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Quote: Originally posted by janus on 28/8/2015

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You are correct, the max tow load is the axle weight of the trailer, so that a caravan weighing 1170kg with a nose weight of 70kg will mean that the axle weight of the caravan is 1100 and within the limit.

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Quote: Originally posted by Rainagain on 28/8/2015

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Thanks, yes it's a 2.0L petrol. We are planning to book onto a site where we leave it there all season so we could tow it empty(ish). I can't find any 5 berth vans that have a MTPLM of 1150, maybe a couple of older ones, so it looks like towing it empty is our only option unless we change the car.

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Quote: Originally posted by LlaniDavis on 28/8/2015

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Quote: Originally posted by janus on 28/8/2015You are correct, the max tow load is the axle weight of the trailer, so that a caravan weighing 1170kg with a nose weight of 70kg will mean that the axle weight of the caravan is 1100 and within the limit.

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There was a very long thread about this recently and this was proved as incorrect.
If stopped and weighed by the Police or VDSA they will weigh the trailer not connected to the towing vehicle with the wheels and hitch wheel/support on the weigh bridge. If that comes over the limit you're nicked!
This has also been confirmed by acquaintances who are Govt Vehicle Inspectors.

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Quote: Originally posted by LlaniDavis on 28/8/2015

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I shall have to tell my friends who are Vehicle Inspectors with VDSA that they are doing their job incorrectly!

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Quote: Originally posted by Billy x on 28/8/2015

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Yes it does seem logical that enforcement would simply weigh axles, I can't really see them faffing about detaching caravan. I would guess that very few caravanners have been weighed anyway. There seems no clear info on where these checks take place, are they carried out at times like bank hol weekends when caravans are about or are they just weekday checks mainly aimed at catching builders trucks/trailers overweight with caravans checked if they happen to be passing?

Only problem with towing over tow weight but within axle limit may come from insurance assessor after bad crash in which case insured would be covered for 3rd party damage but insuerer may refuse to pay out for insured's damage.

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