hi I own a Ford Focus estate 2008 1.8 tdci not sure of the weight I also just bought a 2003 sterling Eccles jewel . I no I should of checked I was all legal towing and stuff but my wife fell in love with van so had to buy or marraige was over hahaha any advice also I passed my test after January 97 I know I can tow a train weight of 3500 kg not sure if car and van exceed weight
If the caravan is model with 1500kg max weight & car has max tow weight of 1500kg & gross weight of 1950kg then technically legal to tow with car on the licence you have. However in practice caravan is rather too heavy for car, you will probably end up towing a caravan that is more or less same weight as car. So a poor match really.
The max 1500kg tow weight is just a technical figure meaning car is capable of towing that weight, it does not indicate it is safe to tow a caravan of that weight. Caravan has large side area subject to cross winds so could lead to 'tail wags dog' situation. If you do decide to tow it I would keep motorway speed down to truck speed of 56mph.
Quote: Originally posted by Theshedking on 12/1/2015
hi I own a Ford Focus estate 2008 1.8 tdci not sure of the weight I also just bought a 2003 sterling Eccles jewel . I no I should of checked I was all legal towing and stuff but my wife fell in love with van so had to buy or marraige was over hahaha any advice also I passed my test after January 97 I know I can tow a train weight of 3500 kg not sure if car and van exceed weight
Find the max gross weight of the car either from your v5 document or from the weight plate on the car ( the next to the biggest number on the plate ). Look on the caravan plate and find the max weight for the caravan. Add the two together, if the dim is 3500 or less you have a unit you are licensed to drive, if it is bigger then you are not and you need to take an extra test to be able to use it.
------------- Bill
For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013
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Topic: Towing match right licence
