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Topic: Towing capabilities - a check

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ngrant01

17/7/2016 at 7:08pm
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I just want to confirm I have everything right before getting lost in it all

Current situation is I have a Vauxhall astra. 16 Year old licence so I fit into the <3500kg total limit category. I plan to change my car AFTER the purchase of a caravan, so I want something to fit now but be fit for purpose in the future - hence checking my figures are right!

I will try and do it buy numbers:

Current kerb weight - 1400kg (85% ~ 1200kg)
Gross Vehicle weight - 2000kg
Gross Train weight - 3300kg

So to my plan:

Current car + caravan with a MIRO of say 1100kg, MTPLM being >> 1200kg.

BUT will only load the caravan with 100kg of "stuff"; in addition keeping the total car weight (people plus more "stuff") to less then 2000kg total. 3200kg total, caravan at 85% of kerb weight.

After the purchase of a new car (assuming 85% kerb weight is > MTPLM) thus enabling me to load to the MTPLM, staying within 3500kg total limits and obvious limits of newcar.

Can anyone see anything glaringly obvious missing?

All of this is in principle to check my understanding of the law and recommended towing ratios. I'd like to have the horizon of potential caravan candidates broadened, hence the question!

Thanks

Neil

Nellie72

17/7/2016 at 7:41pm
Location: S.Wales
Outfit: Bailey Pageant Bordeaux

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What does your car manual say it can tow in terms of braked trailer weights?

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Doing whatever the rice krispies tell me to.

ngrant01

17/7/2016 at 7:42pm
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1200kg max

Nellie72

17/7/2016 at 7:55pm
Location: S.Wales
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it says that or is that what you've calculated is 85% of the cars weight?

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Doing whatever the rice krispies tell me to.

ngrant01

17/7/2016 at 7:57pm
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1200kg is what is written; actually noted a mistake in original post, kerb weight is ~1500kg

Nellie72

17/7/2016 at 8:05pm
Location: S.Wales
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ok, so it's 80% of the car's kerb weight.

I'd recommend taking any potential van to a weighbridge, as sometimes the empty weight of a van is higher than what it might say on its plate and as you're close on weights, it could be worthwhile to double check.

Other than as your license is sufficiently old enough to enable you to tow the actual weight of the trailer rather than what the max weight of the trailer could be, I think you've covered all your bases :D

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Doing whatever the rice krispies tell me to.

ngrant01

17/7/2016 at 8:08pm
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Yes was going to do as you suggest, work has a weighbridge so I could ask nicely to use that (or find suitable local one of course).

Thanks for your time checking it over.

Neil

Nellie72

17/7/2016 at 8:33pm
Location: S.Wales
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Enjoy yourselves :D

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Doing whatever the rice krispies tell me to.

Vectratot

17/7/2016 at 9:16pm
Location: DURHAM
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What year and model Astra do you have?

ngrant01

17/7/2016 at 10:00pm
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2013 energy, 1.7diesel

Grampian91

17/7/2016 at 10:49pm
Location: Midlands
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What does your log book (V5C) say in section O?

ngrant01

18/7/2016 at 9:08am
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As above Grampian, 1200kg; I think my question has been answered

Neil

ROG.

18/7/2016 at 11:43am
Location: LEICESTER
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How can you have a GTW of 3300 with a GVW of 2000 but only a towing max of 1200 ????

Or have I read that wrong ?

-------------
EX Advanced driving observer (IAM)
EX LGV & B+E instructor

ngrant01

18/7/2016 at 12:04pm
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My numbers arent exact, I've rounded up/down to improve ease of reading. Just wanted to make sure I had the principles correct rather than dwell on and get bogged down in accuracies

Neil

Troon

18/7/2016 at 2:52pm
Location: Staffordshire
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Now feeling very old having twigged that a 16-year old licence is (significantly) post-1997. :(

ngrant01

18/7/2016 at 3:01pm
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Me too and I'm only in my 30s!

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