Help required - towing weight
7 replies
Tinwheeler replied on 02/08/2020 23:46
Posted on 02/08/2020 23:46
1 gross vehicle weight
2 gross train weight
3 max front axle weight
4 max rear axle weight
Google will help you.
Providing you don't exceed the axle limits, you can legally tow 2100kg (4235 minus 2135). However, that's a legal max and not a recommended safe or sensible limit for towing a large slab sided white box at 60mph down the M6 in a cross wind.
lornalou1 replied on 03/08/2020 11:41
Posted on 03/08/2020 11:41
Take a look at your V5c and find kerbweight or mass in service and multipy this weight by .85 and will give you the clubs/ncc recommended van limit. there should be a sticker next to the door of caravan stating the Max weight the caravan can be and known as the MTPLM. Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass. Don't allow the caravan to be heavier than the vehicle thats towing it.
Lutz replied on 03/08/2020 12:24
Posted on 03/08/2020 11:41 by lornalou1Take a look at your V5c and find kerbweight or mass in service and multipy this weight by .85 and will give you the clubs/ncc recommended van limit. there should be a sticker next to the door of caravan stating the Max weight the caravan can be and known as the MTPLM. Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass. Don't allow the caravan to be heavier than the vehicle thats towing it.
Posted on 03/08/2020 12:24
The OP asked what the car can legally tow, not what is recommended.
Legally, anything can be towed so long as the combination is within the gross train weight and the car manufacturer's towload limits. If the car isn't fully loaded to its GVW of 2135kg, the car manufacturer may even allow a towload greater than 2100kg so long as the gross train weight limit of 4235kg is not exceeded.
Under item O1, the V5c should give details of the technical permissible maximum towable mass of a braked trailer.
1 person likes this
lornalou1 replied on 03/08/2020 16:41
Posted on 03/08/2020 12:24 by LutzThe OP asked what the car can legally tow, not what is recommended.
Legally, anything can be towed so long as the combination is within the gross train weight and the car manufacturer's towload limits. If the car isn't fully loaded to its GVW of 2135kg, the car manufacturer may even allow a towload greater than 2100kg so long as the gross train weight limit of 4235kg is not exceeded.
Under item O1, the V5c should give details of the technical permissible maximum towable mass of a braked trailer.
Posted on 03/08/2020 16:41
I know that Lutz but I don't think he was asking a caravan forum if he can tow as much as his car is legally capable off. I'm taking it as if he already has or going to buy a caravan and is he safe to do so. I am sure you don't go over the 100% match even if your vehicle is capable of doing so. The V5 might give him the weight as you say but what about what licence he has, so the gross train weight will be wrong for him. He has asked this question twice so may get a different answer from you depending on how he asks it.
Lutz replied on 04/08/2020 03:08
Posted on 04/08/2020 03:08
The plated gross vehicle weight is irrelevant as far as driving licence restrictions are concerned. The 3500kg limit that applies to a Category B licence refers to the sum of the individual maximum allowable weights of the car and that of the trailer, not to the plated gross train weight, which could be greater than 3500kg.
There are plenty of people that tow even caravans at least marginally over a 100% weight ratio. It would therefore be wrong to flatly denounce such practice as being intrinsically unsafe although it does, of course, increase the demands placed on the driver, so one should carefully consider whether it can't be avoided.
1 person likes this
armourer
Caravanner