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Quote: Originally posted by Pixie_Hez on 30/7/2018

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I am sure that someone will correct me if I’m wrong but I was lead to believe that for a caravan to tow in the most stable manner, the nose weight should be no less than 7% of the mtplm of the caravan. So, my trusty calculator tells me that 7% of 1818 is 127kg which is clearly way too much for your car. You can load the caravan with less weight at the front and more slightly rear of the axle but this will definitely lead to stability issues and I certainly wouldn’t risk it.

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Quote: Originally posted by woodman2 on 30/7/2018

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Are you still within the 135kg?
We struggle to get under the 125kg in our coachman, but we have a motor mover so that doesn't help.

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Quote: I tow with a Jaguar XF with a max tow limit of 1850 and the caravan has a MTPLM of 1818. I have 7 years towing experience and I am quite comfortable with this but my issue is that the nose weight on the Jag is only 75kg where I believe the van nose weight is 95kg.

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Thank you in advance

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Quote: Originally posted by plantpot50 on 30/7/2018

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Quote: Originally posted by Grampian91 on 30/7/2018

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Caravans almost 100kg over the cars kerbweight...

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The van has a massive payload of 276kg though. We would never take anywhere near this.

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Quote: Originally posted by malkeiron on 31/7/2018

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Quote: I tow with a Jaguar XF with a max tow limit of 1850 and the caravan has a MTPLM of 1818. I have 7 years towing experience and I am quite comfortable with this but my issue is that the nose weight on the Jag is only 75kg where I believe the van nose weight is 95kg.

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Thank you in advance

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You say that you have 7 years towing experience can I ask does your license allow you to tow over 3500kg?
It's only a question as some people don't realise if they passed their driving test after 1997.

Keiron

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Quote: Originally posted by woodman2 on 01/8/2018

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I don't think plantpot50 is listening anymore.

He has made his mind up.

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Quote: Originally posted by Grampian91 on 31/7/2018

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Quote: Originally posted by plantpot50 on 30/7/2018

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Quote: Originally posted by Grampian91 on 30/7/2018

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Caravans almost 100kg over the cars kerbweight...

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The van has a massive payload of 276kg though. We would never take anywhere near this.

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It doesnt work like that except by those trying to manipulate the figures for an unsuitable outfit.

The 85% (only a guideline, not a legal figure) is based on the caravans gross weight and the cars kerbweight.
Its not a load the car to its max and then work out the 85%.

Also how accurate is the caravans weight? With my handbook it states the figures are + or - 5% which will vary due to the natural materials used. One length of wood maybe heavier than the other.

One of the caravan magazines had a letter where a buyer took his new caravan to a weighbridge and instead of having 240kg of loading margin he had just 60kg. Add on almost 40kg for his mover he wanted and that left a loading limit of just 20kg.
Possibly a worst case, but if he had not weighed it, he would have loaded upto 240kg and been over the limit.

Dealer is willing to sell you the outfit, of course he will that is his job. As long as its legal then they are covered. Legal does not mean safe though.

For that van you want something with a kerbweight of 2140kg. Not load the car up with bricks to add weight.

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Quote: Originally posted by plantpot50 on 01/8/2018

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Quote: Originally posted by woodman2 on 01/8/2018

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I don't think plantpot50 is listening anymore.

He has made his mind up.

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Hi Woodman2,
I am still listening but really busy with work so haven’t had much chance to reply. I take on board all that has been said.
The set-up is legal but safety is the issue due to the loaded van potentially weighing more that the tow vehicle. I have not made a final decision as of yet, but I understand the points raised. I do struggle to understand why it would be legal if it is not deemed safe though?

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