Caravan Towing Guide Supplement - Sept. PC

[Lutz]

The supplement contains some quite useful information but one should treat it with some respect as it also has a few misleading passages, even incorrect information.

Page 1 - Mass in Running Order

"Mass of the caravan equipped to the manufacturer's standard specification stated on the caravan weight plate"

There is no requirement to have the mass in running order on the weight plate.

Page 7 - Mass of vehicle in Running Order

Mass in Running Order always includes a 90% full tank of fuel and allows 75kg for the driver and sundry items. If it does not include the driver it is not Mass in Running Order but kerbweight.

It would have be valuable if the guide pointed out that details can also be found in the V5c certificate where it is termed "Mass in Service".

Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM)

It would have been worth mentioning that this is identical to MTPLM.

Page 8 - Towing load limit

"The maximum trailer mass that the car can tow."

This is misleading. It would have been more accurate to say that it is the maximum axle load of the trailer that the car may tow. (The noseweight is considered part of the payload of the car and is therefore not included in the towed weight.)

Page 9 - Caravan/Car Weight Ratio

The guide states that it is the actual laden weight of the caravan divided by the MRO of the car. However, it is normally understood to be the MTPLM of the caravan divided by the MRO of the car. Using the actual figure rather than the MTPLM is a bit meaningless as it cannot be compared with other weight ratios.

Page 11 - "Your caravan's MTPLM does not exceed your car's MTPM"

While this is obviously highly recommended, to my knowledge, there is no legal requirement to this effect.

"Then make sure that the caravan noseweight lies within the 5% to 7% range."

This suggests that it would be unsafe to be outside this range although it is often not achievable with the average towcar and modern (heavier) family size caravan, thus leaving the owner in a bit of a quandary. Applying the maximum allowable figure is usually quite adequate.

 

[ProfJohnL]

I do wonder if this was authored by the same person that did the web site version.

Nigel if you read this, you really do need to get these guides corrected.

 

[Gafferbill]

.... the booklet was written by the National Caravan Council and carries disclaimers as to accuracy on the back page.

 

[nrdonnelly]

Dear All,

The National Caravan Council (NCC), in conjunction with the Caravan Club and the Camping and Caravanning Club wrote the guide in 2009.

Hope that helps

Regards

Nigel Donnelly

Editor

Practical Caravan

 

[marlot]

"The guide states that it is the actual laden weight of the caravan divided by the MRO of the car. However, it is normally understood to be the MTPLM ... "

I agree with most of the other comments except this one. Both clubs explicitly use ACTUAL WEIGHT in their guidance, not MLTPM. I can understand dealers wanting to use the MLTPM (after all, what other figure could you use?) but that's not what the club advice says. As a couple with no children, we load much of the payload in the car so never get anywhere near the MLTPM.

 

[Lutz]

As far as post-'97 driving licence requirements are concerned, it's the MTPLM weight ratio and not the actual weight ratio that counts so it only makes sense to calculate on an MTPLM basis. As you say, the dealer has no other option but to do the same, either, so it's the only way of achieving comparable figures. What does an actual ratio of, say, 80% tell you? Very little.