Hi all, title says it all really I'm considering buying a tourer, I've usually done camping in a tent but am getting a little bored of it and fancy something a bit more "luxurious" for our holidays.
I'm basically here for some simple advice about towing and to check my calculations are correct before I venture out and buy one. I currently own a VW Passat saloon, it's a 2013 2.0tdi highline model and from what I can gather a perfectly capable towcar.
Now the GVW of the car is 2100kgs so in theory I could tow a trailer up to 1400kgs MTPLM (I'm 31 and passed my test after 1997) but ideally I need to be under 85% of the kerbweight which I believe is 1532kgs x 0.85 = 1302kgs are my calculations correct? And this is ideally the max weight of the caravan fully laden.
I would like a motor mover too to make things a bit easier how much weight do they add to a caravan? What are the things I really need to look out for when towing. Many thanks.
Data sheet from candcc may help with weights.Datasheet
There are various motor movers on the market with different weights I would reckon 35kg will be around the average.
The next link maybe helpful regarding buying a second hand caravan Checklist
Motor movers are generally around the 40kg mark, so they do take a fair chunk of your loading limit away. But its one of the best things i have ever bought.
Regarding your towcar and potential caravan, your calculations are correct. If you stick to the 85% recommendation you will have a wide range of caravans to choose from which have a MTPLM under 1302kg. which your Passat will be able to tow easily.
As mentioned, motor mover weights are generally between 30 and 37 kg. The manual versions usually weigh more than the automatics and many use a cross actuation bar connecting the two rollers underneath the caravan, which enables both rollers to be engaged from one side.
No worries at all about towing with that car Liam, ours is similar (a 2015 2.0 TDI estate) and it's brilliant.
You're also right about your legal weight restrictions but bear in mind that the 85% recommendation is nothing more nor less than a crude factor of safety to take account that caravans are high-sided and less aerodynamic than lower trailers. It has no legal and some would say no scientific basis. Going up to, say, 1350kg will make little difference and even the maximum of 1400kg permitted by your licence is still only 91% of the car's kerbweight. If the caravan is only lightly loaded for a weekend away the actual weight won't be as high as the MTPLM.
As to your last query about what to look out for when towing; not an awful lot really other than going more slowly and carefully if it's windy and remembering not to trust your satnav, which doesn't know when you have a big heavy box on wheels behind you. If the site you're heading to gives directions, use those!
I'm probably a bit of a nerd but I have a spreadsheet for everything which goes in our caravan. Here's the extract for what I call "caravan essentials" - ie, the stuff that I have to have with us which does not go in the car. To save you the bother, it's 84kg. The EHU cable (5kg) goes in the car.
We fitted shock absorbers because they make towing a much nicer experience, and also have permanent brackets bolted onto the chasis for a "Kojack".
PowerMover 32.00
Battery 25.00
WasteMaster 5.00
AquaRoll 5.00
Step 3.40
Shock Absorbers 3.00
Jack brackets 3.30
water hose/pump 0.50
Thanks for the replies guys. To be honest I'd like to keep the weight of the caravan down to a minimum if i'm honest due to not being very experienced in towing. Seen a 2005 Sprite Musketeer with a mover which looks really nice, perfect size for a starter van with fixed bunks for the young ones... think they around 1242 kgs MTPLM and around a ton unladen.
You may be surprised at how quickly the weight adds up
As above plus
20 cans of lager
a couple of bottles of wine
a couple of bottles of spirits
mixers
(these are necessities permanently kept in our van as a minimum!)
then add all the junk you will accumulate over the first few months that you won't realise you have hoarded until you sell the van and have to empty it and wonder why you got it in the first place.
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Topic: Newbie considering caravanning.
