Car and Caravan matching

[chonok]

I currently have a 2006 Octavia VRS (petrol) that I use as a tow car to pull our folding camper.

As the camper is so light, weight is not something that I have had to worry about until now, but we are thinking of getting a caravan instead.

I have always been under the impression that the tow car cannot have a laden wright of 85% more than the ker weight of the vehicle.

As the car has a kerb weight of around 1400kg's, this restricts us somewhat.

I have put the car's details into http://www.towcar.info/ and it says that it only needs to be 85% of the laden weight, which it suggests is around 1680kg.

Please can you tell me which one is correct. Also, if it is the laden weight, would you normally weigh thar car to determine it's laden weight before deciding on a caravan?

[nutsytvr]

Chonok
This 85% "rule" is bks. It is a recommendation only from the 2 clubs. Your vehicle handbook will give you the maximum weight that you can tow, but bear in mind licence restrictions. You must have B + E to tow above a certain weight. Also bear in mind that you should not tow a trailer that weighs more han the car, for safety reasons.

You also must check the towball max load. A Skoda will probably be 75kg, 85 max so you need to check the towbar weight of the caravan.

[anonymous-user]

Can't beat this

[JeremyH5]

Just what I was thinking when I saw the thread title 😄

[chonok]

nutsytvr said:

Chonok
This 85% "rule" is bks. It is a recommendation only from the 2 clubs. Your vehicle handbook will give you the maximum weight that you can tow, but bear in mind licence restrictions. You must have B + E to tow above a certain weight. Also bear in mind that you should not tow a trailer that weighs more han the car, for safety reasons.

You also must check the towball max load. A Skoda will probably be 75kg, 85 max so you need to check the towbar weight of the caravan.

Thanks for this.

That's what confuses me even more. It says that the max towing capacity is 1800kg, but this seems rather high given that the car is around 1400kg.

So is the 85% rule 'fully laden' for both car and caravan?

So, I assume as long as the towbar weight is ok and the caravan is lighter than the car, i will be ok as long as i load very little into the caravan and everything into the car?

[nutsytvr]

chonok said:

Thanks for this.

That's what confuses me even more. It says that the max towing capacity is 1800kg, but this seems rather high given that the car is around 1400kg.

So is the 85% rule 'fully laden' for both car and caravan?

So, I assume as long as the towbar weight is ok and the caravan is lighter than the car, i will be ok as long as i load very little into the caravan and everything into the car?

Chonok
The handbook shows the max towing capacity of the car subject to the law in individual countries. In the UK, I believe that you cannot tow a trailer that weighs more than the car. That is not the case in some parts of the world.

My wife's GLA 220 Mercedes handbook states an 1800kg towing capacity. I have a caravan plated at 1800kg and no way would I tow it with her car. I had a 320cdi E class Merc that couldn't handle it (plenty of power but couldn't control the weight). Now tow it with a Cayenne S diesel.

You need to be careful with loading. Sticking weight at the back to reduce the noseweight makes a very unstable outfit.

[Rosscow]

nutsytvr said:

Chonok
The handbook shows the max towing capacity of the car subject to the law in individual countries. In the UK, I believe that you cannot tow a trailer that weighs more than the car. That is not the case in some parts of the world.

My wife's GLA 220 Mercedes handbook states an 1800kg towing capacity. I have a caravan plated at 1800kg and no way would I tow it with her car. I had a 320cdi E class Merc that couldn't handle it (plenty of power but couldn't control the weight). Now tow it with a Cayenne S diesel.

You need to be careful with loading. Sticking weight at the back to reduce the noseweight makes a very unstable outfit.

I think it all depends on how full your car is.

If my car (1900kg towing limit but a gross vehicle weight of 2450kg) was loaded to the gunnels, 4 people, luggage, fuel, roof box, etc. then I wouldn't have any issues with towing something up to 1900kg. Just take it slow and steady and load the caravan sensibly.

Obviously I have B+E entitlement so I'm legally allowed to do this.

[nutsytvr]

Totally agree with Rosscow on this. Spot on.

[chonok]

Thanks for all the info..

So, just to clarify - the law that states that the caravan cannot be heavier than the car relates to the weight of the car and caravan loaded at that time?

I don't have a B+e license, but technically, i assume i may need one if the laden weight went over 3,000?

[nutsytvr]

chonok said:

Thanks for all the info..

So, just to clarify - the law that states that the caravan cannot be heavier than the car relates to the weight of the car and caravan loaded at that time?

I don't have a B+e license, but technically, i assume i may need one if the laden weight went over 3,000?

No. The weight of the caravan is the plated weight, whether loaded or not. Not sure what the weight limit is before you need a B+E licence, as I have that plus C due to my extreme age☺

[Chicken Chaser]

It's up to 3500kg.