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Subject Topic: kerb weight
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Persondrummer59
04/7/2020 at 3:35pm
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if my car has a kerb weight of 1305 kgs what spec of caravan can I tow, im only thinking of a 2 berth, possibly a 4 berth


PersonMonty15
04/7/2020 at 5:02pm
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Not enough info to give you a definitive answer, need car details in full.

There is also the consideration of when you past your driving test, pre/post 1997, and your what's known as BE entitlement.
https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car

All cars will have a manufacturers max towing limit, which differs from kerb weight, could be higher or lower, should be stated in car specification and on your V5 registration document.

All other things being acceptable, as a novice tow driver, the industry guidance is for trailer not to exceed 85% of car kerb weight, so that would allow you to tow 1110Kg. 85% limit is not cast in stone, it's advisory, and a little variance is not an issue, but sound advice until you have gained skill in towing.

1110Kg is going to exclude vast majority of 4 berth vans, even a few 2 berth I suspect. Good site for searching for caravans that meet you criteria, by use of their filters, is here: https://www.caravanfinder.co.uk/caravan_search_results.html


PersonRainbowsend
via mobile 04/7/2020 at 8:24pm
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There are any few lightweight caravans. The Eldiss Xplore 304 is one of the lighter 4 berth.

-------------
Jean

Sometimes a little rain must fall before you reach a rainbow.

The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won't wait while you finish the work.


Persondrummer59
via mobile 05/7/2020 at 11:39am
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I'm looking at swapping my 1.6 skoda Octavia petrol for a Octavia diesel 1.6 tdi


PersonMonty15
05/7/2020 at 11:53am
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Quote: Originally posted by drummer59 on 05/7/2020
I'm looking at swapping my 1.6 skoda Octavia petrol for a Octavia diesel 1.6 tdi



That info is still inadequate to give any definitive answers to original question.

Year, trim level, engine power (often different power levels available for same sized engine!), auto or manual gearbox, all affect towing capacity calculations.

It's not unknown for some car models not to have even been type approved for towing at all, therefore you cannot legally tow anything! The Devil really is in the details.


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Persondrummer59
via mobile 05/7/2020 at 2:31pm
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I havent actually bought a car yet. But I like skoda (I currently have a 1.6 petrol). Just wondering in general would a 1.6 diesel be an option?


Persondrummer59
via mobile 05/7/2020 at 9:25pm
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Find this all very complicated,all I want is a suitable car to pull a small caravan


Personmarg6
05/7/2020 at 9:46pm
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Quote: Originally posted by drummer59 on 05/7/2020
Find this all very complicated,all I want is a suitable car to pull a small caravan


its only complicated/confussing when you don't have a specific car or caravan in mind, you need to go and look at caravans and make your mind up which would suit you best, then come back here and we can tell you if the car would be suitable, one thing I will say tho is your asking an awful lot out of an Octavia that is only 1.6 be that petol or diesel, its already a heavy car without putting a caravan on its back, maybe you would be better looking at least 1.8s?


PersonRob and Tina
05/7/2020 at 9:54pm
 Location: Royal Forest of Dean
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The thing is it's the MTPLM of the caravan that matters and matching the car and caravan. A 1.6 Octavia will tow a fairly low weight compared to some cars and caravans have got heavier over the years. A 4 berth caravan that is fairly modern will probably be too heavy but a 4 berth from the 1980's will be a lot lighter and might be suitable for your car, eg our current 4 berth has an MTPLM of 1500kg and our 1989 5 berth was less than 1000kg.

The other thing to consider is your licence. If you haven't got B+E you will be restricted to a max plated combined weight (gross train weight) of 3500kg.

Rob


Persondrummer59
via mobile 06/7/2020 at 4:58am
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Think I'll stick to a tent. This is all way above my head. I dont even know what MTPLM is


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PersonRob and Tina
06/7/2020 at 10:31am
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MTPLM is the max permissible weight of the caravan. When you look at caravan specs you should see two weights listed. The MIRO is the unladen weight before you add all your equipment and accessories as well as all your personal kit. The MTPLM is the max gross weight when fully loaded, this must not be exceeded.

With regard to the car you need to know a few figures from the handbook or V5 or the weight plate on the car. You need to know the kerbweight, the max tow weight, the max noseweight on the tow bar and the max laden weight.

When working out a good match for car and caravan you need to check the MTPLM of the caravan against the kerbweight of the car and work out the percentage match.

As an example we had a Focus Estate with a kerbweight of 1368kg, gross vehicle weight of 1900kg, max tow weight was 1200kg and max noseweight was 75kg.
The caravan was a Bailey Ranger 460/4 with an MIRO of 972 and MTPLM of 1184kg.

Caravan of 1184 divided by kerbweight of car 1368 multiplied by 100 gives an 86% match so it would be just above the 85% guideline suggested for novices and the caravan is below the max tow limit for the car.

It sounds complicated but it's fairly simple in practice. There is lots of information about outfit matching on this site and those of the major clubs and magazines that will help you.

Rob

PS When did you get your driving licence? If it was after 1997 you will have a restricted licence so have a look at my replies to Wayn0099 where I have tried to explain the situation.



Post last edited on 06/07/2020 10:38:42


Persondrummer59
via mobile 06/7/2020 at 10:52am
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Got my licence in 1984 and I have towed trailers before many times but never a caravan


PersonRob and Tina
06/7/2020 at 11:24am
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You should have B+E on your licence then so you are not restricted to 3500kg gross train weight so your choice of car and caravan is not restricted.

Rob


Persondrummer59
via mobile 06/7/2020 at 11:33am
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I dont have any specific caravan in mind..I'm just enquiring in general as to what I will need to start caravaning. It will be a very cheap used caravan if I do go ahead. And wondering what I should be looking at in terms of a van and tow car


PersonColin21
06/7/2020 at 2:26pm
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If you look at older caravans, they tend to be a lot lighter. Mine is a 1992 model and it's a 4 berth, but it only weighs less than 1,000kg (1 tonne) fully laden. A 1.6 diesel Skoda should have no problem with that. However, if you look at more recent caravans, a modern 4 berth would be a lot heavier than mine.


-------------
Best Regards,
Colin


Persondrummer59
via mobile 06/7/2020 at 2:36pm
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Thank you



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