Hi,we own a Skoda Octavia 1.18tsi automatic and are currently towin a 2 berth Abbey GTS 216,but would really like a 4 berth caravan with a fixed bed. Unfortunately a lot of caravans weigh more than we are able to tow at their gross weight. We can tow up to 1300kg according to the registration document.Would it be ok to get a caravan of 1340 laden weight as long as we don't put more than the weight limit in ,say if the unladen weight was a lot less ,would that be possible?
It would be legal provided you do not exceed the 1300kg max tow weight but possibly not achievable. Modern caravans do not allow allow much payload & it's possible many caravans run overweight without owners knowing. Probably over 100% of kerbweight though where sensible recomendation is 85%.
It's actually better to err on the side of caution rather than 'tother way as you are proposing. Also there could be possible insurance implications in case of write off because although you would be legal with part loaded caravan, insurance assessor may not see it that way & refuse claim.
Looking at Skoda website, current Octavia 1.8tsi 180ps DSG both hatch & estate quote max tow of 1600kg so if that is your car then check weights in handbook as you may be legal to tow that caravan anyway. Max tow figure for any car is just a technical figure based on trailer weight car is capable of moving on hill from standing start & does not consider towing safety.
How much do you want to spend then? If you want secondhand, couple of fixed bed Adrias, about 1100kg laden weight. here & here. or Bailey Ranger 460/4 under 1200kg laden here.
What year? my handbook for 2011/12 gives Octavia 1.8tsi auto kerbweight as 1,370kg including 90% tank of fuel and 75kg driver, tow limit 1,400kg.
Previous Sprite Alpine 4 fixed bed mtplm 1,230kg.
Mine is 1,495kg, tow limit 1,600kg, caravan mtplm 1,318kg giving a 88% tow ratio. From 2014 they are 50kg lighter with a tow limit of 2,000kg. !!
I think too much is made of the max tow limit, as pointed out just a technical figure. If car has a powerful engine then it can tow a heavy trailer, if it is 4x4 then it can tow more because it has more grip. None of that has any bearing on what is safe to tow, it just gives you a set of figures to work within.
Anybody who has the knowledge knows what is safe for them to tow. You look at weight limits of car, weight & size of caravan & use your judgement. No car of a given weight tows a given weight anymore 'safely' than any another. It is the driver that makes it safe, both by knowing what to tow, how to tow & at what speed.
They have said 1300kg according to the registration document. I wouldn't like to exceed that.
Years ago I towed a van of 750 MTPLM with a car with max tow 460kg mini metro. But then the 460kg allowed for a passenger and 200kg of luggage as there was less standardisation then.
I worked out that if I got stuck on a hill wife and kids could jump out and push making it lighter as well. Working on those figures the max tow would have been more using todays calculation methods.
Never needed to though. It was fine going along but dropped to 40mph on steep motorway hills. Even without a caravan it would have been pretty slow as a non turbo diesel. Hill starts were iffy but never actually got stuck anywhere.
There are some lightweight fixed beds and you may get one within your limit.
Best advice is to think long and hard about what you want. It would be tragic to buy a little tiny fixed bed then upgrade your car to something bigger in a few months.
you should never exceed towing more than the kerb weight of the towcar the actual tow weight of the car is not the figure you use to determine what you can tow. If you are new to towing it would be advisable not to tow more than 85% of you cars kerb weight
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Just be careful if buying a Bailey, and look carefully at the plated weights NOT what the advertising says. The plated weight on out Pursuit (its inside the side gas locker) is 70kg higher than even the sticker on the side of the van near the door.
I don't suppose this is different from what other manufacturers do either.
thanks for the advice everyone,our car kerb weight is 1370 according to the registration document so we will look for one of the caravans mentioned ,planning on not spending any more than 6000 so at least we know what model caravans to look at now
Freeatlast, do you think the extra 70kg is for the extras/options. I'm thinking the brochure MIRO is the basic van weight then all the extras are extra weight which are included in the plated weight.
Quote: Originally posted by navver on 29/1/2016
You might get a Bailey 460/4 for that money.
Freeatlast, do you think the extra 70kg is for the extras/options. I'm thinking the brochure MIRO is the basic van weight then all the extras are extra weight which are included in the plated weight.
Yes it is, but those "extras" had become standard when we bought the van.
You wouldn't be insured if your car was in an accident. Insurers would check everything out and worm their way out!
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Topic: 4 berth caravan,fixed bed
