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Topic: HELP - First Time Caravaners

tetlow619

20/4/2017 at 6:45pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: 1990 Lunar Jupiter

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Hello All,

We need some help, we are first time caravaners. We have a 1990 Lunar Jupiter we have just renovated and would like to take her out. We own a 2002 Vauxhall Astra without a tow bar. Before we pay out to get one fitted does anyone know if it will be suitable to tow as there are no useful documents for the caravan and the only relevant info on the car is that the mass in service is 1670.
Any advice or referals would be greatly appreciated!

Rob and Tina

20/4/2017 at 7:02pm
Location: Royal Forest of Dean
Outfit: Swift Major 4SB

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The mass in service is not often listed on the car. The mass in service should be on the V5. The weight plate on the car will give the max weight for the car and the gross train weight, subtract the car weight from the gross train weight and that will give you the max trailer weight the car can tow.

There should be a weight plate on the caravan showing the max weight (MTPLM). You should be aiming for the caravan weight to be around 85% of the mass in service of the car.

You haven't mentioned the details of the car so we can't guess the figures for you, there is a difference between petrol and diesel, manual and auto, hatchback and estate models. Some of these may have a tow weight lower than 85% of the mass in service, in which case the lower figure must not be exceeded.

Come back with some more details and we'll be able to give you some better advice.

Rob

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carken

20/4/2017 at 7:15pm
Location: Cwmbran Gwent
Outfit: Unicorn Cordoba ll Honda CRV

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Hi. Welcome to the forum.

What cc is the car? I think there should be weight information in the logbook and also a plate stating weights on the car. If you find this out you'll be halfway there.

If you know a caravanner with a suitable car maybe they can get the caravan to a weighstation for you. You could also contact Lunar as they might have some archived data on the van.

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Hacksaw Bob

20/4/2017 at 7:58pm
Location: West Midlands
Outfit: Various tents

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Another website lists (but does not guarantee and recommends checking) the Mass in Running Order of your 'van as 800kg, and a maximum allowable weight of 953kg, and suggests (for an 85% match) a towcar with a kerbweight of 1121.2kg or more.

So, as suggested in the above posts, check the car's weight plate and V5 and consider having the van towed to a weighbridge?

carken

20/4/2017 at 9:21pm
Location: Cwmbran Gwent
Outfit: Unicorn Cordoba ll Honda CRV

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http://www.clicreports.uwclub.net/vandata/vandata.htm

This website doesn't have your van on it but has lots of info for newbies like yourselves.
I found it very useful when I first started out.

Also take a look at this one. Again doesn't have your year Astra but close.

http://www.clicreports.uwclub.net/kerbweights/kerbweights.htm

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Opensauce

20/4/2017 at 11:02pm
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Post up loaded weight of caravan. It will be the higher figure on the weight plate on caravan exterior somewhere.

Them more info on car. What engine? Petrol or diesel? Max tow weight for car will be on V5 reg document.

Nutkins

21/4/2017 at 7:46am
Location: Bradford
Outfit: Swift Charisma 06 - Passat Est 2.0 140

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We had an Astra 2.0L diesel on 52 plate. Think it's max tow capacity was 1250KG. Parker's website is pretty good for vehicle info, I'm sure yours will be on there.

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