I have a Ford Maverick 3.0 with a kerb weight of 1635 - 1670. My caravan has a weight of 1393 / 1593 fully laden. 85% of 1635 is 85.1%. We have a light weight awning and the usual kitchen stuff along with a small TV, gas bottles etc. We planned to take clothes, food etc in the car as a deliberate attempt to keep weight down. As a complete new person to caravanning I have to admit to being made to feel nervous I'm overloading my car. Is this small excess to the 85% rule Ok ? Your guidance will be gratefully received.
As others have said 85% is just a guide. At that figure you should have decent power to weight ratio,return a reasonable MPG and provided sensibly loaded no real problems towing.
Hi I tow (although no because I want to, no money to change) at about 94%. Don't recommend it as a rule because I am always watching speed and for signs of snaking.
But is can be done and it is not illegal..
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If I read your figures correctly the %age is nearer to 100. You use the maximum laden weight of the caravan for the calculation so your figure is 1593 divided by as little as 1635 depending on the actual figure for your car model.
Although still legal this would not be recommended for someone new to towing.
Yes I passed in 2001. I'm confused. Quite a few of you are saying it's Ok but some are not. I am a very careful driver with some experience towing a trailer tent. I am getting a little concerned I have made a mistake..
If you didn't pass your driving test until 2001 then you may not be licensed to tow this combination.
Please check the Gross weight of the Maverick. You say the gross weight (MAM, MAW, MTPLM) of the caravan is 1593 Kgs so you can't legally tow it with anything heavier than 1907 Kgs as you are limited to 3500 Kgs total. I suspect that the Maverick will be heavier than that.
Please note that in this respect it does not matter what the actual or unladen weights are - it is the plated max weights given by the manufacturer which count.
------------- Caz
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I can understand if you are a little confused, I was was I first got my van. Have you had a chance to follow the two links I put in my earlier post?
The first will explain the calculation for the 85% guideline and why it's a good idea for those new to towing to stick to it. If you consider yourself to be experienced in towing then it's your call how much over 85% you feel happy to go, I think your match is around 97%.
The second link I provided gives you the information on your driving licence and what you are covered to tow with a "standard" car licence, depending on when you passed your test.
If still in doubt feel free to get back with specific questions.
I'm sorry, I passed in 1991. Time passes too quickly. I have studied the links and as I have just purchased the van funds are too tight to run to a new car. I have towed a trailer tent for two years. Whilst its not a caravan I don't travel above 50 mph too often. I will keep the van as light as possible and only carry the bare essentials. I will also look to change the gas over to the lighter weight bottles. By my calculations I hope to keep the weight down to about 90%. I realise its a guideline and in an ideal world I would have stuck to it, of all the vans I looked at this was the best by a country mile. I will take my time and build my experience without taking risks. It has a stabliser fitted so I feel I should be Ok with care. Thanks for all the guidance.
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Topic: 85% Rule, guidance required
