Exceeding Manufacturers Towing Weight

[Jon999]

Hi, Hoping someone can help me with this.

Company car is due for replacement and I'm looking at the new MK5 Mondeo.

I want to be able to tow a car on a trailer but to do so I'll need to be able to tow 1900kgs.

The only version I'm able to get on the company scheme is the 2.0 TDCi Econetic. The brochure states that the Econetic max permissible towing weight is 1600kgs. The same car same engine non Econetic (different gear ratios) states 2000kgs.

Gross train weight is almost the same for both vehicles.

Is it illegal to exceed the manufacturers maximum permissible towing mass as long as I stay under the maximum trainweight? I've done lots of reading into the subject and it all contradicts itself. Some say that the manufacturers limit stands however others say that the only weights that can be used in law is the gross train weight / weights stamped on the chassis plate (towing weight isn't on there) and that the manufacturer figure is an advisory for warranty basis etc and the ability to restart on a gradient.

[aw51 121565]

Have you looked at the first 'sticky' on this very forum?

[eatcustard]

you will kill the clutch with that kind of weight.
and 1900kg is way to much for the car

Edited by eatcustard on Wednesday 6th May 19:10

[Cyberprog]

I think towing 1.9T behind a vehicle weighing only 1.5T will not end particularly well!

Either way, you can't do it - period. You can tow what your vehicle is plated to, no more.

[Slidingpillar]

A basic car trailer weighs about 500kg and a car that gives you a gross of 1900kg means it weighs about 1400kg. So not a Lotus 7, Westfield or trad Morgan but a porky modern thing?

I know folk who tow with big cars, but I used a Landrover for such things.

[Steve57]

i have use of an L200 or the family discovery for towing, while generally i use the L200, i much prefer the discovery. so effortless at pulling approx 17000kg while the L200 is struggling. infact even towing the trailer/radical with some tools etc in the back is a struggle. Get something more suited unless your not worried about being overweight or possibly uninsured?

[V8forweekends]

Steve57 said:

..so effortless at pulling approx 17000kg

?

[paintman]

You will need to check what is actually on the manufacturer's plate (or sticker) fitted to the car. This will show the various weights.
If the max permitted weight of any trailer is specified then that is what VOSA would work with on a roadside check. They may well have access to manufacturers listings such as the one you link to. Likely the trailer would not be allowed to proceed & you then have a recovery issue plus the possibility of prosecution for 'using a vehicle in dangerous condition'.
There could be insurance issues in the event of an accident.
http://www.caravanningnow.co.uk/download/Towing%20...
http://www.caravanningnow.co.uk/caravanning/faqwei...

Edited by paintman on Thursday 7th May 09:00

[superlightr]

if your car is not typed approved then it perhaps may also not be insured if you are towing in excess.

I had an E63 AMG but it was not type approved to tow anything. Garage could fit a tow bar but MB would not as it was not approved by MB. Spoke to Insurance co who said that if the car was not type approved to tow then it could invalidate the insurance.

Hence changed the car to one that was type approved for the weight I wanted to tow.

[paintman]

In order to avoid any confusion you should contact Ford and get them to confirm - in writing - what their actual legal maximum towing weight is for the vehicle and to clarify if the 8% & 12% they show is purely an indication of the vehicle's performance for marketing purposes.

Ford do appear to delight in trying to confuse. I SMART repair professionally and Ford's colour codes on the VIN plate are a pain & occasionally I have finished up ringing the local franchised dealer's parts dept. All other manufacturers that put codes on their vehicles have clear & easily readable ones.

Edited by paintman on Thursday 7th May 14:42