Insurance Quotes
Insurance Discount Campsite Offers All offers
UK Sites French Sites European Sites Map Search Text Search Near your Location Popular Searches Leave a Review My Saved Sites Add a New Site
All Sections Caravanning Camping Tent Talk Motorhomes Trailer Tents Backpacking Equipment Statics UK Campsites Camping Abroad General Chat News More Sections Latest Posts
All Adverts Tents for Sale Caravans for Sale Motorhomes for Sale Equipment for Sale Post an Advert Campsite Jobs
All Categories Caravanning Advice Caravan Equipment Tents and Camping Motorhomes Towing and Towcars Equipment Furniture and Cooking Electrical / Gas Shows and Events General More Categories
Join for Free Log In

Advertisement

Message Forums
Welcome Guest Register  Log In  Search  Latest Posts
 Reception - All Forums
   Caravans and Caravanning -  Caravan Towcars and Towing Advice 		Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email
Subject Topic: Caravan weight plate
Post Reply
PersonSeany83
16/4/2017 at 8:57am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered View Seany83's Profile View Profile   Reply to Seany83 Reply   Quote Seany83 Quote  
Joined: 30/3/2017

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   48
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Hi,I have just purchased a caravan it says on the weight plate
maxmium permissible weight 950kg
Maxmium payload weight 165kg

What does the payload weight mean?

Any advice on this will be appreciated. 👍


PersonOpensauce
16/4/2017 at 9:14am
 Location: 
 Outfit:  View Opensauce's Profile View Profile   Reply to Opensauce Reply   Quote Opensauce Quote  
Joined: 25/1/2010

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   4530
Site Reviews Total: 13
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Payload means the weight of your gear you are loading into caravan. In your case this is 165kg which will bring the caravan up to it's max loaded weight of 950kg.

So the empty weight of caravan should be 785kg. For an old caravan that means completely empty weight so your 165kg payload. includes gas bottles & battery. Also mover if one is fitted.


PersonSeany83
16/4/2017 at 9:30am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered View Seany83's Profile View Profile   Reply to Seany83 Reply   Quote Seany83 Quote  
Joined: 30/3/2017

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   48
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
How do I achieve the 85% tow ratio?


Persontango55
16/4/2017 at 9:41am
 Location: Lichfield
 Outfit: Coachman Vision 450 View tango55's Profile View Profile   Reply to tango55 Reply   Quote tango55 Quote  
Joined: 15/5/2008

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   9593
Site Reviews Total: 23
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 3 
Site Reviews 2021: 1 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 11
Site Nights 2021: 3
Site Nights 2020: 0
The 85% ratio would be calculated on the maximum payload weight of the caravan which in this instance would be 950 kgs. therefore you would need a towcar with a minimum kerbweight of around 1120 kgs.


Personold chap
16/4/2017 at 10:11am
 Location: Sitingbourne
 Outfit: baily champaign View old chap's Profile View Profile   Reply to old chap Reply   Quote old chap Quote  
Joined: 19/2/2006

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   1098
Site Reviews Total: 1
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
just for your info. the weights you have just quoted, on a newer van would be shown as the MIRO (as from the factory) & MTPLM ( which is the maximum caravan loaded weight) the difference between the MIRO & The MTPLM is the allowed payload including gas bottles, battery, & any other fitted accessory not fitted as standard


Advertisement

Roofbox


PersonSeany83
16/4/2017 at 11:06am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered View Seany83's Profile View Profile   Reply to Seany83 Reply   Quote Seany83 Quote  
Joined: 30/3/2017

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   48
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
On my V5 it says mass in service 1505 is this my cars kerb weight?


Persontango55
16/4/2017 at 11:23am
 Location: Lichfield
 Outfit: Coachman Vision 450 View tango55's Profile View Profile   Reply to tango55 Reply   Quote tango55 Quote  
Joined: 15/5/2008

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   9593
Site Reviews Total: 23
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 3 
Site Reviews 2021: 1 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 11
Site Nights 2021: 3
Site Nights 2020: 0
EDIT: I wasn't sure myself what 'Mass in Service' is but after reading about it on the internet the post by 'Opensauce' (below) is correct.








Post last edited on 16/04/2017 12:36:06


PersonOpensauce
16/4/2017 at 12:18pm
 Location: 
 Outfit:  View Opensauce's Profile View Profile   Reply to Opensauce Reply   Quote Opensauce Quote  
Joined: 25/1/2010

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   4530
Site Reviews Total: 13
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Mass in service is kerb weight. You can tow that caravan no probs.


PersonGrampian91
16/4/2017 at 4:18pm
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram View Grampian91's Profile View Profile   Reply to Grampian91 Reply   Quote Grampian91 Quote  
Joined: 11/5/2008

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   6898
Site Reviews Total: 2
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Mass in service varies, A driver and fuel. 75kg driver and 3/4 tank of fuel as a guideline but it does vary between manufacturers and models.

If your putting 100kg into the van and you will do that easily you need to check the actual weight. It could weigh a lot more than the plate says already.

My handbook says it could be +5%, but someone wrote into a caravan mag saying their van was way heavier than that and left them virtually no margin for loading.


PersonSeany83
16/4/2017 at 8:44pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered View Seany83's Profile View Profile   Reply to Seany83 Reply   Quote Seany83 Quote  
Joined: 30/3/2017

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   48
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Ok thanks guys for your help 👍



In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here

Prev       Next
Quick Links - All Forums - Caravan Towcars and Towing Advice - Top of Page

     Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email


Latest News, Discounts and Competitions  see all...












    Upcoming Event

UKCS Meet Motorhome and Campervan Show Exeter 20/11 to 22/11

A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets


4007 Visitors online !

Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker  -  Add a Missing Campsite

[Message Forums]  [Caravan Sites & Camping]  [Company Listings]  [Features / Advice]  [Virtual Brochure]  [Special Offers]
[Reception]  [Competitions]  [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]  [Event Diary]  [Tent Reviews] 

[Contact Us] 



Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2026


Advertisement
Advertisement

Advertisement