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Subject Topic: Qashqai/Sterling Europa Towing weights Post Reply Post New Topic
Personcapnrhodes
30/5/2015 at 11:06pm
 Location: Lincolnshire
 Outfit: Swift Rapide Citroen Picasso View capnrhodes's Profile View Profile   Reply to capnrhodes Reply   Quote capnrhodes Quote  
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I wish to buy a 2004 Sterling Europa 520, MTPLM 1335kg. My 1.6dci Qashqai can tow 1400kg, so no problem there. My question is, the handbook for the caravan states coupling head weight of 100kg but my car has a towball limit of 75kg, therefore if I reduce the coupling weight of the Europa by careful stowage, will it become unstable on the road? Also are there any legal implications?

Thanks in anticipation.

-------------
The Capn'


Persontango55
31/5/2015 at 12:37am
 Location: Lichfield
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 450 View tango55's Profile View Profile   Reply to tango55 Reply   Quote tango55 Quote  
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Nissan may quote that the vehicle is capable of towing 1400 kgs. only because of the design and structure of the chassis but that doesn't make it a safe match between car and caravan. You need to recalculate the figures based on the vehicle's kerbweight and the caravan's MTPLM and then see what the true percentage match is.
Looking at the Nissan Qashqai specifications in the link below, the 1400 maximum towing capacity is for the 2.0 ltr. dci version and even then the 85% match only calculates to 1291 kgs. plus there isn't a 1.6 dci engine listed so the figures you have provided don't match up.


Nissan Qashqai Towing Specs.


Personneil and lena
31/5/2015 at 9:04am
 Location:  Dumfries
 Outfit: 2022 CoachmanVIP 2022 Pilote P696GJ View neil and lena's Profile View Profile   Reply to neil and lena Reply   Quote neil and lena Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by capnrhodes on 30/5/2015
I wish to buy a 2004 Sterling Europa 520, MTPLM 1335kg. My 1.6dci Qashqai can tow 1400kg, so no problem there. My question is, the handbook for the caravan states coupling head weight of 100kg but my car has a towball limit of 75kg, therefore if I reduce the coupling weight of the Europa by careful stowage, will it become unstable on the road? Also are there any legal implications?

Thanks in anticipation.


As said previously you need to ascertain your cars kerbweight to ideally work out a suitable car / caravan match .
The towing capacity of some cars is often greater than there unladen weight


Personcapnrhodes
31/5/2015 at 1:05pm
 Location: Lincolnshire
 Outfit: Swift Rapide Citroen Picasso View capnrhodes's Profile View Profile   Reply to capnrhodes Reply   Quote capnrhodes Quote  
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Thanks everyone for advice. The Qashqai 1.6 dci replaces the manual 2.0dci and has equivalent power and torque outputs. The Mass in Service from the log book (V5c) is 1617kg. 85% = 1374kg therefore caravan MPTLM of 1335kg is well within limit. However, the question is, as the caravan coupling head is rated at 100kg, is this a requirement or recommendation and what will the effect on towing be if, by careful stowage of payload, the coupling weight is reduced to 75kg?

Thanks again.

-------------
The Capn'


Personbilly
31/5/2015 at 1:19pm
 Location: North Essex
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You should be ok to set caravan noseweight to 75kg, rule of thumb is that noseweight should be between 5-7% of gross weight so should tow ok.

The 100kg is max rating of hitch meaning no more than 100kg but you can run it at less provided it tows ok & at 75kg it should.


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PersonBaileyjake
31/5/2015 at 1:35pm
 Location: West Midlands
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 570 6 + Shogun SG4 View Baileyjake's Profile View Profile   Reply to Baileyjake Reply   Quote Baileyjake Quote  
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What is the "mass in service" is this different from the kerb weight? I thought the kerb weight was the figure used for outfit matching and the quashkai is not that heavy.

My car has a max towball loading of 100kg but I load my van with 60kg on the nose because when loaded more than that the car doesn't sit level. I have even fitted helper springs to the rear of my outlander.

Anyway towing with the 60kg nose weight is not unstable just a bit bouncy on lumpy roads.

I used to tow with a jeep that was lighter than the outlander, it didn't feel as sure footed as the outlander but was way under 85%. The outlander bailey ranger combo is 71% according to tow car . Com but on kerb weight it's about 79%


Personbilly
31/5/2015 at 3:11pm
 Location: North Essex
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Mass in service is actually a clear definition if you google, 90% full of fuel & 75kg for driver, something like that, so much the same as kerbweight really. It don't actually matter that much because 85% is only a guide.

The important weight is the max allowable laden weight because from that you work out licence requirements.


Personcapnrhodes
31/5/2015 at 8:16pm
 Location: Lincolnshire
 Outfit: Swift Rapide Citroen Picasso View capnrhodes's Profile View Profile   Reply to capnrhodes Reply   Quote capnrhodes Quote  
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Many thanks for help and advice, I shall go ahead and buy the van much better informed.

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The Capn'



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