Help in understanding my car's towing limits

[Michael_374364046]

I am trying to work out what caravan my car can tow, without a great deal of success. I have a Toyota Auris 2.0 litre diesel. My handbook does not show any kerbside weight. It shows gross vehicle mass for my model as 1890 kg. Is that the same as kerbweight? The maximum towing weight is shown as 1500kg. Using the 85% rule, I calaculate this (using 1890) as 1606, which is more than the car's towing weight. Am I therefore correct in thinking I should not try to toe anything heavier than 1500kg?

Finally, how do I factor in accesories (ie awnings, equipmaent, clothes etc) in all this. Should I be looking at a caravanm that weighs no more than 1500kg fully ladened?

Any replies gratefully received ?

Mike

 

[RogerL]

Kerbside weight is empty with just driver and 90% fuel - gross vehicle mass is the maximum permissible laden weight - the difference between the two is likely to be about 500kg so your 85% calculation will be too high by about 425kg.

1200kg would probably be a good maximum caravan weight for a newcomer, not the 1609 you've calculated.

Look on your V5 registration document - if it shows "mass in service" then that's your kerbweight.

 

[RogerL]

That 1200 kg would be the caravan's laden weight, not it's unladen - that would need to be around 1000kg.

 

[Dave_374330759]

As far as I'm aware there are two legal towing limits which are legally enforceable. It is an offence to exceed any maximum towing weight published by the vehicle manufacturer. It is also an offence if the combined weight of your loaded car and loaded caravan exceed the vehicle manufacturer's published Maximum or Gross Train Weight. So if Toyota say you can tow 1500kg and you don't load the car above 1890 kg at the same time you will be legal provided that your driving licence allows you. ie if you passed your test before 1997 or if after 1997 you have taken a towing test and got a B+E licence. Otherwise the maximum you are allowed to tow is a trailer that does not exceed the unladen (kerb) weight of the car which at a guesss is somewhere between 1300 and 1400kg for your Auris.

The 85% "rule" is a guidline and not a legal limit.

 

[RogerL]

The vehicles towing limit covers all types of trailers, not just caravans.

85% is a good guideline for newcomers.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Michael,

The other respondents have all given good advice, but It is still sometimes difficult to unravel the weights issue. The 85% figure often throws a curved ball, and is misunderstood.

As has been stated by Dave the 85% is a guideline and not a rule, and it has no basis in law. So technically you can tow a trailer of any mass up to the limit specified by the car manufacturer. There is one other rider to that, and that depends on your driving licence classes. If you passed your test after Jan 1997 then you will need to take a further test if the trailer weighs more than the kerb weight of your car.

I am guessing you are new to caravanning, and as such it is sensible to aim for the 85% ratio (but not compulsory) The ratio is always calculated on the worst case scenario, where the car is at its lightest (Kerb weight) and the trailer is at its heaviest. (MTPLM) It was established many years ago but since then cars have vastly improved; especially the power, suspension and braking capacities so whilst 85% is a pretty safe and sensible target, it is not a holy grail.

I have looked at the Toyota web site for the Auris;

http://www.toyota.co.uk/vs2/pdf/AU1_61_spec.pdf
I confirm your figures of Kerb weight of 1435kg and maximum braked trailer of 1500Kg.

Technically the car is legally capable and of handling a trailer up to 1500Kg, and by calculation this would give a tow ratio of 105%.

If you wish to go for an 85% ratio then for the Auris that is 85% of 1435 = which gives a maximum trailer weight of 1220Kg

If you can find a caravan that meets your needs and comes close to the 1220Kg when fully loaded that's great, but don't be too disheartened if you find that you need to look for a slightly bigger caravan. Your absolute limit is 1500Kg.