BMW 530D Saloon

[Kathy_374307778]

I was reading the Practical Caravan magazine the other night and as im very new to caravaning and are looking at purchasing our first one, i was concerned at towing restrictions. One thing i was puzzled at was the write up in the Perfect Match section. This was in the April issue and on page 72 and 74. I was looking at the BMW 535D SE Touring and with a kerbweight of less than 3500kg was puzzled at how it had been matched to a Bailey Senator Virginia with a length of 7.19m. I thought that if you had a tow vehicle less than 3500kg you couldnt tow longer than 7 meters. Can someone please explain to me the correct towing laws before i choose a van. We have a 1999 BMW 530D SE with a weight of just short of 2 tonnes and would like to know what sort of family size caravan we can be looking at. Thanks.

 

[BeemerMal]

Kathy....There are a number of rules and guidelines you should follow to ensure your car and caravan are a safe match. If you receive the Practical Caravan mag read up on "How to make a Safe Match" This is in the buyers guide section each month.

Also the actual weight you can tow depends on when you passed your driving test. Before 1997 or after 1997 and does your driving licence have a B+E entitlement?

If you passed your driving test before 1997 you are allowed to tow up to the weight limits allowed by the car manufacture, usually shown on the VIN plate or in the handbook.

If you passed after January 1997 you are restricted to tow up to 100% of the cars weight to a maximum train weight (Car + Trailer)of 3500kg. To exceed these weights you need to take the additional driving test to obtain the B+E towing entitlement.

However there are whats called Safe Towing recommendations and these should not be ignored, particularly if you are new to towing. A These are that you should not tow a caravan weighing more than 85% of the cars kerb-weight.

As far as caravan length is concerned, not entirely sure if it is law but I think 8m is the maximum lenghth (shipping Length) that can be towed without other special conditions.

 

[Stephen_5122599]

Hi Kathy,

The maximum length trailer one can tow with a vehicle up to 3,500kg gross weight is 7 metres. However, this measurement does not include the A frame so a caravans overall length can be in excess of 7 metres so long as it's body is not. The maximum width is 2.3 metres.

Regards

Steve

 

[cooky1]

Kathy, We tow with a 530D SE Touring. It is 4.805 m long and we tow a Bailey Senator Indianna which is 7.194m shipping length and 1500kg MTPLM. The caravan works out to be 84.8% of the kerb weight of the car - so a good match. The car actually weighs just over 2t when I last weighed it.

The outfit tows very well and is stable.

I think that the Indianna is about the meximum length and weight I would be happy towing. HTH.

Graeme.

 

[alan_5039782]

hi kath I tow sterling saphire 2007 model 1530 kg with 1999 530d tourer,tows superb,youll have no problem,

 

[alan_5039782]

hi kath I tow sterling saphire 2007 model 1530 kg with 1999 530d tourer,tows superb,youll have no problem,