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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
Subject Topic: towing information Post Reply Post New Topic
Persondrcyam
21/1/2017 at 10:51pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: lunar delta 520 2 View drcyam's Profile View Profile   Reply to drcyam Reply   Quote drcyam Quote  
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Hello.
I'm a new caravan user and just joined the site.
I've just purchased a Lunar Delta 520/2 2004.
Will I be able to tow it legally with my Ford Focus 2.0 Auto 2002?
Will I need to keep most of my gear in the car to keep the weight of the van down ?
Thanks.


Personrichardandjo2010
21/1/2017 at 11:29pm
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To answer your question you will need to post up the weights of your car and caravan, if you know these then it is recommended that your caravans laden weight does not exceed 85% of your cars kerb weight

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its our imperfections that makes us perfect


Persondrcyam
21/1/2017 at 11:50pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: lunar delta 520 2 View drcyam's Profile View Profile   Reply to drcyam Reply   Quote drcyam Quote  
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Thanks for your reply on my question,
car kerb weight 1251-1330
caravan mass in running order weight 1114.
max weight 1350.
Cheers ,
David.


Persondrcyam
22/1/2017 at 12:18am
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: lunar delta 520 2 View drcyam's Profile View Profile   Reply to drcyam Reply   Quote drcyam Quote  
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would you tow this van with my focus or should I look for another car? Vehicle is in really good condition and I've looked after it for years....


Persontango55
22/1/2017 at 1:38am
 Location: Lichfield
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The advice for a newbie for a safe towing match is 85% and the experienced tower should never exceed 100%. The mass in running order (MIRO) is the weight of the caravan when it leaves the factory and the maximum laden weight (MTPLM) is the figure you always make the calculation as this is the MIRO plus the payload ie. personal effects, cutlery, pots and pans, electric hook up cables and water barrels etc. Your figures that you have posted shows that the caravan (1350 kgs.) is heavier than the vehicle's kerbweight (1330) so based on these figures you need to change the car or get a lighter caravan. With a caravan MTPLM weight of 1350 kgs. if you intend changing the Ford Focus then you need a vehicle with a kerbweight of around 1590 kgs.
Hope this gives a better understanding of the requirememnts of a safe towing match.


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PersonRob and Tina
22/1/2017 at 8:50am
 Location: Royal Forest of Dean
 Outfit:  Swift Major 4SB View Rob and Tina's Profile View Profile   Reply to Rob and Tina Reply   Quote Rob and Tina Quote  
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In addition to the good advice in the posts above there are 2 other things to consider. You need to check that you are not exceeding the max tow limit of the car and if you got your licence after 1997 you will have to keep the gross train weight under 3500kg.

Have a look at the towing forum where you will find lots of advice and information about weights and tow cars.

Rob


Persondrcyam
22/1/2017 at 12:38pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: lunar delta 520 2 View drcyam's Profile View Profile   Reply to drcyam Reply   Quote drcyam Quote  
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Many thanks for your expert advice Rob, Tango55 and Richard and Jo.
I passed my test way back in 1979 and did my motorcycle test at the same time.Seems a long time ago now.
My partner owns a 1.8 Ford mondeo estate so I really need to fit a tow bar and use that instead.The kerbweight of this car will be much higher.Thanks again for your advice.I have a better understanding of the figures now.
David.


PersonRob and Tina
22/1/2017 at 1:28pm
 Location: Royal Forest of Dean
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You're very welcome David. Have you checked the weights of the Mondeo just in case it has a low towing limit? It would be a shame to spend money on a tow bar and then find the car wasn't really suitable.

Rob
PS I did my test several years before you, I must be ancient!


PersonHumberWolf
22/1/2017 at 4:51pm
 Location: North Lincolnshire
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Quote: Originally posted by drcyam on 22/1/2017

My partner owns a 1.8 Ford mondeo estate so I really need to fit a tow bar and use that instead.The kerbweight of this car will be much higher.


It depends on whether this is a petrol or diesel model. The petrol models are still very light for this weight of caravan and you would be towing at around 95% which is not recommended. I would check the kerbweight (mass in service) on the V5 before fitting a towbar and follow tango55's advice on a suitable match.


Personrichardandjo2010
22/1/2017 at 7:00pm
 Location: essex
 Outfit: Swift Challenger 570 View richardandjo2010's Profile View Profile   Reply to richardandjo2010 Reply   Quote richardandjo2010 Quote  
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As above if its a petrol version it may still br too light or may not have enough torque which if so will make your journey uncomfortable, if it were me and you like the Focus I would keep it and sell of the Mondeo, you should be ok with the newer mondeo diesel or perhaps the Insignia but check first to be sure and also note that some cars will have a much lower towing limit than the kerb weight so check this too

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its our imperfections that makes us perfect


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PersonGrampian91
22/1/2017 at 10:36pm
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram View Grampian91's Profile View Profile   Reply to Grampian91 Reply   Quote Grampian91 Quote  
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The car weighs less than the caravan and the autos max tow is only 1200kg.

There is a chance the caravan weighs more than that evem when empty.

You need something at Mondeo/Passat size.


Personbarney68
24/1/2017 at 1:43am
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I have a Mondeo zetec 1.8 diesel will that be legal to tow my twin axle bailey pageant limosin.?


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Barney


PersonSamandRose
24/1/2017 at 1:24pm
 Location: Midlands
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You also need to check the manufacturer's towing limit for both cars - this should be on the V5 document. It may be (particularly for more powerful engines) that this is well in excess of the car's kerb weight, but it's illegal to tow more than that.

Provided that the manufacturer's towing limit permits, then as others have said, conventional wisdom is to limit the towed weight to about 85% of the car's kerb weight if your a newcomer, and to 100% if you have experience. This is crude advice and not a legal requirement, however on this basis and given that this is your first caravan I agree that your Focus (and possibly also the Mondeo depending on what engine it has) are borderline.

However, it really depends how much towing you're going to be doing and over what distances. If you're mostly going to be exploring your local area then there's nothing to stop you making a few weekend breaks with the caravan lightly loaded to get some experience of how your car copes with it. If however you're planning to travel across or outside the UK I would suggest a heavier and more powerful car.

Something like a Passat with the 2.0 TDI (150bhp) engine should be fine (although as the owner of 3 in succession perhaps I'm biased)! Or Mondeo/S-Max, Insignia, Volvo V70 or a small SUV made by just about anyone.



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