F Pace tow vehicle matching advice
Discussion
Hi,
I hope someone can help here … We are looking to buy our first caravan next year and fancy something like the Swift SPRITE MAJOR 6 TD, which has a MTPLM of 1518kg.
We are needing to change my wife's car (which will become the tow vehicle in the next few weeks). She REALLY fancies and F Pace, but as it will be a company car we're trying to balance cost/CO2 output vs. the tow vehicles ability to meet our needs.
It looks like it will easily pull a braked caravan, but the problem/advice I need is around the 85% matching.
F Pace R Sport 20d Auto 2wd weight (according to Parkers.co.uk) is 1720kg x 0.85 = 1462kg
F Pace R Sport 20d Auto AWD weight (according to Parkers.co.uk) is 1775kg x 0.85 = 1508kg
To be honest, the difference in what it will cost per month between the two above is significant (roughly £100 per month!).
I appreciate that the 85% rule is a guide … But what are your thoughts? Would the 2wd one be close enough? Would neither be suitable? Any other useful thoughts??? :-)
Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this!
Cheers - Rich
I hope someone can help here … We are looking to buy our first caravan next year and fancy something like the Swift SPRITE MAJOR 6 TD, which has a MTPLM of 1518kg.
We are needing to change my wife's car (which will become the tow vehicle in the next few weeks). She REALLY fancies and F Pace, but as it will be a company car we're trying to balance cost/CO2 output vs. the tow vehicles ability to meet our needs.
It looks like it will easily pull a braked caravan, but the problem/advice I need is around the 85% matching.
F Pace R Sport 20d Auto 2wd weight (according to Parkers.co.uk) is 1720kg x 0.85 = 1462kg
F Pace R Sport 20d Auto AWD weight (according to Parkers.co.uk) is 1775kg x 0.85 = 1508kg
To be honest, the difference in what it will cost per month between the two above is significant (roughly £100 per month!).
I appreciate that the 85% rule is a guide … But what are your thoughts? Would the 2wd one be close enough? Would neither be suitable? Any other useful thoughts??? :-)
Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this!
Cheers - Rich
I was starting to panic about collecting my caravan this weekend as someone on one of the caravan forums I'd posted on started on the whole 85% thing (I was aware of it). I tried putting details into a few of the outfit matching websites around an they all came back ok
From parkers my (E61) BMW 535D estate has a weight of 1760kg but has a braked towing limit of 2000kg (so 114%!). The van I'm buying has a MTPLM of 1575kg which based purely on my cars weight makes it 89% assuming the van is fully loaded but with a high power / high torque diesel am I really going to notice? It's all still legal anyway as I'm not exceeding the manufacturers recommendations.
From parkers my (E61) BMW 535D estate has a weight of 1760kg but has a braked towing limit of 2000kg (so 114%!). The van I'm buying has a MTPLM of 1575kg which based purely on my cars weight makes it 89% assuming the van is fully loaded but with a high power / high torque diesel am I really going to notice? It's all still legal anyway as I'm not exceeding the manufacturers recommendations.
C0ffin D0dger said:
I was starting to panic about collecting my caravan this weekend as someone on one of the caravan forums I'd posted on started on the whole 85% thing (I was aware of it). I tried putting details into a few of the outfit matching websites around an they all came back ok
From parkers my (E61) BMW 535D estate has a weight of 1760kg but has a braked towing limit of 2000kg (so 114%!). The van I'm buying has a MTPLM of 1575kg which based purely on my cars weight makes it 89% assuming the van is fully loaded but with a high power / high torque diesel am I really going to notice? It's all still legal anyway as I'm not exceeding the manufacturers recommendations.
From what I understand (and I could be massively wrong) the whole 85% 'thing' doesn't consider what engine you've got under the bonnet nor the legalities ... I think it's more to do with how 'dominant' the car will be weight-wise should the whole thing start snaking.From parkers my (E61) BMW 535D estate has a weight of 1760kg but has a braked towing limit of 2000kg (so 114%!). The van I'm buying has a MTPLM of 1575kg which based purely on my cars weight makes it 89% assuming the van is fully loaded but with a high power / high torque diesel am I really going to notice? It's all still legal anyway as I'm not exceeding the manufacturers recommendations.
Sounds like we're in a similar boat car & caravan weight wise though ..... Having done more reading, I see many websites constantly referring to the 85% rule/guide .... I'm very undecided on what to do
I used to tow our 1745Kg Caravan with an Audi A6 Avant Quattro with the 3.0D engine. Its was quick and drove well however the caravan did tend to bounce the car about a bit, ie you knew it was there.
