Ford Mondeo 2 litre TDCI Hatch back. 2011 nose weight

brian_c · Aug 3, 2013

Hello all. I am sure this question is one of the old chestnuts that keep coming up so I apologise for raising it again.

I am thinking of upgrading from a Ford Focus to a Mondeo the 2 litre TDCI. Hatchback (manual)

When I put my proposed details into the what tow car match site it tells me that the nose weight allowance for the mondeo is 75 kg.

I have checked with the ford website but the only cars they display technical details for are the current 2013 models and this states the mondeo nose weight limits to be 90kg.

I have also checked a couple of ford dealerships and they both say that the current models have not changed apart from cosmetically since the end of 2008 so the current spec of 90kg should apply to all after that time.
The should apply worries me somewhat I did expect them to quote me from some official document.

Well that all sounds ok to me but before I dive in at the deep end I would like to see some official confirmation.
I know the what tow car site is not guaranteed to be accurate and should only be used as a guide site. I am wondering if anyone can point me to a list where I can get an accurate and official idea of a 2011 Mondeo 2litreTDCI Tow hitch loading.

If it is only 75kg I am going to think again.
Regards to all
Brian

ProfJohnL · Aug 3, 2013

Hello Brain,

I'm sorry but I don't follow your reasoning. I don't know what your Focus' nose weight allowance is but I suspect it will be only about 75kg. So if the Mondeo is only 75kg you are no worse off in that respect, but you will will probably have a better tow car.

Even if the focus is 90kg and the Mondeo is 75kg, I still don't see that as a problem. Yes you are advised to keep the nose weight close to the available limits, but in reality there will be plenty of people who tow a Baily Ranger GT60 460/2 with a car with 75kg NW limit.

You only need to use as enough nose weight to keep the outfit comfortable to tow and it might open up your choice of towcar.
Whilst excess nose weight (provided its within the car and caravans limits) is not a bad thing but its not actually necessary.

brian_c · Aug 4, 2013

Hello Prof thank you off the reply. Yes I understand all the points you are making and perhaps my question was a bit long winded, what I was mainly trying to determine is what is the nose weight limit on Ford mondeo diesel cars after say 2010.
because the two main dealers who I have contacted think that because because Ford state the nose weight limit for the 2013 models is 90kg. then older ones should be the same. They are unable to point to anywhere I can get an official figure.

The nose weight of my current focus is 75kg and I do struggle to get the caravan to that figure it works out at 75 with only the one lightweight gas bottle in the front and of course the mover adds to the equation. I tend to carry most things in the car and always (now) remove the jockey wheel into the car after hitching up. I have one of the gauges for measuring but have also used the bathroom scales on level ground with the van as level as possible.
my thoughts regarding the mondeo were if the nose weight of those was 90kg then I perhaps wouldn't have to worry to much if I was over the 75kg mark by a couple of kgs. Also the Size of the mondeo would widen my options when considering any other van in the future.
Thank you again for your reply regards Brian

colin-yorkshire1 · Aug 4, 2013

hi Brian,
75kg is a heafty weight (about the same as the average adult). and also about the average noseweight for a van, you say you stuggle to get it down to that but it is really down to loading. I could suggest that some of the things you carry in the car should actually be in the van as a counter weight, my van has a empty nosweight of 103 kg but I have to get it down to 45kg for the car, (max 50kg) and is done quite easily by carrying heavy items on the floor of the van, moved futher back and the spare wheel just inside the door, instead of in the front locker "proper place in the bailey" I honestly dont see why you need to have it to 90kg, if you think about it the difference is only 15kg or in other words 7.5kg behind the axel instead of in front. it will tow just as good at 75kg as it would at 90kg.

colin-yorkshire1 · Aug 4, 2013

hi again, I don't suppose this helps much

but I have had 2 mondeo's both have been 75kg one saloon, one estaste, but neither were the current model, as the floor plan has not been changed though I would assume it is safer to go with that,

brian_c · Aug 4, 2013

Thank you for the reply Colin. Perhaps I am making to much of the nose weight issue. I do always check before each journey and the load is usually around 75kg.
My Spare wheel is under the van behind the axle. I have always tried to avoid larger or heavy items in the van but thinking about what you say and the Prof in the previous reply just by putting my Awning on the floor slightly to the rear of the axle would probably reduce my nose weight. I understand that a healthy nose load helps with the stability but always have concerns about exceeding the limits of the car.
my thoughts regarding a tow vehicle with a greater capacity were that I would always be well within the tow vehicles limits.

