Baffled

[Andrea_5108420]

Why does my car have a maximum tow weight of 1800kg, but I'm only supposed to tow 85% of its kerbweight (1493kg)?

If it's not safe to tow above 1300kg,why have Ford designed the car to cope with 500kg more than that?

Thanks in bafflement

 

[JeremyClarksson]

The Ford figure relates to the max towed weight they reccomend.

85% is an advisory figure in caravanning circles (CC) which also takes into account higher centre of gravity of a van over say a trailer full of bricks.

 

[MikeP]

Another point is that people are likely to tow heavily laden low centre of gravity trailers over relatively short distances, rather than for long holiday type journeys.

I used to own an Espace, and its max tow weight was 2,000kg - which is well above its kerbweight. No way would I have had the power to cope with a caravan of that weight in a hilly area.

 

[Lutz]

Also, the 85% advisory originated in days gone by when cars didn't have such safety features like ABS or DSC (or ESP, depending on what the car manufacturer calls it). With further advances in technology, it is highly likely that the ratio will be raised slightly. 100% is already a mandatory limit in some countries.

 

[Saladdodger]

Sorry to ask but is it a legal reqirement that the max trailer / caravan weight is not higher than the kerbweight of the tow vehicle.

This has always been of confussion to me but I am sure that Lutz will clarify.

Many Thanks .... Dodger

 

[rayc]

It depends:-

If you have B+E entitlement on your licence it is lawful to tow a trailer greater than the weight of the towing vehicle. you must though ensure you do not exceed the car manufacturers towing limit, train weight limit, nose weight limit and axle loading limits.

If you have group B only the car must weigh more than the trailer and their combined train weight must not exceed 3500kg.

 

[Terry_5112949]

When your car hand book states that the maximum tow weight is 1800kg this does not mean that you can tow 1800kg no problems, it means that your car is physically capable of towing that weight up whatever gradiant stated in the hand book and not that it will safely tow 1880kg round bends, roundabouts etc safely

 

[Saladdodger]

It depends:-

If you have B+E entitlement on your licence it is lawful to tow a trailer greater than the weight of the towing vehicle. you must though ensure you do not exceed the car manufacturers towing limit, train weight limit, nose weight limit and axle loading limits.

If you have group B only the car must weigh more than the trailer and their combined train weight must not exceed 3500kg.

My licence is the old green type and only lists groups A & E....What does that mean? Please

 

[Lutz]

It depends:-

If you have B+E entitlement on your licence it is lawful to tow a trailer greater than the weight of the towing vehicle. you must though ensure you do not exceed the car manufacturers towing limit, train weight limit, nose weight limit and axle loading limits.

If you have group B only the car must weigh more than the trailer and their combined train weight must not exceed 3500kg.

If you've got an old licence, then you will have passed your driving test before the 1st January 1997, in which case you will be treated as if you had a new category B+E licence.

 

[Lutz]

The maximum towload that the manufacturer specifies is a safe maximum that applies for general use, irrespective of the type of trailer you are towing. It does not differentiate between caravans and low loader trailers, for example. However, due to their boxy nature, caravans are more critical and it would not be wise to make full use of the specified limit if it exceeds the kerbweight of the car. With due care, other types of trailer may be towed perfectly safely right up to the limit.

 

[Saladdodger]

If you've got an old licence, then you will have passed your driving test before the 1st January 1997, in which case you will be treated as if you had a new category B+E licence.

Thanks Lutz

Great advise as usual

Dodger