Car towing capability

The trailer has brakes that should be perfectly capable of stopping it of its own accord without much assistance from the towcar other than to actuate the overrun.

When you collected your van it was presumably empty so probably towing about 1400-1450kg. I am extremely surprised the dealer did not advise that you might be towing over 100% and give you a print out with the specific towing info for your outfit. Whilst I do not get hung up on the 85% recommendation You may find your insurance does have a limit of 100%. Sur les incontinents they simply tow within the law and would not be remotely concerned with this set up.

In case the 100% limit is a condition of the insurance, I wonder how they can enforce it considering kerbweight is not documented anywhere. How would they prove that the outfit is over 100% (unless it's blatantly obvious, of course)?

If the OP is concerned and already has the car the simplest is simply a trip to local weighbridge. 

Lutz, I have wondered the same myself however a number of forum members have referred to such conditions in their insurance when similar discussions have previously taken place. I personally choose not to go above 100% and currently tow at 94% (previous out fit was 97%) but given what I see abroad (and sometimes in the UK) and As we have agreed before, the weight ratio is but one of many factors to consider with towing safely.

Wise words from easy T caravanner, we recently, two weeks ago did ours at a public weigh bridge and it only cost £10. Also good idea to do car and caravan together, also £10. Not really a good idea to get too close to 100% either particularly whilst you are inexperienced with towing.

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Its amazing how many people and dealers get mixed up with this, my understanding is you can tow a caravan up to 100% of your cars kerb wait (but NOT recomened) according to your figures your car can PULL 1800kgs but not TOW 1800kgs that is due to the cars kerb weight . its a pity the clubs on line matching service is not any good when I put in the data for a car we were looking at buying 16 months ago it had a kerb weight of 0 kgs !!! we did buy it the end not because the dealer told it was ok because we sat down and crunched the numbers ourselves.

Would be nice if Manjvan18 came back to us after all the answers he/she has been given so we know what he's decided.

There's nothing to stop anyone from towing with a weight ratio of over 100% so long as none of the plated weight limits are exceeded (other than some UK insurance companies that for reasons best known to themselves apparently stipulate a 100% limit). However, whether it's wise to is another story.