My main point is that I have from the two enquiries I have made to Ford dealerships been unable to get a concrete answer as to the actual nose weight limits of the Mondeo. And the What Tow Car Site says all mondeos are 75kg even 2013 models when Fords site says that all their current models are 90kg.
thank you for the reply Colin
regards Brian

ProfJohnL · Aug 4, 2013

Hello again Brian,
Just some further thoughts for you.

Lets start with construction and use regulations, The EU regulations require the tow ball to handle at leas 4% of the maximum towed weight,and certainly those I have checked do conform to that or give a bit more.
Alternatively, The EU regulations aslo require the tob has a data plate fitteed that includes the maxium nose load limit. Ask any of the towbar manufacturers/dealers and they should be able to tell you.
Alternatively, if you see another car of teh model your interested in, ask if you can check the data plate.

JonnyG · Aug 4, 2013

high brian.. this magazine PC, QUOTED the 2.0l 163tdci est as 80kg in 2010 the facelift 2011 was qouted at 90kg....towsure quote their
towball at 80kg... i would suggest that 80kg would be OK given the sources i have seen....

brian_c · Aug 4, 2013

Thank you for that JonnyG.
i find it strange that Two Ford dealers were unable to tell me the nose load figures. In fact something happened on Thursday that must be a first in the second hand car world and that was where a salesman Didn't ring me back after my enquiry I spotted a Mondeo in my price range and rang the dealer to see if it was still actually available, with it being about 25 miles from home. He said he would get back to me after checking stock, however I also asked if he could find out the max tow ball loading for that model and he said no problem and would get back with that info also.
Still not heard a word. My usuall experience of salesmen is that they ring ASAP. After an enquiry and then at least once a week with all the other offers they have.
like the other posters have pointed out, a lower nose limit is achievable to suit a particular cars limits with correct loading so I don't have any real difficult issues either way but would like to see some official figure for any car I was buying.
thanks again for the reply.
regards Brian

Royston · Aug 6, 2013

I think one has to realize, that in the normal car salesmans world, nose weights are a alien question, They are not mentioned in the Ford Mondeo Handbook , My last cars handbook, gave the max nose weight along with max tow weight of a braked trailer, this is not mentioned what Fords do say in My logbook is a set of figures listed as follows Gross vehicle weight 2170Kg, Gross train weight 3970 Kg,Maximum front axle weight 1140 Kg, maximum rear axle weight 1075 Kg.You have to talk to the Technical people for positive results.
The figures above take the gross vehicle weight, from the Gross train weight gives the max towing braked trailer weight.
My question to the experts is when a towball plus electrics is added to the chassis , This must have have a effect on the Gross vehicle , and Gross Train weight figures mentioned above.

Royston

ProfJohnL · Aug 6, 2013

Royston said:
My question to the experts is when a towball plus electrics is added to the chassis , This must have have a effect on the Gross vehicle , and Gross Train weight figures mentioned above.

Royston

The addition of any extras (such a tow bar etc) to the car has absolutely no effect on the vehicles GVW or the GTW, Those are fixed figures. What the extras do is eat into the vehicles load capacity. So if a tow bar assembly weighs 15kg, then you have 15kg less load capacity.

otherclive · Aug 6, 2013

The early model Mondeos of the current shape had a lower noseweight ( from memory 75 or 80kg) but this was increased to 90kg quite early in the models life. Whatever the current shape Mondeo won numerous towcar awards (TOTY) when it first came out so even with the lower (slightly) noseweight it will be a good towcar. The difference between 75 and 90kg is almost academic. When I had a Mondeo there was a Ford Technical Helpline number in the Owneers Manual, which if you rang them put you through to someone who knew what they were talking about. But you did require the cars details such as Regd Number as a minimum. My XC70 has a n-w of 90kg but i tend to load it to between 75-80kg and she's dead steady, but the car gets the heavy items and the van gear is stowed low down and around the axle.

chenzhen · May 19, 2016

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Ford Mondeo 2 litre TDCI Hatch back. 2011 nose weight

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