do i load the van or car when going on my hols this year (2009). this is our 1st caravan and we have a 2ltr mondeo estate petrol which can tow up to 1050 kilos , my van is 720 kilos unladened , we are a family of five so we would guess with our luggage & caravan equipment includind arwning would weight around 250 kilos , so which is best way to do it load the car or caravan ???
Hya Lee and welcome. Think your car should tow more than 1050KG check out your outfit match on whattowcar.
Most people put the awning across the axle on the floor. We store the van at home so we can pack before we leave. I usually put the clothes in the van and the most of the rest in the car but i think you will find everyone has their own way of doing things. Guess its whatever suits so long as you stay within the limits.
Load the caravan, keeping within its allowed weight, with your clothes, cooking stuff, dishes, bedding, food etc, in other words, if you use it in the van pack it in the van.
Then put pretty much everything else in the car apart from stuff like waste and water containers, hook up cable, bits and pieces of other "caravan stuff" , some of which can go in the front locker if there is room and weight. Be careful not to exceed your allowable nose weight.
hi lee ,we carrie our awning and groundsheet chairs and windbreak in the car the rest in the caravan sa its easyer for us there is only two of us and the dog...
being only the 2 of us most of the kit goes in the van, apart from mum's wheelchair, trolley jack (lives in rear passenger footwell). stuff that is used outside on site like tv areial may get put in the car as well
main thing is that the car is pretty much level fore and aft and never front up and when tied on the van is nose down a few degrees, always check my noseweight before tying on and aim for about 60kg and with loading not really chaning much it stayed pretty constant
Quote: Originally posted by 664DaveS on 07/1/2009
You should not exceed the weight limit on the car either, five plus luggage is a lot of weight.
Exactly, that is why the "luggage" should go in the van. In the car we only have things that are too big to be stowed in the van, such as the Aquaroll, 2 chairs, empty coolbox, and stuff we want to keep close to hand such as cameras and maps.
If we had an awning it would also go in the car as we prefer to keep the van floor clear, but we have a Fiamma which travels on the van.
With all the equipment for 5 in the van, it could easily be overloaded with an awning in it too.
hi we always load the van ,the heavy stuff over the axel the spare and jack go on the floor by the door so its handy to get at if needed . i make sure the nose weight is 75 kilos , our c5 is self levelling so it sorts itself out and it tows really well.
if your Mondeo is like mine if you put to much weight in the boot with passengers in the back she will sit down on rear suspension ,as stated by one of the other posters you should be ok towing up to 85% of the cars kerb weight ,I think you meant the caravans maximum weight is1050kg
ive got a 2000 mondeo estate lx 2 ltr petrol which i have been told can tow upto 1050 kilos , my van is 720 kilos unladened and 1000 kilos fully ladened , some other members are telling me that my car should tow more than that , but yet to find a site with my spec , any pointers
The 2000 Mondeo Estate's kerbweight is 1323kg which gives you an 85 per cent guide of 1124kg. Provided your caravan with its load does not exceed this figure you will be fine.
CORRECTION to my posting! The kerbweight and 85 per cent for your Mondeo Estate was right, but you should NOT exceed the maximum loaded figure of your particular caravan. Sorry!
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Topic: load the van or car !!!!
