Tow Car confusion - please help!

The link 'Safe and Legal Towing' states, quote 'The total weight of your trailer must not weigh more than the car’s maximum towing capacity (MTC)'. That is also incorrect. The car's maximum towing capacity is the trailer's combined axle load, not its total weight.

Thanks Lutz, I missed that one but then I don't have your depth of knowledge.

Exactly Lutz! That is the set up I have. My cars max towing capacity is 1500kg. The caravan MTPLM is 1550 and from careful weighing (with some items permanently removed such as carpets, table to offset some payload) and checking I am pretty spot on. The nose weight is 70kg giving an axle weight of circa 1480. The accusations I have had on another forum of bending the rules to justify breaking the law is unbelievable. 

So as someone new to caravanning how would I find out the trailers combined axle weight? It was complicated enough working with the car's kerb weight, the 85% rule, the tow bar limit and the car's towing capacity and now there appears to be something else to factor in to the equation. We thought the Kia Sportage would be suitable as towing capacity is 1650kg (caravan is 1331kg), but the kerb weight is only 1526kg so it would mean we would be towing at 88% rather than recommended 85%. 

I say again that 85% of kerb weight is a recommendation and not a rule. See my earlier post. 85%/88% - that’s probably near enough.

With due respect to Lutz, he is being a little over technical for this purpose and the early posts tell you all you need to know to comply. 

For tow cars look no further than ssangyong hope this helps 

There is no 85% rule!!!!!!! It is a very old recommendation dating from the time before anti lock brakes, traction control systems, power steering and other driver and safety aids now fitted as standard. It is impossible to tell the difference when towing between 85 and 90% let alone 88%. It is just as important to ensure the nose weight is correct, tyre pressures checked, consider care with weight distribution in the caravan, car suspension in good order (no worn suspension components) and so on. It is clearly important you are legal and I personally would strongly recommend taking a towing course. 

 As TW says, the 85% is a guide and not a rule.

My first caravan and car combo was 87%, so at 88% I would say you're fine. The kerbweight of a car is calculated with a 90% tank full of fuel and the driver at 75kg. If theres 3 of you plus luggage I expect that the real figure will be below the 85% guideline. 

Theres loads of Sportages towing, and I looked at one my self a few years ago. You don't say how old it is, but have a look at some towing reviews. Heres one from 2017

https://www.practicalcaravan.com/reviews/kia-sportage

laineyrose,

you could take your empty, as collected van to a weighbridge to get your starting weight.

You may be lucky in that your manufacturer has an on-line configurator so you can work this actual weight out. Eriba have such a facility on there website for their vans and as optional extras are added you can see the weight rise and the payload decrease.

With my first van I weighed everything that went in and kept a chart. of weights. I have continued to do this over the 5 Eriba's we have owned and so have a very good idea of what my actual weight is when driving off.

Colin

I would challenge anyone to be able to detect a difference in the way an outfit handles at 88% instead of 85%. It's when you approach 100% and beyond where you have to be a bit more careful. Besides, kerbweight is not documented anywhere so any figure that one may have can be nothing better than a rough guide. The only way of establishing a really accurate kerbweight, if you need it, is to put the car on a weighbridge. By the way, contrary to common belief, kerbweight is defined without a driver. Any figure that states 75kg is included for the driver would be 'mass in running order', or 'mass in service' as it's called on the V5, although some sources incorrectly refer to it as kerbweight. Actual kerbweight will almost invariably be greater than the V5 figure because it includes all options and retrofitted equipment, such as maybe a towbar.

Yes, I admit to maybe being a bit over technical for some in that response but that doesn't excuse a website from publishing incorrect information.