Now towing with a Range Rover and its hardly noticeable although its not as quick.
The 85% rule is on Kerb weight of the car to as it would assume worst case, you have an empty car and a fully laden caravan. The Audi and Caravan were at 87% I am now at 57%.
Now towing with a Range Rover and its hardly noticeable although its not as quick.
The 85% rule is on Kerb weight of the car to as it would assume worst case, you have an empty car and a fully laden caravan. The Audi and Caravan were at 87% I am now at 57%.
I tow our Major 6TD with an F31 320d xdrive touring and have no issues. Tried all the MLPTM business but I am easily confused so preferred to pack carefully and keep to a 75kg nose weight on the aftermarket removable hitch.
I am seriously looking at an F Pace to replace the BMW so keen to see how this works out.
Edited to add I just (finally) worked out the 85% and I am in at 1402kg which is about 100kg shy as it looks but don’t want to change the car so that’ll need to do!
I am seriously looking at an F Pace to replace the BMW so keen to see how this works out.
Edited to add I just (finally) worked out the 85% and I am in at 1402kg which is about 100kg shy as it looks but don’t want to change the car so that’ll need to do!
Edited by MarkGArgyle on Wednesday 14th March 22:07
Either model you will be fine, as you say yourself it's only a guide.
My caravan has an MTPLM of 1700Kgs I previously towed it with a Honda CR-V which was a great tow car but was sometimes bounced around by the caravan, I've now changed to a Touareg and you can't feel the caravan most of the time.
The only thing you need to consider is, is it worth the extra £100 per month to help you pull the caravan out of a muddy field once in a blue moon.
My caravan has an MTPLM of 1700Kgs I previously towed it with a Honda CR-V which was a great tow car but was sometimes bounced around by the caravan, I've now changed to a Touareg and you can't feel the caravan most of the time.
The only thing you need to consider is, is it worth the extra £100 per month to help you pull the caravan out of a muddy field once in a blue moon.
Boonstock said:
Out of interest how are you measuring your weight on the tow-ball? Sorry if this is a newbie question!
Two methods, either a length of 2x4 between the coupling and a set of bathroom scales on the floor, let the (nose)weight of the van rest on it and take a reading or you can get one of these: https://www.towsure.com/caravanning-equipment-and-...C0ffin D0dger said:
Boonstock said:
Out of interest how are you measuring your weight on the tow-ball? Sorry if this is a newbie question!
Two methods, either a length of 2x4 between the coupling and a set of bathroom scales on the floor, let the (nose)weight of the van rest on it and take a reading or you can get one of these: https://www.towsure.com/caravanning-equipment-and-...youngricharduk said:
Either model you will be fine, as you say yourself it's only a guide.
My caravan has an MTPLM of 1700Kgs I previously towed it with a Honda CR-V which was a great tow car but was sometimes bounced around by the caravan, I've now changed to a Touareg and you can't feel the caravan most of the time.
The only thing you need to consider is, is it worth the extra £100 per month to help you pull the caravan out of a muddy field once in a blue moon.
I’m new to this game ... would you go for the extra £100pm??? Bearing in mind that this willMy caravan has an MTPLM of 1700Kgs I previously towed it with a Honda CR-V which was a great tow car but was sometimes bounced around by the caravan, I've now changed to a Touareg and you can't feel the caravan most of the time.
The only thing you need to consider is, is it worth the extra £100 per month to help you pull the caravan out of a muddy field once in a blue moon.
Be her company car which we’ll be stuck with for 4 years (£100 x 48 = £4,800!!!)
Boonstock said:
I’m new to this game ... would you go for the extra £100pm??? Bearing in mind that this will
Be her company car which we’ll be stuck with for 4 years (£100 x 48 = £4,800!!!)
Personally, no I would be happy with the 2wd because that is a significant amount of money and in the 4 years I've been towing a caravan I've never needed 4wd to get me out of trouble. For that saving you could do something better with the money, for e.g join the caravan and motorhome club and always use hardstanding pitches, buy winter tyres, new awning etc etcBe her company car which we’ll be stuck with for 4 years (£100 x 48 = £4,800!!!)
But again I would't use the kerb weight as a yardstick, there close enough not to make any difference.
chasingracecars said:
I found that with a light car you are best off with the caravan noseweight being at the near top end. No idea why though.
This video may help. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jk9H5AB4lMtr7v8 said:
This video may help. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jk9H5AB4lM
Had seen that but the physics don’t make sense to me! It also seemed to stop the caravan bumping soo much.Gassing Station | Tents, Caravans & Motorhomes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff