A caravan with a gross loaded plated weight of 1015kg to keep within the reommended 85% rule. Watch out for seller who say yeah your cars fine or only tell you the unladen weight.
Depending on your experience and also when you passed your test you could increase that to 1194kg or 1200kg.
1200kg is the very max, I was not impressed with my sisters old focus towing my grampian which was unladen and probably weighed a little over 900kg.
She bought an old sprite with a max weight of 850kg.
The physical size of the van is not a good indication of how heavy it is, My wife keeps saying we should buy something smaller but when i tell her the 2 berth she is looking at is 200kg heavier than ours she shuts up for a bit until next time.
many thanks, I have been towing most of my adult life. Anything from plant trailers to caravans. But I wasnt sure about the legal weight that my car would manage.
We wont be doing long trips, just the occaisional weekends away within 50 miles.
I think I will try to keep the weight below 1000kg though cos this focus only has 90bhp and I dont want to kill it.
I passed my test in 1988 so I dont think there are any extra restrictions that I need to worry about.
------------- Never look down at anybody....
.....unless to offer a hand, to help them up
The simple way to find out what weight your caravan can tow when your car is fully loaded is to take the differences in the two larger weights on the car's VIN plate.
The plate should be on the inside edge of on of the doors or under the bonnet.
When the Father in Law had a 1.6 petrol Y reg Focus it had a max tow weight of 1200kg & it managed our 1178 kg Ranger 470/4. We towed our Ranger at first with a 1.6 petrol Scenic, you needed to use the gears, but it got us to Vendee.
As yours is a diesel the extra torque should make it OK as a toe car if you keep it legal.
Ford in their infinate wisdom fit vin plates on focus in one of at least 12 different places, and not all focus are the same. I cant find any plates on mine, and even ford say this is perfectly normal.
When I bought it I was only able to check the chassis number near the drivers seat and the engine number.
But I will be keeping the weight of the van to a minimum.
------------- Never look down at anybody....
.....unless to offer a hand, to help them up
We tow an Abi Award Transtar 1300kg with our 07 1.8 tdci Focus and have had no problems. Cruise control set at 55 on motorways and it just purrs along. This is towing at 89% and the max towing limit is 1500kg.
Terry
we have a focus 1.8 tddi 03 used it to tow a lunar zenith 4 (1150)kg,only bother was on long hills having to use the gears,still got the car with110,000 miles ,and still going well
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Ford Focus
