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Topic: can i tow

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leedzlad2004

16/4/2019 at 6:58pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: 2011 elddis chatsworth 515

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ive got a insignia 2016 2.0cdti 170 bhp diesel

would I be able to tow

2011 5 berth Elddis Rambler 17/5SE

thanks

Rob and Tina

16/4/2019 at 7:22pm
Location: Royal Forest of Dean
Outfit: Swift Major 4SB

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What is the kerbweight of your car?
What is the max towing weight of the car?

What is the MTPLM of the caravan?

Do you have a B+E licence?

If you can come back with the answers to these questions we can work out if you can tow this outfit.

Rob

romany girl

via mobile 16/4/2019 at 7:24pm
Location: Derbyshire
Outfit: ElddisAvante462 Honda CRV SE2.2 i-Dtec

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Check it out on one of the outfit matching websites, either via one of the Caravan Clubs, or try

Www.Whattowcar.com

Julia

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blueexpo97

17/4/2019 at 11:16am
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You have to be a member of the CC to use the matching service.

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leedzlad2004

17/4/2019 at 7:01pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: 2011 elddis chatsworth 515

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tried
Www.Whattowcar.com but they didn't have my car

looked on another and it was onabout mass in service

on my v5c which is 1613

it also says - technical permissible maximum towable mass of trailer

braked is 1800

now the caravan looked on gocaravaning.com

and it says Mass in Running Order weight: 1317 kgs

Rob and Tina

17/4/2019 at 7:10pm
Location: Royal Forest of Dean
Outfit: Swift Major 4SB

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You need to aim for a caravan with an MTPLM of 85% of the kerbweight of the car.

Your mass in service(kerbweight) is 1613 so you want a caravan around 1370kg MTPLM. You still need to find out the MTPLM of the caravan but if the MIRO is 1317 then the MTPLM is probably around 1450 so a bit heavy but still doable.

Rob

After a bit of detective work it looks like the MTPLM is 1500kg so it's too heavy for a novice caravanner.
The max tow weight you have quoted is not the max weight of caravan you can tow, it is the max weight of trailer that the car can pull on a hillstart, the recommended weight for a novice is 85% of the kerbweight (think of the tail wagging the dog) and this is the figure you should aim for to have a safe outfit.
Your intended caravan seems to be a dealer special from Wandahome based on the Avante.

Post last edited on 17/04/2019 19:35:13

SamandRose

18/4/2019 at 1:38pm
Location: Midlands
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I agree with much of what Rob says but, based in the weights that have been given my conclusion is a little less pessimistic than his.

It's correct that the 'maximum permissible towing mass of the trailer' is the maximum weight that the car can physically move from a standstill on a hill start, and that it has nothing whatever to do with what will be stable when being towed at motorway speeds. I also agree that it's sensible for any caravan to weigh less than the towing vehicle.

However, from that point onwards things are a little less clear.

As far as I can tell the recommendation for a caravan to weigh no more than 85% of the car's kerb weight is based on very limited research undertaken by Bath University in about the 1970s - since when car suspension and engine design have obviously advanced enormously. This figure is still given in guidance issued by the Camping & Caravanning Club and Camping & Motorhome Club, mainly because nothing better has come along. The same guidance also states that 'experienced' caravanners may safely tow up to 100% of their car's kerb weight (say 1600kg for your Vauxhall). As far as I know, nobody has attempted to define 'experienced' in this context.

The fully loaded weight of the caravan at 1500kg is around 93% of the car's kerb weight, and the 170bhp diesel engine should be more than capable of towing that amount. Don't forget also that when loaded up for a holiday, the actual weight of the car will invariably be several hundred kg more than this.

My suggestion would be that the caravan is towable by the Vauxhall but you should go for a few weekends away with the caravan lightly loaded in order to gain experience and confidence before planning any longer trips. This is part of the fun after all

A final point - you'll need a Category B+E licence extension to legally tow with that combination unless you got your licence before 1997.

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leedzlad2004

18/4/2019 at 5:31pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: 2011 elddis chatsworth 515

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ok first of all a big thanks for all that has helped

been scouring the manual and looks like my car

has a kerb weight of 1613 ( you was right rob and tina)

been in touch with the guy and he thinks is mtplm is 1250

but will check this …. he says he pulls it with a mini countryman so says I should have ne problem with my car

on a good note just had my detachable towbar fitted today so im one step closer

Rob and Tina

18/4/2019 at 5:49pm
Location: Royal Forest of Dean
Outfit: Swift Major 4SB

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If the MIRO is 1317kg the MTPLM must obviously be higher than that so it can't be 1250kg. Either the chap has got his weights wrong or the caravan is not the year and model stated.

Just because he claims he tows with a particular car doesn't mean it is safe or legal. You need to err on the side of caution and check all the weights etc.

Have you done a CRIS check on the caravan? This would give you the age details but the model details are often slightly wrong as the CRIS system doesn't handle dealer specials very well, this caravan may be registered as an Avante. If you go to www.elddis.co.uk/brochures/2011 you should find the spec of the Avante 5 berth which we believe the Rambler is based on.

Rob

PS What about your licence? Do you have B+E? If you don't have B+E it looks like you can't tow it anyway.

Post last edited on 18/04/2019 17:55:24

leedzlad2004

18/4/2019 at 6:32pm
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Outfit: 2011 elddis chatsworth 515

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passed my test 4/7/90

so should be ok

I think my best bet is to go view and find out

Rob and Tina

18/4/2019 at 6:40pm
Location: Royal Forest of Dean
Outfit: Swift Major 4SB

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When you see the caravan make a note of the CRIS number and get a check done on it, also make sure he has got the CRIS document in his name. Have a look at the tenth digit on the CRIS number, if the caravan is a 2011 the tenth digit should be a 'B'.

If you have had a licence since 1990 you should have B+E on it but it's worth checking in case it has been missed off.

Check for damp and a service history, check the age of the tyres and check the weight plate for the correct figures.

Good Luck.

Rob

marg6

18/4/2019 at 7:14pm
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a word of warning - his remark about towing it with a mini countryman, utter rubbish and totally illegal! the mini has a max towing limit of 800kgs, I would be very cautious about anything he has to say in regard of the caravan. take someone with you who knows what they are talking about please, and be very very careful dealing with this man

bessie500

via mobile 20/4/2019 at 12:43am
Location: Lancashire
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Ignore the above the Mini Countryman has a towing capacity of up to 1800 kgs , check Parker’s for a accurate answer.
I’ve Sean them in a campsite with a caravan far bigger than I expected

Bessie

leedzlad2004

22/4/2019 at 12:52pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: 2011 elddis chatsworth 515

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ok been to view the caravan today

the mtplm is1499kg

the miro 1334kg

Rob and Tina

22/4/2019 at 1:02pm
Location: Royal Forest of Dean
Outfit: Swift Major 4SB

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So the bloke didn't really have any idea about the weights. Did you check the CRIS number? Was it a 2011 caravan?

Rob

leedzlad2004

22/4/2019 at 1:24pm
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Outfit: 2011 elddis chatsworth 515

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no will be asking for it before I make a offer

the caravan is in very nice condition apart from a cracked hitch fairing ( the plastic bit ) which he said he priced it up at £110 to replace and the thretford toilet dosent flush looked on youtube looks like a easy fix

I know where the bloke lives hes about 1mile away from me
and its in storage paid upto November

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