We have just bought our new to us Elddis odyssey 505 max 1414kg to tow with our original excellent tow car a 2005 Vauxhall vectra 150hp.
On going on whattowcar.com to check compatibitlity for the car it came up at 87% which i thought was good as the ideal is 85%
But reading doown further it sais the performance of the outfit will be fantastic but the caravan is somewhat heavy for the car and the stability and safery is only satisfactory.
We have already bought the van now and dont want to be changing the car as its perfect in every other way
Do you think this our outfit is a good match?
All the other reviews of our car and this caravan weight group are excellent
The ideal isn't 85%, of course, that is the maximum you should sensibly go for, although many people will tell you they regularly exceed this figure. The caravan Club, however, say not. They do accept up to 90% if all other factors look good.
My own outfit is 75%. The better the ratio, the better the towing experience.
You seem to be at about 92%, so it won't be as stable as you would wish, and things like the clutch will be put under greater strain. Personally I would change it. I am sure many people would not.
We're in a similar position, our van's max weight is 1400kg - the car can tow a max of 1800kg. I can't remember the exact figures in detail, I think its about 88%. We haven't had any issues so far and its quite stable.
If you load the van carefully and don't put too much stuff in it you could make sure you stay well below your max weight of 1414kg. We put some of the heavier items in the car which increases its kerbweight and then load the van with heavy items over the axle and only lighter things in the cupboards etc.
As far as I can understand, the 85% rule is the recommended guideline and not law, a few extra kilos shouldn't cause too much of a problem so long as you have load well, check tyres etc, and drive carefully.
Putting stuff in the car doesn't increase the kerbweight. That is a fixed figure and doesn't change. Of course, it's also possible to overload the car, either on one axle or both, so you need to be careful.
The 85% is only a guidline, but may not be so for ever. When self regulation fails, it usually ends up with new law.
The max tow figure of the car has nothing to do with caravans, and should be ignored in this case.
Ok putting stuff in the car doesn't increase the kerbweight as you're right it is a fixed weight, but it makes the car heavier as does carrying 4 people and a full tank of fuel...this would change the % slightly.
We don't overload the car we just put heavy clothes bags and awning poles in there rather than in the van and then we spread the awning panels around the van with the bulk of the weight over the axle. I've read in some caravan mags that some very experienced towers have a 100% match although it is not recommened.
"Your caravan must not exceed the car’s maximum towing weight (the most that the car manufacturer says the vehicle can tow), or you risk breaking the law. Beware: in some cars, it’s less than the kerbweight, and sometimes less than its 85% weight."
Our car's max towing weight is 1600kg and we never load the caravan up to max anyway so i recon we will only ever be towing 1350kg tops caravan and stuff. We will see our maiden trip with the van is down to devon in few weeks, if its just not right we will have to change the car.
The 85% principle takes into account a whole range of factors including the ability of the car to tow certain weights. Load the car up and the van to their max and you put more strain on the engine than you would with less gear. Starting on a hill can be problematic with too much weight in both van and car. The 85% seeks to create the right balance for most road conditions.Often too late on a hill to find the ratio isn't quite working. Find lights half way up Telegraph Hill outside of Exeter and that will be a good test.
Phil
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Personally, I wouldn't be rushing out to change the car. It's not ideal, but should be adequate. I don't agree that the 85% figure will ever be made law as the car manufacturers have put figures on the car which are law, although they could conceivably put pressure on the manufacturers to put lower weights on the plate than they might have otherwise done.
However, I would not be surprised if the Caravan Club revised the figure downwards as caravans start carrying more and more weight and it starts creeping higher and higher. The notion of a microwave oven at roof height is preposterous and asking to make a caravan unstable.
With the caravan manufacturers claiming that sales are at an all time high (although I am sceptical about the truth of their claims) the last thing the government wants to be seen to do is reduce the weights that can be towed thus killing what is seemingly the only growth industry in the country. Nor do they want to be seen to be encouraging "gas guzzling 4x4s" (their words, not mine) onto the roads which would become the only thing capable of legally towing a lot of caravans.
Even if they did make the 85% guideline law, then it would not be done retrospectively, it would apply to cars / caravans manufactured after a given date in the future.
I have towed my 1415 kg Eldiss with my 150 Vectra Sri for thousands of miles. Dont worry its a fantastic towcar. And as long as you load the caravan correctly you wont have any problems at all.
Quote: Originally posted by Greendemon315 on 04/7/2011
The max tow figure of the car has nothing to do with caravans, and should be ignored in this case.
Jim
Utter tosh!! That is the ONLY legal requirement - you must not exceed the towing weight of your car, no matter what it is you are towing (horses, trailers, haystacks etc).
The 85% guideline, the 7% noseweight etc, etc - they're all voluntary stuff - towing weight is the one MUST DO.
It's obvious as well because it's easy to check at the side of the road - read the plate on the caravan, read the plate on the car and ensure one isn't bigger than the other. Everything else needs a weighbridge.
------------- 'In later life, you will be more disappointed with the things you didn't do than with the things you did.' - Mark Twain
We have a Passat Estate (1737kg kerbweight) & our van was 1450 so supposedly a good match at around 83%. But at 24 feet it was a long van & altho it towed OK it wasn't great. We changed our van (for other reasons) & towed our new one back (well loaded with extras that came with it) 80+ miles yesterday. It's 50kg lighter than the other van & also 14 inches shorter. Between the 2 (or other factors we haven't thought of) the towing was massively different - it towed like a dream.
I'd reserve judgement until you actually tow it & be careful to load well & keep weight down as much as poss. Altho if you find it's not very stable or your car struggles up hills it could be a long, stressful drive to Devon. Could you not try it on a shorter weekend run beforehand?
Quote: Originally posted by grumpano on 04/7/2011
I have towed my 1415 kg Eldiss with my 150 Vectra Sri for thousands of miles. Dont worry its a fantastic towcar. And as long as you load the caravan correctly you wont have any problems at all.
Thats good to hear ours is the Sri too, we towed our last caravan with it from staffs to newquay last year and its a fantastic tow car with loads of torque up hill. I do honestly think its more than adequate to pull our new van just wanted to check this 85% rule
We have had a few 'vans over the years, and although most have been relatively light in respect of the tow car, the biggest single thing that affected how they handled was the weight distribution, not just the caravan but the car as well.
Sensibly loaded with correct distribution of weight you should have no issues.
We towed our new trailer over to Holland and back last month, that is 3500kg and the Discovery had 3 people in it. No issues at all, handled and braked well, although the drawbar trailer is inherently more stable than a 2 centre axle caravan as there is no pendulum effect.
Happy caravanning!
Peter
PS: We are both in our early to mid 60's, so not spring chickens!
Nelmo, why on earth do you think the Caravan Club, in consultation with the Government, spent so much time and money on deciding what would be safe and sensible?
Just so you could say it doesn't matter? Of course not. They might as well not have bothered.
But they did, and the only advice we can give now should be the official line.
We certainly shouldn't be giving advice that conflicts with it.
As I said, once enough people ignore what we have been told, it will be law, and there won't be any grandfather rights either.
When everybody wanted double glazing and toilets in coaches, the eventual solutions were either an extra axle or a trailer. I can rememberer the scramble to get about two thirds of the drivers through another test. It can happen.
Jim
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Topic: What do you think?
