How much weight goes in the caravan?

Hoyler replied on 23/09/2016 12:53

Posted on 23/09/2016 12:53

Hi, 

I am returning to caravanning after a few years and am looking to puchase a TA Swift Charisma 650 6 berth.  From what i can find, the MRO of the Swift is 1440kg.  I will be towing with a Chrysler Grand Voyager with a towing capcaity of 1600kg.  My first question is it realistic to restrict the additional weight in the caravan to 150kg (awning, aquaroll, crockery etc etc). I have been on the towsafe website and the match with 150kg is very good but my concern is that if 150kg is unrealistic then I will exceed the 1600kg capacity for my car.

My second question is my towbar limit on the car is 80kg.  Again is is realistic to keep the nose weight of this model of caravan to 80kg as the optimum weight I can see from spec etc is 85kg. 

We will eventually put the van on a seasonal pitch but for the first year or two we will be touring a few sites within about 150 miles of home 

Any helpful advice would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

JVB66 replied on 23/09/2016 13:18

Posted on 23/09/2016 13:18

What is the MTPLM that will give a weight that can be put in the van,can you put some things in the car

Settermum replied on 23/09/2016 13:33

Posted on 23/09/2016 13:33

Not an expert by any means, but, with figures like that I would say this caravan isn't a good match for your car. Sorry to be negative. 

JayEss replied on 23/09/2016 13:57

Posted on 23/09/2016 13:57

150kg is not unrealistic in the van.  The problem is that the plated MPTLM of the caravan is greater than the maximum towing capacity of the car.

I'd look for a van that has an MPTLM of 1500kgs - there are quite a few out there

 

Hoyler replied on 23/09/2016 14:28

Posted on 23/09/2016 14:28

Thanks everyone so far for the feedback - All pretty much as I thought that a new car maybe in order.  This is where my ignorance kicks in though! If the MRO is 1440kg and I restruct the additional weight to 150kg then this keeps it under the 1600kg limit of the current car.  I understand the MPTLM is above the cars limit but if I am not going to get the van up to that weight does it matter.  Am I being ignorant!

JohnM20 replied on 23/09/2016 15:20

Posted on 23/09/2016 15:20

Thanks everyone so far for the feedback - All pretty much as I thought that a new car maybe in order.  This is where my ignorance kicks in though! If the MRO is 1440kg and I restruct the additional weight to 150kg then this keeps it under the 1600kg limit of the current car.  I understand the MPTLM is above the cars limit but if I am not going to get the van up to that weight does it matter.  Am I being ignorant!

Write your comments here...Possibly partially. The police and vehicle inspectors do stop checks on caravan outfits and they would only consider what the kerb weight is for the car and what the permissible MTPLM is and not what the actual weight is, (unless it is over the MTPLM and that is a different issue). The MTPLM of the caravan should never be more than the kerb weight of the car, ie 100%

Hoyler replied on 23/09/2016 15:36

Posted on 23/09/2016 15:36

Thanks John - The Kerbweight of my car is not an issue i think as it is over 2000kg.  It is the towing capacity of only 1600kg that seems to be the issue.

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