I'm thinking of changing my van to a Lunar Zenith 6 2008, as the one I have now feels too heavy for the vehicle I drive.
As some of you already know I've had a few problems with my current van as its 93% of the tow weight and the car isnt coping very well.
Would I be better with this one and will it be within the limits?
As I've a full washroom with a walk in cubicle shower at the moment that I love, how will I cope with the one the zenith has? Any suggestions, are they ok etc?
The towing capability for the Hyundai Tucson - 2.0 CRDi VGT [2WD] with a Lunar Zenith 6:
Performance on levelled roads Top speed Usability 6th gear Acceleration and take over
Performance in mountainous regions Drive off uphill Driving on motorway slopes Driving on steep roads
Hyundai Tucson - 2.0 CRDi VGT [2WD] (103 kW/138 bhp) Date of manufacture: january 2006 - up to now
75%
1260 kg 1671 kg
The match between car and caravan is perfect in accordance with a mix of European standards. However, according to the British Towing Code the percentage (loaded caravan / kerbweight tow car) is 75%.
The towing performances of this Hyundai with your Lunar are perfect (performance index = 108 km/h or 67 mph).
You may expect excellent performances from this outfit. On flat roads it's easy to come along, in which case top gear is applicable in all cases.
On motorway inclines you will be able not only to come along, but be the first at the top. On steep roads you have more than sufficient power to keep going. On hill starts there will be more than enough power to get going, provided the wheels have traction.
This is my fourth attempt at writing this post - I keep losing it at the point when I click 'Post Reply'. I am now using Firefox and the links don't seem to be working, so I have put them at the bottom on the post.
I googled the 2008 Lunar Zenth 6 and got this, which shows a MPTLM (maximum fully laden weight) of 1300kg.
I'm still unclear about exactly which Tucson you have. If you look at Michael's link from before, then even if you take the least capable van for towing, the 2008 2 litre, 2 wheel drive, Tucson, it gives you a kerbside weight of 1537kg and a maximum permitted towing weight of 1400kg. This means that 85% of 1537kg is 1306kg, so with the MPTLM (maximum fully laden weight) of 1300kg, you should be under the 85% even with stuff in the van. Things look fine.
For extra peace of mind why not post the exact weights on here? You need the maximum permitted laden weight of the caravan (find out from Lunar, the dealer, or better still the little plaque on the side of the van), and for the car, the kerbside weight and the maximum permitted towing weight. Information is obviously available from websites, but it is easy to make a mistake and to identify the wrong vehicle. If it is on a label on the side of the vehicle, I always think it is more reliable and is specific to that vehicle.
By the way, I have assumed that when you write Tuscan, you really mean Tucson? Personally, I like Tuscan better, anyway. It always reminds me of summer holidays in Italy. Perhaps one day you will get the chance to take the van all the way to Tuscany - then it will be 'job done!'
Thanks both - again! One of these days I will get it right. I'm having to sell the van I have because its doing the car no good at all and the lunar seems the best way to go.
I will have to go and check both weights on the plates on the van and car, as whenever I go on these so called towing sites I can never establish the correct model of car either.
I think though after all the towing hassle I've had, I "might" be going the right direction with it now.
I have found out now that the van is 1305kg, but my car I've still no idea. The plate on one side states the tyre pressures an on the other side, its written in japanese!!!
It does give some figures though, the top one being 2050kg followed by 3450kg, then 1170kg and finally 1100kg. Now if anyone can translate that for me, then your a "gud un"!!
Quote: Originally posted by helen8785 on 20/6/2010
I have found out now that the van is 1305kg, but my car I've still no idea. The plate on one side states the tyre pressures an on the other side, its written in japanese!!!
It does give some figures though, the top one being 2050kg followed by 3450kg, then 1170kg and finally 1100kg. Now if anyone can translate that for me, then your a "gud un"!!
It does not explain what any of these mean.
Hi Helen. Sorry, but these numbers don't mean anything to me. Unless anyone else can come up with the answer, I suggest you ring Hyundai and ask them. Alternatively, copy these figure in a question to them from their website (here) and see what they say. If you supply the VIN number of the car they should be able to tell you specifically which model you have, and therefore should be able to give you the kerbside weight and the maximum towing weight.
All the best - sorry I can't think of anything else at the moment.
Quote: Originally posted by helen8785 on 21/6/2010
Thanks to you both, arent I a pain in the ......?
I will contact them, thats the best bet.
:)
Helen, you are not a 'pain in the.....' at all. Just someone who wants to get things right to aid your own safety and the safety of others on the road. I have no reason at all to suspect Greendemom and Matty are wrong, but as far as I understand, the car's maximum gross weight includes people, luggage and fuel. The kerbweight will be lower than this. I think contacting them them for clarification would still be the best bet.
the max gross weight is when the car is fully loaded , the maximum weight the manufacturer deems safe , at this weight the maximum towable weight would be 3450kg-2050 kg = 1400kg
Remember Helen, that the maximum towable weight is much higher than the 85% of kerbweight recommended by the Caravan Clubs and other organisations for safety. If you look at the list provided by Michael, before, there are only 2 Tucsons on the list with a maximum towing weight of 1400kg: the 2 litre, 2 wheel drive (first in production 2007); and the 2 litre, 2wd CRTD Auto. The first has a Kerbweight of 1537kg (so 85% = 1306kg), and the second has a Kerbweight of 1616kg (so 85% = 1373 kg). As you van has a MPTLM of 1305kg, in both cases you will be within the safety guidelines for the vehicle (but see below - the bit in green italics).
The way I understand it is that the maximum towable weight is what the car is capable of pulling rather than what it is necessarily safe to pull. In considering the safety angle, then the 85% of kerbside weight is the 'generally accepted guide'. As I have said, if we have correctly identified your car from Michaels list then you should be OK, no problem. Always beware of the dealer who says, words to the effect, 'Nah, you wont have any trouble pulling the caravan with that'. Unless he quotes the figures, he is unlikely to know for sure - his prime objective will be to make a sale.
'Officially' I would still say check the car kerbside weight with the manufacturer. Being cautious, this is what I would do. After saying that, from the information we have, all the pointers tell us that you are probably within the 85% safety guidelines if the van is 1305kg. However, one of your posts puts the MPTLM of your van as 1350kg. If this is the case you would may not be within the 85% safety guidelines, if your vehicle is the first of the two mentioned above, although still legal to tow - just be very careful.
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Topic: Change of van-weights etc?
Top speed 
Acceleration and take over
