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Subject Topic: realistic payload allowance advice sought Post Reply Post New Topic
Personlumiere68
14/9/2016 at 12:04pm
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hi, my car is a 2012 mazda 5 1.6 diesel. My max tow weight is 1200kg, I have my eye on an adria altea which is heavyish for my car 1070 unladen and a mtplm of 1300kg.
my question is if I went for this option and was cautious with what i put in the van is it still do-able ? Never having towed a caravan before we are coming from tent camping. Would you consider approx 130kg of payload as too little and should I look elsewhere ?


Personbessie500
14/9/2016 at 4:44pm
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Hi sorry for the bad news but this van is 100 kgs to heavy for your car

Bessie


PersonMike3003
14/9/2016 at 5:08pm
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As with Bessie I am afraid. I would much rather have a bit to spare than be on the limit.



-------------
Not ALL Newts get p**sed.

“Semper Fidelis”


PersonOpensauce
14/9/2016 at 5:17pm
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You need to keep information on this forum accurate. The caravan is only too heavy for the car if it is loaded beyond 1200kg as measured by weighing caravan axle.

However, if you believe the suggested car/caravan combination is not advisable then you need to state exactly why that is.

Possible reasons could be realistically insufficient margin for a normal load of gear or lack of towing experience for example?

It is fair to say that if you attempt to load a car/caravan combination it's maximum by distributing load between car & caravan to approaching max train weight you have a good chance of going over it. The extra case of beer & barbecue briquettes could do it.

So yes bessie, your answer was broadly correct but the facts as you presented them were inaccurate.


Personlumiere68
14/9/2016 at 5:24pm
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thanks for the clarification opensauce. I am aware that 1300 exceeds my cars legal towing limit, its really a question of in the real world with all the bits and pieces that a family can carry is it realistic to think that 130kg can cover most things since thats all i have to keep within 1200kg. My car has a roofbox and we would probably try carry the awning inside the car to save weight, things like that.   


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Personnavver
14/9/2016 at 8:55pm
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As well as the max tow weight you will also have a max train weight. This is the maximum weight your car and caravan can be when actually loaded.

Many cars say you can only tow the maximum tow weight if you remain within the gross train weight. Loading the car well up can therefore reduce the max tow weight from the 1200kg. Moving stuff from caravan to car will not change the gross train weight.

You also need to check the kerb weight of the car and ideally the loaded caravan should be 85% or less of this for stability.

To make things worse, many people find their caravans weigh quite a bit more than the quoted unladen weight. This can be due to the manufacturer getting it wrong or owners adding extra kit.


Personlumiere68
14/9/2016 at 10:23pm
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thanks for your advice, food for thought.


PersonGrampian91
15/9/2016 at 12:12am
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My car is in the above category, I can load it upto 2200kg or i can tow 1800kg. But i cannot do both. The gross train weight is approx 200kg less than the combined weights.

So i need a lighter trailer/van etc or load the car less.

The issue with the van is the 1070kg may not be accurate. It maybe closer to the 1300kg than you think.

They only weight a couple and take an average reading.

One of the caravan mags had a complaint letter when the owner weighed his van and found it to be only 65kg short of the max laden weight even though the van was empty.

Luckily he could get the caravan plated at a higher weight.

There is a list of essential items and their weights and a battery, spare wheel and a hookup lead will eat into a lot of your 130kg allowance. Thats IF you really do have 130kg to play with which is doubtful.


Personbessie500
15/9/2016 at 11:41am
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My understanding is the police go off max tow weight and max caravan weight as they dont carry around a weigh bridge............i could be wrong though.

As for loading things light youd be suprised at just how easy the weigh mount up. see attached sheet

     van      car
25 meter cable  /  weighed                   4.5     
            Ramp and blocks     2     
110 amp battery  weighed                   27     
BP Gaslight      10     
spare wheel etc  weighed                  19     
aqua role  weighed                  4     
wastemaster / fluid   weighed              6     
Awning and poles           30
oval table   weighed                 5     
chairs      x 4          3.5     14
cadac                    15
Tv       3.19     
quilt and 4 pillows / sleeping bag          weighed                  9     
pegs, mallet, drill etc say      est               5     
towels, bathrobe toiletries     weighed               5     
cutlery, plates kettle knifes and forks                        6     
shoes           
air bed inner tent          3.5
groundsheet               weighed                  8     
toiletries     2.5     
windbreak               weighed               3.5     
games / lights      5     
Clothes            
Surf boards           10
Food     10     
Booze           
jack          10
Total     138     67

   
Sorry its a bit all over the place its from a spreadsheet on my laptop, but for some reason the grid lines dont go over

Mark
     


Personlumiere68
15/9/2016 at 11:54am
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thanks to everyone for their contribution, I'm now refocusing on a lighter van so will search for an adria altea 502 dk instead. Im an experienced driver of over 30 years but no towing experience and I dont want to take the chance on the wrong set up from the start.


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PersonOpensauce
15/9/2016 at 12:03pm
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If there are any police to stop vehicles these days they can only go with combined MAM of car/caravan to check for valid driving licence. If they believe a combination is overweight then they need to send it to nearest weighbridge.

If only a full weighbridge is available they can only check complete combination to ensure gross train mass is not exceeded. If axle weighing facilities are available then provided caravan axle weight does not exceed max tow limit for car then ok.


PersonLlaniDavis
15/9/2016 at 1:26pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Opensauce on 15/9/2016
If there are any police to stop vehicles these days they can only go with combined MAM of car/caravan to check for valid driving licence. If they believe a combination is overweight then they need to send it to nearest weighbridge.

If only a full weighbridge is available they can only check complete combination to ensure gross train mass is not exceeded. If axle weighing facilities are available then provided caravan axle weight does not exceed max tow limit for car then ok.


Not totally correct, they along with DVSA carry small independent wheel scales. Can often be seen in use around the Marts, when they do spot checks.


PersonDaveS1
15/9/2016 at 1:47pm
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Regardless of all the above legal stuff I would have thought that driving that sort of combination would have been very hard work! Surely you would be up and down the gears at the slightest in line.
DaveS1


PersonSkoda Bob
16/9/2016 at 1:30am
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Considering things like battery spare wheel and gas bottle are now included in the miro by most manufactures , bessies list is obserleat


Personbessie500
19/9/2016 at 12:04pm
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Not always the case bob you need to check your hand books,
It was always the case that the MIRO was how the van left the factory & who do the maufactures know what gas bottle and battery you put in ?? i have a 10kg BP gaslight bottle, i'm certain coachman dont know that

Bessie


PersonDDJC
21/9/2016 at 2:04pm
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I'm careful about weight, keeping at least 10kilos under on the way out. However, this is remedied on the last leg from Troyes to Calais, via the hypermarkets...

If in doubt, phone your council for a spin on their weighbridge.



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