Terminology used for car weights – confusing?

When I looked for a new car in June 2011 (delivery January 2012), my criteria was: not to big or heavy, towing ratio of 85%, towing limit, noseweight, engine torque, load space, extra traction.

You can often wonder why people new to caravanning get confused when trying to match a car to a caravan with the amount of different wording / terminology used for weights. Example:

From the brochure when considering buying and placing order:

Kerbweight kg* 1,425

Total weight kg 2,100

Payload** kg 675

Towing braked kg 1,600

Towing unbraked kg 650

Noseweight kg 75

*Kerbweight is the mass of the vehicle with body work in running order.

** Payload includes driver (at 75Kg) & equipment.

Caravan Club Matching service:

Kerbweight 1,505kg

Gross vehicle weight 2,105kg

Gross train weight unknown

Nose weight 75kg

Gross trailer weight braked 1,600kg

Gross trailer weight unbraked 650kg

Car Handbook Technical Section:

It starts off:

The indicated unloaded weight is for orientation purpose only. It is for the basic equipment variant of the vehicle not including specific features or accessories

The kerbweight contains a fuel tank topped up to 90% and a driver weight of 75kg.

It is possible to calculate the approximate loading capacity from the difference between the permissible total weight and the unloaded weight

You need to include into the loading capacity, passengers, luggage, other loads, roof loads, when using a trailer hitch, the corresponding noseweight (max 75kg)

(Then there will be the dealer fit tow bar and optional full size steel spare wheel, to be included in loading / payload)

Permissible gross weight kg 2,095

Unloaded weight ready for work kg 1,495

(the payload is 600Kg)

Permissible trailer loads, trailer braked kg 1,600

Permissible trailer loads, trailer unbraked kg 740

Car plate:

Permissible gross weight 2,095kg

The permissible weight of vehicle/trailer combination 3,695kg.

Plus front & rear axle weights.

V5C:

Revenue weight 2,095kg gross

Mass in service 1,495kg

Technical permissible maximum towable mass of the trailer:

Braked 1,600kg

Unbraked 750kg

All the weights are basically the same, but why have that many different names / words, is it not best to have one word and a simple definition of what it is / means?  

The technical details are for a Skoda Octavia Estate 2.0TDi 4x4

Other criteria: Torque 350nm/1,750-2,500rpm, Bhp 138, Emissions: EU5, CO2 148G/KM, Road tax £130.00.

My caravan has a MTPLM of 1,230kg so no problem with me at just over 82%.