looking for advice. Just bought a brand new caravan and thought car was up to the job of towing it....but maybe not. The van is a brand new Bailey Ranger 620/6 MTPLM 1540 kgs MiRO 1281 kgs. The sales pitch is that it is a lightweight tourer and it should tow no problems with a 4 x 4. However the 4 x 4 is a Honda CRV 55 plate with a kerb weight of 1661kgs. In the manual it states the max towing weight with brakes is 1500 kgs. Where do we go from here? Can I tow if I dont load it up to the MTPLM. What is the legal position if I ensure van is kept below MTPLM?
did the suplying dealer do a towcar match for you before your purchase or at least ask what towcar you have ?
other than that i wouldnt like to go into the legal aspect but any dealer worth his salt should be sure the van they sell you is safe to be towed with your vehicle at the time of purchase.
sure someone will have more info but thats my take on it , poor dealership imho
The legal position is, to the best of my knowledge, you can tow up to a max. of 1500 Kgs., but no more. However, with the CR-V, a whole can of worms can be opened up here, because if you look at the small print in the brochure, it states that any loading within the car, over and above the kerbweight, or unladen weight, must be deducted from the tow-weight.
Just wondering if it's ok for me to tag along on this post as I have the same problem,possibly worse My Toyota Corolla Verso can tow 1200 according to the manufacturers' handbook, although I have been told that it could be a bit higher than that and still be within the 85% rule, but definitely no higher than 1300. Add to that the fact that I am a complete novice (planning to go on the CC towing course asap). However, I have just brought home my lovely new (to me) caravan which I was assured was 1130kg - which it is, but that's the unladen weght, the MPTLM is 1400!!! I've just read it in the documents that came with the 'van... I had told the dealer my maximum tow weight and he checked the plate on the side first...
So where do I go from here? I am waiting with interest to hear if you can offset the towing weight by placing the heavier items in the car itself, as mentioned in Eddie's post... will that help matters?
I really don't want to have to take my lovely caravan back, but can't afford to change my car either
------------- the tenter who became a caravanner who became a tenter :)
tentmum - according to "cuddles", your Toyota can tow a max of 1200 Kgs., not 1300, unless it's a diesel, which from what you say, I don't think that it is. Your empty caravan is already 87% of the kerbweight, which means that, unless you're a well experienced caravanner, you shouldn't really be putting anything at all inside, which of-course is just not practical.I'm afraid your dealer should have given you much better advice than he did, and under the circumstances, I would recommend that you either (a) go back to him and insist on changing the 'van to a lighter one (I know this will sound very disappointing to you), or (b) change your car. In reality, and in practical terms, what you've got at the minute is not a good match by any means. _ Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I think you realise this yourself.
Another point which you will need to watch out for is the noseweight. I think your Toyota is limited to 50 Kgs., which is really very low, and in reality, isn't suitable for towing many 'vans. With that in mind, and since you seem to be very pleased with the 'van, I would recommend that you go all out to change the car-it just aint up to it.
Hi Eddie, and thanks for the help... I've been checking out various websites and making a couple of phone calls in the last hour or so and it confirms what you've said, that basically this is not a great match! The unladen weight is 1130kg (this includes the spare wheel thankfully which was standard on the ABI's), and toyota's max towing weight is 1200, so we'll be travelling with a very lightly loaded van (I'll be getting out the weighing scales soon!) until we swap the car for something tougher, probably the newer, diesel, version of the Verso.
The dealer was extremely apologetic, but I've decided not to take the 'van back because it is so perfect for us and took so long to find... time to look at toyota's website again!
Thanks again, Heather
------------- the tenter who became a caravanner who became a tenter :)
Glad to be of help Heather - Don't forget to take the "Max. tow-ball weight" into account as well, as Toyotas only seem to be around 50/55 Kgs., whereas 75Kgs. is more "average".
Remember you have to add in the weight of the battery and the gas bottle(s) as well before you start counting all the other stuff you put in the van.Your total payload of 270 kg is therefore not as much as it may sound at first.
And a manufacturer's max tow weight is exactly what it says, even though it may be considerably less than the kerbweight.
With a MTPLM of 1400 kg your ideal kerbweight is1647 kg, and your max tow weight must be at least the 1400 kg.
The legal position is, to the best of my knowledge, you can tow up to a max. of 1500 Kgs., but no more. However, with the CR-V, a whole can of worms can be opened up here, because if you look at the small print in the brochure, it states that any loading within the car, over and above the kerbweight, or unladen weight, must be deducted from the tow-weight.
Eddie, I think it actually says the MTW should be reduced if the car is loaded by more than what amounts to 2 people and a bit of luggage - but this admonition appears only, as far as I can see, in the brochure. The handbook makes no mention of it. Neither does it make any sense at all - the Maximum Gross Weight of the car plus the Maximum Towing Weight add up to the Gross Train Weight on the plate - if the brochure advice was followed you would never be able to make use of the plated Gross Train Weight, so the advice seems nonsensical. (contrast this with Renaults where the MGW plus the MTW is less than the train weight so you have to reduce the load in the car to use the MTW).
I can only think that loading fully might reduce the restart capability (stated as being for a 12% gradient).
For better or worse, I decided to ignore the brochure and follow the handbook. I certainly have no concerns about legality if I am within the train weight, the MGW, and the MTW.
If you can find the reference in the manual, I would be grateful if you could cite it - it's hard to find anything in a book that takes about 70 pages to cover seatbelts and airbags.
Hi Alan, I totally agree with what you are saying - I was merely pointing out what is stated in the brochure (which actually states that the max. towing weights are based on two adults of 75 Kgs. each in the car, but no mention of luggage). Re the manual, I'm afraid I can't help you out there, as I was "put-off" by the 1500 Kg. towing limit, so didn't get the priviledge of owning one. Held off to have a look at the new version with the improved limit, but it's appearance has left me undecided.
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Topic: Problem for new caravanners! Help!!
My Toyota Corolla Verso can tow 1200 according to the manufacturers' handbook, although I have been told that it could be a bit higher than that and still be within the 85% rule, but definitely no higher than 1300. Add to that the fact that I am a complete novice (planning to go on the CC towing course asap). However, I have just brought home my lovely new (to me) caravan which I was assured was 1130kg - which it is, but that's the unladen weght, the MPTLM is 1400!!! I've just read it in the documents that came with the 'van... I had told the dealer my maximum tow weight and he checked the plate on the side first...
and took so long to find... time to look at toyota's website again!
