Home Log in or Register

Message Forums

Welcome Guest

Reception - All Forums

Caravans and Caravanning - Caravan Towcars and Towing Advice

Topic: Max tow weight question

Neil63

11/2/2015 at 1:24pm
Location: Lincoln
Outfit: Volvo V70 D5 Lunar clubman SB

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 09/8/2013

Standard Member

Forum Posts: 91

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

I understand that one should limit the caravans max weight to approx. 85% of the cars towing capability but someone mentioned to me the other day that if my cars max towing capability is say 1500kgs that this figure already has the 85% factor figured in. I thought my car having 1500kgs max meant my van had to be no more that 1275kgs max. What do you guys say.

Neil

-------------
As soon as the legs are down, the bottle is open.

andyd71

11/2/2015 at 1:40pm
Location: Pontyclun
Outfit: Compas

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 15/9/2011

Gold Member

Forum Posts: 434

Site Reviews Total:	5

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	1
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:	3
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	0
Site Nights 2018:	0

legally you can tow up to the 1500 =100% but when experienced etc

but for safety reasons 85 % is a recommendation

-------------
2022
North and West wales grand tour (in T5)
Matlock (in T5)
New forest and IOW (in T5)
New Forest
La tranche sur mer
jevea (Valencia)
2023
Cotswolds
Tenby
(added a Compass Rallye to crew)
Royan
La tranche Sur Mer
2024
royan
La tranche

'Wyrd bith ful araed-Fate will out'

navver

11/2/2015 at 1:50pm
Location: West country
Outfit: Mondeo

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 23/8/2008

Diamond Member

Forum Posts: 4664

Site Reviews Total:	1

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

The 85% applies to the ratio of the caravan weight to the cars kerb weight not to its towing ability. This is to ensure a stable tow without snaking.

Your cars maximum towing weight for a braked trailer should be equal to or more than the caravans loaded weight. This is to ensure it can pull away on a hill without damage to the cars transmission.

There will also be a Gross Train Weight listed for your car. This is the maximum weight of the loaded car and loaded caravan and must not be exceeded. This again is to ensure it can pull away on a hill without damage to the cars transmission. This will probably reduce the cars maximum towing weight if the car is also carrying a heavy load.

The car will also have a maximum nose weight which should not be exceeded. This is to ensure the car suspension etc is not overloaded. To some extent, the noseweight of the caravan can be adjusted by where you carry things inside the caravan.

Neil63

11/2/2015 at 2:12pm
Location: Lincoln
Outfit: Volvo V70 D5 Lunar clubman SB

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 09/8/2013

Standard Member

Forum Posts: 91

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

Thanks for the replies, as I thought 1500kgs is 100% so 85% of 1500kgs is advisable.
I've had a look for my gross train weight but I cant find it but is it not just the kerb weight plus the max towing (braked) limit?

-------------
As soon as the legs are down, the bottle is open.

LlaniDavis

11/2/2015 at 2:19pm
Location: Llanidloes Powys
Outfit: Skoda Yeti SEL4x4 +Bailey Ranger 460-4

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 28/6/2009

Diamond Member

Forum Posts: 1963

Site Reviews Total:	12

Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	1
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:	7
Site Nights 2018:	0

Neil.
Somewhere on your vehicle will be a plate with 4 weights on it. Sometimes at the bottom of the drivers B post, sometimes on the engine bulkhead or the bonnet slam panel. They should also be in the Owners handbook.
The weights will be:
Kerb weight
Gross train weight
Max front axle weight
Max rear axle weight.

millermicm

11/2/2015 at 4:05pm
Location: west country
Outfit: None Entered

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 29/3/2009

Diamond Member

Forum Posts: 4665

Site Reviews Total:	15

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

think you are still getting bogged down a little. Don't know which CRV you have but for example an 07-2012 CRV 2.2i Dtec weighs 1713 ex factory. 85% of this is 1456kg. You maximum sensible caravan weight. This is well within the manufacturer's recommended braked tow of 2000kg for this vehicle so you would be safe AND legal.

Your train weight is also below 3500kg so you will also be legal on a post 97 licence.

In reality your vehicle will weigh a little more the ex factory weight due to fuel, towbar etc.

You need to find the correct figure for your model of a CRV.

-------------
Steve

ROG.

11/2/2015 at 4:27pm
Location: LEICESTER
Outfit: None Entered

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 19/1/2012

Gold Member

Forum Posts: 392

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

Quote: Originally posted by LlaniDavis on 11/2/2015
Neil.
Somewhere on your vehicle will be a plate with 4 weights on it. Sometimes at the bottom of the drivers B post, sometimes on the engine bulkhead or the bonnet slam panel. They should also be in the Owners handbook.
The weights will be:
Kerb weight
Gross train weight
Max front axle weight
Max rear axle weight.

