MTPLM is effecitvely the max gross weight for the van.
Also (depending on your age) don't forget that if your combinaton is over 3500kg (thats the GW of the car plus the MTPLM of the van) you will need B+E on your licence to tow it.
In answer to your origianl post I would strongly recommend getting an inspection done by a local mobile NCC approved caravan engineer, even if buying from a dealer. This will cost £50-£70 and is well worth it and will also check for damp (so saves you £20 in buying a meter)
Other things to check are if the van has a full service history. While no guarantee this is a good sign that the van has been looked after and any problems caught early and fixed. Also check over the front and rear panels and look for any cracks, these are typically common up at the top where the side panals join the rear panel. Certain makes (Bailey been one) suffered from these for several years and the only real fix is a new panel which isn't cheap!
Buying from a dealer you will get beween 6-12 months warranty but will pay more than buying private so its a bit of a trade off. Buying bwteen now and Feb is a good time as the dealers will be quiet and you might get a better deal.
In terms of your Mazda I would take it to a weigh bridge and see what the actual kerbweight is. This should be done with someone in the drivers seat and 3/4 tank of fuel. You might be surprised as sometimes the figures quoted on the internet can be lower than the actual weight as it does vary depending on the car and its various options. Take 85% (approx) of the actual weight as a guide and you then have a MTPLM to look for on any vans
Good luck and happy hunting!
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Topic: Advice for a novice newbie
