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Topic: Mondeo towing

bobmsmart

31/8/2015 at 10:25am
Location: Northampton
Outfit: Adora Seine and Mercedes Ml320

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OK I am a caravan virgin so treat me gently. And whilst I appreciate this has probably been covered in a separate thread, I am keen to focus on my figures cos it is so complex. I have to be sure of my personal figures for safety.

I am having real problems confirming the towing capability of my Ford Mondeo 2010 Petrol 2litre Titanium X Sport 200bhp hatchback 5 door.

I believe my GVW = 2200kg and my GTW = 3800kg which by my reckoning means I have a braked caravan weight of 1600kg.The V5 says this is my "Technical permissable maximum towable mass of the trailer".

I think I read elsewhere that 'technical' and 'legal' are different. And yet I also read that legally, the police will only consider the GTW?

Yet if I am also right, the Gross Kerb Weight of the vehicle is 1477kg so 85% of that is 1255KG.

You caravan 'oldies' will know that the difference between 1600kg and 1255kg is massive in specification available.

Can anyone help me through this mire?

Skoda Bob

31/8/2015 at 11:51am
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I am allegedly sure I read somewhere you cannot fit a tow bar to that model, due to twin exhausts

blueexpo97

31/8/2015 at 12:26pm
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I allegedly think you might be getting confused.com with the Mondeo ST.

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XVI yes?

As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.

janus

31/8/2015 at 1:00pm
Location: Rochdale
Outfit: Hymer Nova 470 Mondeo titanium 140tdc

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Whatever the police may or may not do with it. What they actually say is that unless you are involved in an accident involving injury that they will only look the plated weights, because these are individually prosecutable, however in other circumstances they will look at a C&U section 100 prosecution where the manufacturers does play a part. You would be very unwise to tow more than the cars kerbweight. People quote the 85% recommendation and forget that when quoted fully it says that for someone new to towing 85% would be a correct starting point but that with experience that up to 100% is acceptable. Anything more than 100% is inadvisable. I tow with a Mondeo and know it's capabilities and at 1400kg or just a little more you would be fine, but your car is much lighter than mine so I would not suggest more.

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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

bobmsmart

31/8/2015 at 1:09pm
Location: Northampton
Outfit: Adora Seine and Mercedes Ml320

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Thanks for so far... I had a shiver when I read about the twin exhausts but the Witter Tow Bar site seems to say that I can get one fitted.

It does seem as though we will need to downsize our expectations. 85% of the kerb weight = 1255kg. When you start to add 'stuff' on to the basic caravan and accessories (eg Awnings, bicycles, and other pretty normal standards, we will be looking at a shoe box on wheels.....

I guess I need to start looking at changing my baby....

janus

31/8/2015 at 3:54pm
Location: Rochdale
Outfit: Hymer Nova 470 Mondeo titanium 140tdc

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Most caravans have a limited payload, putting awnings and by cycles in them would probably use it all up, so no clothes or food etc. bikes are better on the car roof.

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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

SmellySocks

01/9/2015 at 10:55pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Adria Altea 502

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I've got a new Mazda 6 kerbweight 1500 so I needed a caravan with a mtplm of 1300kg. The best family caravan I could find was an adria altea at 1200kg. It's brilliant, bunks for kids, 23ft and really low weight. You should be able to tow something similar. You'll have to look carefully but you will find things low enough. Seems to me cars are getting lighter so hopefully caravans will too(though they seem to be getting heavier)

steveMc81

02/9/2015 at 11:58pm
Location: Forest of Dean
Outfit: Avndale Mayfair+Mondeo 2.2 Titanium x

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Double check that the towbar will fit your model before ordering. I know when mine was fitted they informed me that as mine was a Titanium X Sport they were not designed for that model. I pointed out mine was a Titanium X with a Sports Kit not a sports model.
Apparently it was to do with whether the bumper had to be cut or not and therefore was type approved by Ford. On the other hand I have seen sports models with towbars fitted online so somebody is doing it.
I have a 2010 2.2 TDCI Titanium X Estate that has been remapped to 224bhp and 470nm and this pulls the van (1450kg) like a train but is also stable at speed and in manouvering.

I have always worked my weights on the MAM (Maximum Authorised Mass) deducted from the Total train weight. Also worth checking, depending on when you took your licence, that you are able to drive a vehicle with a caravan attached with a MAM of 3.5 tonnes combined.

Post last edited on 03/09/2015 01:43:52

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