Not quite
No kerb weight on that plate

GVW
GTW
F axle
R axle

-------------
EX Advanced driving observer (IAM)
EX LGV & B+E instructor

ROG.

11/2/2015 at 4:29pm
Location: LEICESTER
Outfit: None Entered

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 19/1/2012

Gold Member

Forum Posts: 392

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

Quote: Originally posted by millermicm on 11/2/2015

Your train weight is also below 3500kg so you will also be legal on a post 97 licence.

That is not quite correct as train weight refers to actual weight

3500 total plated weight is max for B towing

That is the car GVW added to the caravan MTPLM

-------------
EX Advanced driving observer (IAM)
EX LGV & B+E instructor

janus

11/2/2015 at 4:37pm
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

Quote: Originally posted by millermicm on 11/2/2015
think you are still getting bogged down a little. Don't know which CRV you have but for example an 07-2012 CRV 2.2i Dtec weighs 1713 ex factory. 85% of this is 1456kg. You maximum sensible caravan weight. This is well within the manufacturer's recommended braked tow of 2000kg for this vehicle so you would be safe AND legal.

Your train weight is also below 3500kg so you will also be legal on a post 97 licence.

In reality your vehicle will weigh a little more the ex factory weight due to fuel, towbar etc.

You need to find the correct figure for your model of a CRV.

I think you have things a little confused. For a licence dated before 1997 the op gas no problems. For a licence dated after 01/01/1997 he is likely to be illegal with a CRV and a caravan weighing 1500kg. The condition he has to satisfy is that the the max gross weight ( either on the V5 or on the cars weight plate ) added to the caravans max laden n weight ( found on the caravans weight plate ) must give a result that is not greater than 3500kg. The actual train weight is not considered in this calculation.

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

Neil63

12/2/2015 at 4:23am
Location: Lincoln
Outfit: Volvo V70 D5 Lunar clubman SB

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 09/8/2013

Standard Member

Forum Posts: 91

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

Thanks everyone for the advise. My CRV is a 2006 petrol auto, Max towing of 1500kgs, my vans MTPLM is 1100kgs and I've had my license for a long time before '97. I know I can safely tow this van, my original question was only to find out if the cars towing limit of 1500kgs was the 100% figure (meaning 85% of this being 1275kgs) or 1500kgs was in fact 85% of the cars limit.

-------------
As soon as the legs are down, the bottle is open.

wongers

12/2/2015 at 8:06am
Location: devon
Outfit: fc plus 2 many tents

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 05/3/2010

Diamond Member

Forum Posts: 2404

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

as i believe said above,the 1500kg is the max tow limit.the 85% guide is to do with the kerb weight of the car,and has nothing to do with the tow limit set by the manufacturer.

-------------
tony
that was a lovely summer

ROG.

12/2/2015 at 9:02am
Location: LEICESTER
Outfit: None Entered

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 19/1/2012

Gold Member

Forum Posts: 392

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

You have a B+E so no need to concern yourself with the B towing rules

You are not going to be towing an actual weight over 1500 so the towing capacity is ok

You now come to the 85% guidance for towing caravans which advises that the actual weight of the caravan should not be more than 85% of the actual weight of the towing vehicle

The advice uses the worse case scenario figures which is an empty vehicle (kerb weight) and a fully loaded caravan (MTPLM)

The realistic view is that a worse case scenario is very unlikely to occur but to get a true weight figure for both would need a trip to a weighbridge or some very clever working out

As you can see the towing capacity has no impact on the balance weight between the two

-------------
EX Advanced driving observer (IAM)
EX LGV & B+E instructor

Neil63

12/2/2015 at 11:53am
Location: Lincoln
Outfit: Volvo V70 D5 Lunar clubman SB

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 09/8/2013

Standard Member

Forum Posts: 91

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

Thanks ROG. That helps and actually my kerb weight is 1575kgs so All's well me thinks.

Thanks everyone for the much appreciated help.

-------------
As soon as the legs are down, the bottle is open.

ROG.

12/2/2015 at 3:18pm
Location: LEICESTER
Outfit: None Entered

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 19/1/2012

Gold Member

Forum Posts: 392

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

Quote: Originally posted by Neil63 on 12/2/2015
Thanks ROG. That helps and actually my kerb weight is 1575kgs so All's well me thinks.

Thanks everyone for the much appreciated help.

Easily within 85% even in worse case scenario

-------------
EX Advanced driving observer (IAM)
EX LGV & B+E instructor

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...

4609 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