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Subject Topic: Towing weight confusion Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonWilbur
05/2/2014 at 5:21pm
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Hi everyone. Considering upgrading to a bigger caravan but a bit confused by what weights to abide by when calculating 85% towing guide.

My tow car is a VW Touran with the following weight details :
Mass in Service = 1585 kg
Maximum permissible mass ex m/c = 2250 kg
MTPLM = 1500 kg (braked)
What figures do I use?
Advice as always, most appreciated.


Post last edited on 05/02/2014 18:09:15


PersonT4Tune
05/2/2014 at 5:40pm
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Mass in service means weight of car+driver+fuel so you can go on 85% of that. 85% is only a guide anyway so just around that figure is sensible.

-------------
T4U


PersonRob and Tina
05/2/2014 at 5:45pm
 Location: Royal Forest of Dean
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You should ideally be aiming for 85% of the kerb weight (mass in service) so in your case a caravan with MTPLM of 1350 would be ideal.

Is the MTPLM of your caravan 1500kg? If so that would make it a 95% match. What is the max towing weight of your car? What is the max train weight? If you have a post 97 licence you could be over the 3500kg limit meaning that you would need to take the extra test before you could tow.

Rob


PersonWilbur
05/2/2014 at 6:02pm
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Rob & Tina
Car Registration document shows :
Technical permissible maximum towable mass of the trailer = 1500kg
Mass in service = 1585kg (Is this the same as MIRO?)
Max permissible mass (exc. m/c) = 2250 kg (What is this figure?)
Depending on which figure should be used to calculate 85% match will determine what weight of caravan I should be looking at.
Thinking of a Lunar Quasar 544 ?
My licence is Pre 1997

Post last edited on 05/02/2014 18:10:06


PersonGrampian91
05/2/2014 at 6:44pm
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MIRO or Mass in Service will be a driver (75kg) and fuel and all fluids topped up.

Max permissable mass = car full of people and luggage.


The Lunar 1340kg? Would be nicely around the 85% figure.
As long as the car doesnt have a lower towing limit?


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PersonRob and Tina
05/2/2014 at 6:55pm
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85% of 1585 gives you 1350kg. The max permissible mass is the fully loaded weight as Grampian said above. If the Lunar is 1340kg it would be a very good match if it is under the gross train weight and the max towing weight.

Have a look at the weight plate on the car, it will give the max weight for the car and the gross train weight. If the GTW is more than the max permissible mass plus the MTPLM then you'll be ok.

If you can't decipher the weight plate just post the details on here and we'll help you understand it. Also check the MTPLM of the caravan you are considering.

Rob


PersonGrampian91
05/2/2014 at 8:34pm
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Thats something else. Never trust online figures.

The caravan may have a higher gross weight from new. Dont assume a brochure is correct.

You may want to get it weighed when you pick it up also.


PersonWilbur
06/2/2014 at 5:45pm
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Thanks to all those who took time to advise. Appreciated.



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