8’0” wide caravan with fixed bed under 1500kg MTPLM?

[Flatcoat]

I appreciate the suggestions but it has Nothing to do with legislation. Can I just be very clear. My cars tow weight limit is 1500kg. Forget tow weight ratios (which I ignore, they have no legal bearing in the UK). Forget the cars weight (which is c2000kg. The dealer will NOT SELL ME a caravan over the cars approved tow weight limit. Nothing to do with law, no one can be forced to sell something so theories about the law are irrelevant. My caravan insurance (and AFAIK so do most) states I cannot tow with an MTPLM above cars tow weight limit. In theory the towed weight is the weight on the axle and nose weight is effectively part of the cars payload. But try getting your insurers or the dealer to accept that fact of physics. And Bailey do not downplate their caravans anymore.

 

[Lutz]

You're right inasmuch as no-one can be forced to make a deal, but it would still be interesting to know why the dealer is refusing to sell a caravan whose MTPLM is more than the car's towing limit. Not only has such a restriction no legal bearing, but it can't be argued that it's a safety issue, either. It only limits the manufacturer's product liability in the case of a warranty claim, nothing more. Some car manufacturers even specify more than one towing limit, depending on the application. It would be interesting to see which value is the one that the dealer chooses. Besides, would the dealer refuse to sell if one hasn't bought a suitable towcar and one is therefore unable to give relevant details of it yet?
It's true that some insurance companies won't cover a caravan whose MTPLM is greater than the kerbweight of the car, but I've never heard of a restriction based on its towing limit. Perhaps someone can correct me.

 

[otherclive]

I appreciate the suggestions but it has Nothing to do with legislation. Can I just be very clear. My cars tow weight limit is 1500kg. Forget tow weight ratios (which I ignore, they have no legal bearing in the UK). Forget the cars weight (which is c2000kg. The dealer will NOT SELL ME a caravan over the cars approved tow weight limit. Nothing to do with law, no one can be forced to sell something so theories about the law are irrelevant. My caravan insurance (and AFAIK so do most) states I cannot tow with an MTPLM above cars tow weight limit. In theory the towed weight is the weight on the axle and nose weight is effectively part of the cars payload. But try getting your insurers or the dealer to accept that fact of physics. And Bailey do not downplate their caravans anymore.

So your insurance would not be valid towing the empty caravan home even though its MTPLM was above the cars tow limit. But you could tow a caravan whose loaded MTPLM is of equivalent weight as your empty desired caravan. Sounds totally illogical. Can’t recall seeing such a stipulation in insurance that I had. But times change.

 

[Flatcoat]

thanks Lutz (good to see you active on here, I left the another forum you frequent due to inability of their mods to control inappropriate comments). Along with otherclive I don’t disagree with either. It is very frustrating. I do not yet wish to change my car which I am very happy with.

 

[Dustydog]

If the dealers are being so dogmatic with the OP I wonder if the NCC are firing them up🙀

 

[Flatcoat]

^^^^ I do wonder myself about NCC. I have been to 3 separately owned dealerships and all responded same. However your second point makes little logic to me and I doubt there is any supporting evidence to that theory.

 

[Dustydog]

^^^^ I do wonder myself about NCC. I have been to 3 separately owned dealerships and all responded same. However your second point makes little logic to me and I doubt there is any supporting evidence to that theory.

Yes, I was talking rubbish! Deleted now🙀

 

[Lutz]

thanks Lutz (good to see you active on here, I left the another forum you frequent due to inability of their mods to control inappropriate comments). Along with otherclive I don’t disagree with either. It is very frustrating. I do not yet wish to change my car which I am very happy with.

What if you told the dealer at the time you closed the deal with him that you are going to change the car and you then changed your mind after you've already bought the caravan?

 

[Flatcoat]

Lutz, I might try that, see what other barriers they try on.