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Wotcha folks

do i load the van or car when going on my hols this year (2009). this is our 1st  caravan and we have a 2ltr mondeo estate petrol which can tow up to 1050 kilos , my van is 720 kilos unladened , we are a family of five so we would guess with our luggage & caravan equipment includind arwning would weight around 250 kilos , so which is best way to do it  load the car or caravan ???

many thanks  lee

We always loaded the 'van and always within it's weight limit. This gives a level and safe tow.

Very many people seem to load the boot of the car which puts too much weight on the rear suspension.

Load up......stand back.....and take a sensible look at the stance of your outfit!

being only the 2 of us most of the kit goes in the van, apart from mum's wheelchair, trolley jack (lives in rear passenger footwell). stuff that is used outside on site like tv areial may get put in the car as well

main thing is that the car is pretty much level fore and aft and never front up and when tied on the van is nose down a few degrees, always check my noseweight before tying on and aim for about 60kg and with loading not really chaning much it stayed pretty constant

Quote: Originally posted by 664DaveS on 07/1/2009

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You should not exceed the weight limit on the car either, five plus luggage is a lot of weight.

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Hi

Load up......stand back.....and take a sensible look at the stance of your outfit!

All very well unless your car has self levelling suspension,then you never know,

just use a little common sense with loading.

Cheers.

T. 

 hi we always load the van ,the heavy stuff over the axel the spare and jack go on the floor by the door so its handy to get at if needed .  i make sure the nose weight is 75 kilos , our c5 is self levelling so it sorts itself out and it tows really well.

 phil n sue

if your Mondeo is like mine if you put to much weight in the boot with passengers in the back she will sit down on rear suspension ,as stated by one of the other posters you should be ok towing up to 85% of the cars kerb weight ,I think you meant the caravans maximum weight is1050kg

dave

hi dave cheers for the info

ive got a 2000 mondeo estate lx  2 ltr petrol which i have been told can tow upto 1050 kilos , my van is 720 kilos unladened and 1000 kilos fully ladened , some other members are telling me that my car should tow more than that , but yet to find a site with my spec , any pointers

Try here - not easy to see all the Ford Models, but I'm sure you can find it somewhere:  What Tow Car?

Good website for towing weight information is www.cuddles.abelgratis.net.

The 2000 Mondeo Estate's kerbweight is 1323kg which gives you an 85 per cent guide of 1124kg. Provided your caravan with its load does not exceed this figure you will be fine.

CORRECTION to my posting!  The kerbweight and 85 per cent for your Mondeo Estate was right, but you should NOT exceed the maximum loaded figure of your particular caravan. Sorry!