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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
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PersonSmellySocks
21/7/2015 at 7:59pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Adria Altea 502 View SmellySocks's Profile View Profile   Reply to SmellySocks Reply   Quote SmellySocks Quote  
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Hi, This may be a silly question(actually 2). I'm going to buy a carvan. I have a mazda 6 2015, kerbweight just under 1500kg so looking to buy a 1300kg caravan(MTPLM)to give an 86% match. I've got that right yeah?

So its hard to find what I want at 1300kg, I spoke to a dealer who said a mondeo would pull a 1500kg caravan no problem, but the 2015 mondeo has a similar kerbweight to my car and a really low towing capacity. So is the dealer wrong ? Or am I calculating in wrong?

Does this mean no normal saloon car will pull 1500kg? Do you need a 4x4 to pull that ?

Also, that 86% match is based on empty car(just driver) and full caravan, right? So if I empty the caravan and fill the car, could I pull 1400kg? (I know I can legally I mean safely).

I've never towed before and I'm a bit scared(Towing course was cancelled by CC got another booked for September).

Sorry if I'm confused, its a bit scary all this towing malarkey.


Persontango55
21/7/2015 at 8:18pm
 Location: Lichfield
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 450 View tango55's Profile View Profile   Reply to tango55 Reply   Quote tango55 Quote  
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The kerbweight on my Volvo is 1568 kgs. with my caravan MTPLM being 1300 kgs. gives a match of 83% which is very much identical to what you are looking for. You don't say whether you are looking for a 2 or 4 berth caravan but if it's a 2 berth then you should have no problem find the right weight of caravan.
Car dealers know about making money but very little about caravanning unfortunately so I would dismiss anything a dealer says and do your own homework. If you don't believe me about car dealers, ask them what the difference is between twin 7 pin electrics and the 13 pin single socket and the majority won't know which then proves my point to which they change the subject immediately.    


PersonGraeme_Cooke
21/7/2015 at 8:24pm
 Location: County Durham
 Outfit: Elddis Encore 254 View Graeme_Cooke's Profile View Profile   Reply to Graeme_Cooke Reply   Quote Graeme_Cooke Quote  
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Basically 85% of the cars minimum kerb weight for the caravans MTPLM is only a guide. Not law. The law states that you can't tow heavier than your car manufacturers limit.

There are many estate cars that can tow 1500kg at 85% and there are some light weight vans too. Have a look at Lunar. Somebody on here recently suggest a Mk4 Mondeo would be heavy enough but I've not checked it. We had an E Class estate with a minimum kerb weight of 1836kg.


PersonSmellySocks
21/7/2015 at 9:05pm
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 Outfit: Adria Altea 502 View SmellySocks's Profile View Profile   Reply to SmellySocks Reply   Quote SmellySocks Quote  
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Ok thanks so I am working out right. Guess I'll just have to stick to the light vans. I want a 4 berth but really with fixed bunks, which is what 6 berths have. There's a few in range but they are expensive. If I could go heavier I could get cheaper.


Personjanus
21/7/2015 at 11:49pm
 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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I towed a 1450 kg hymer with a 1496kg Mondeo mk3 115tdci and it was a fantastic tow car. It did everything you could possibly want. My Mk 4 is heavier, and just as good with the same car just more refined. Your Mazda is based on the Mondeo do I am told and we here good reports of them as tow cars, so I see no reason for you not to look at vans in the 1400+ kg range if that would help you find the van you want. Your car is certainly capable of towing one, it is stable at all legal speeds towing one. You would be wise to start with to take great care packing it, and to keep your speed down till you get the hang of it.


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


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Personjanus
21/7/2015 at 11:51pm
 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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Quote: Originally posted by Graeme_Cooke on 21/7/2015
Basically 85% of the cars minimum kerb weight for the caravans MTPLM is only a guide. Not law. The law states that you can't tow heavier than your car manufacturers limit.

There are many estate cars that can tow 1500kg at 85% and there are some light weight vans too. Have a look at Lunar. Somebody on here recently suggest a Mk4 Mondeo would be heavy enough but I've not checked it. We had an E Class estate with a minimum kerb weight of 1836kg.


A mk4 Mondeo would be quite happy and very safe with a 1500kg van.



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


PersonROG.
22/7/2015 at 7:56am
 Location: LEICESTER
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What is the actual minimum weight of the towing vehicle likely to be when towing ?

What is 85% of that ?

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


PersonBogbreath
22/7/2015 at 8:10am
 Location: Lincoln Lincolnshire
 Outfit: Mondeo Tot X Sport - Elddis Avante 860 View Bogbreath's Profile View Profile   Reply to Bogbreath Reply   Quote Bogbreath Quote  
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I tow a 1500Kg MTPLM van with a Mk3 Mondeo. This is a stable and fantastic combo. Ford state that the car is capable of towing 1800Kg Max. I know this is more than the 85% CC recommendation but I do have a few years experience towing now.


PersonSmellySocks
07/8/2015 at 4:00pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Adria Altea 502 View SmellySocks's Profile View Profile   Reply to SmellySocks Reply   Quote SmellySocks Quote  
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Bought an Adria at 1200 kg, so hopefully will be easy to tow. Thanks for the help guys.



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