Can anybody please tell me if a 2011 Bailey unicorn Barcelona 1593kg double wheeler can be towed weight wise and safely by a 2014 1997cc Mondeo diesal estate .
Thanks.
Thanks.
otherclive said:Another matching site is Towcar.info. See how it compares to the one given above. Don’t forget that the cars maximum towing limit isn’t necessarily how good a caravan Towcar it would make. The makers maximum limit relates to the cars ability to make a number of repeated hill starts on a 12% incline with that weight trailer. A large 7m approx aluminium box is subject to many things when being towed. Ie passing coaches, high speed vans, HGVs passing or being passed, wind, road unevenness etc, driver speeding, inattention, incorrect loading. So the 85% guidance makes sense for newcomers. It’s not hard and fast but is a useful starting point.
Could you feedback what the matching sites say for information. And what is the cars kerb-weight. Looking at one matching site there seem a lot of Mondrian variants at that year point. Putting in a few 2 litre diesel options the weight ratio comes out very close to 95-100% which is less than ideal even fir a more experienced caravannner.
Lutz said:otherclive said:Another matching site is Towcar.info. See how it compares to the one given above. Don’t forget that the cars maximum towing limit isn’t necessarily how good a caravan Towcar it would make. The makers maximum limit relates to the cars ability to make a number of repeated hill starts on a 12% incline with that weight trailer. A large 7m approx aluminium box is subject to many things when being towed. Ie passing coaches, high speed vans, HGVs passing or being passed, wind, road unevenness etc, driver speeding, inattention, incorrect loading. So the 85% guidance makes sense for newcomers. It’s not hard and fast but is a useful starting point.
Could you feedback what the matching sites say for information. And what is the cars kerb-weight. Looking at one matching site there seem a lot of Mondrian variants at that year point. Putting in a few 2 litre diesel options the weight ratio comes out very close to 95-100% which is less than ideal even fir a more experienced caravannner.
I'll go along with most of what you wrote, but I would like to point out that the towload limit set by the manufacturer takes a lot more into account than what the regulations require, i.e. a given number of stop/starts on a 12% incline. It will also take vehicle handling, engine cooling and braking performance as well as transmission durability into account.
I would also maintain that 95-100% weight ratio that you mention need not necessarily be considered as a limit for an experienced caravanner. Of course, the heavier the caravan relative to the car, the bigger the demands on the driver, but on condition that adequate care and consideration is given and the presence of technical safety features both in the car and on the caravan, there is no reason why 100% can't be exceeded to a limited extent. Caravanners on the Continent are unaware of any weight ratio recommendation and many use the manufacturers towing limit to the full, even for caravans, and yet one doesn't see roads littered with wrecked caravans there.
JezzerB said:Interesting article on towing;
https://blueskyrecreation.wordpress.com/2017/06/27/85-of-kerb-weight-law-guide-or-myth/
JezzerB said:Yes new to this forum so am a bit behind in terms of what has already been discussed-and my 'recent topics' button works erratically, but really enjoying learning from your comments and following it all with great interest. Really appreciate your sound advice while am off unable to work. Your posts are to the point and really informative. Didn't mean to repeat what you were saying -just seems there are few voices out there like yours to give that clear message based on tech and common sense. Thank you.