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
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
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!!!)
MarkGArgyle said:
Boonstock said:
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-...
Currently typing from our warm van after a long walk with a sleeping dog and a pint of Guinness.
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