the cc on.

We do not need a 6 birth van but it looks very good value for money. I have also looked at a 2006 Bailey Senator 5 Indiana which is a little older.



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Personjanus
15/9/2013 at 12:28pm
 Location: Rochdale
 Outfit: Hymer Nova 470 Mondeo titanium 140tdc View janus's Profile View Profile   Reply to janus Reply   Quote janus Quote  
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As far as the outfit being overladen or not you are well within the legal limits. However, if your licence is dated after 01/01/1997 then i very much doubt whether the plated gross vehicle weight of the car plus the plated maximum Technical permitted laden mass of caravan will be less than the required 3500kg for you to be legal as far as your licence is concerned.

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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


PersonGrampian91
15/9/2013 at 2:49pm
 Location: Midlands
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Figures seem OK then. Its a bit heavy but not excessive.

The only other thing with a twin axle is when you need to manouvre it. It can be a clutch burning exercise.

If you need to move it maybe add some motor movers?


PersonJohn M0GWR
15/9/2013 at 5:34pm
 Location: Nottingham
 Outfit: Swift Challenger 530se Ford Galaxy 1. View John M0GWR's Profile View Profile   Reply to John M0GWR Reply   Quote John M0GWR Quote  
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Thank you again for your reply's and info. I do take on board what you have all said. The last reply has had me think though, i did not know that about the twins and maneuvering.

Anyway i have just been to look at a Bailey Senator Indiana Series 5 and to be honest i really quite like it. From having a quick read on the net it would seem the Senator could be better quality van the the Ranger. MTPLM is 1500kg so a little lighter than the ranger..... I am just not sure which way to go now.

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