Help! new to caravaning

[Gary_374372415]

Hello everyone, I am completely new to caravanning, that new I don't have a caravan or a tow bar fitted to the car yet, me and my wife went camping for the first time this year, liked it that much we now plan to get our very first caravan, I need some help with what size caravan I can tow, I have looked at various web sites and I am getting confused, if someone with a degree in maths could assist I would be grateful. I have a new 2007 ford focus 1.6 auto zetec 5 door (I know its not the best tow car but it is a mobility car and I have it for a further two years) I will upgrade on next contract. What weight caravan can I tow as I would like to get a second hand one very soon. Is their anyone who can help.

Thanks Gary

 

[mark_374368910]

Hi Gary and welcome to the forum.

Have a look at your handbook, find the kerbweight of your car, then calculate 80% of that weight. Thats the recommended max towing weight for the average 'vanner.

so lets say your car weighs 1000kgs the max recommend weight of your van (laden or in modern terms MTPLM) is 800kgs. It is not really wise for a non exeprienced vanner to tow much more.

Then it's just a cse of finding that perfect van!

I will hazard a guess it will ahve to be a smallish van poss a 2 berth, but I may well be wrong on that.

Actually parkers guide suggests it is 1257 kg, so that will at least guide a guide line.

woody

 

[Gary_374372415]

Hello Mark, thanks for your reply, I have looked in the handbook and it states the kerb weight is 1227kg so with the maths it gives me 981kg, so if I go for a caravan of about 881kg that would give me 100kg that could be put inside the caravan like bedding/clothes, would that be about right.Anything else I need to consider, if I brought a secondhand caravan from a caravan sales would they be the best to advise me regarding suitability of van to car.

Thanks

Regards Gary

 

[AnnM1]

Welcome!

Try putting your message into the Tow Car area. I am sure you will receive many more replies.

Ann

 

[alaintaylor]

Hi Gary

Responses here are a little out.

Basically the car kerbside weight is 1227kg, a safe caravan MTPLM will be 85% of that = 1043 (85% is recommended max by all organisations I know of). As a new caravaner, do not go over this by more than a few kg, ie don't be put off a good van just because it's 5-10kg over.

OK, now that's established, go to a caravan dealer's display (new and old) and look at the aluminium spec plates on the caravans located low down near the door - they all show MTPLM (by law) and this includes everything you put into the caravan, ie the max weight you can end up towing on the road. Most caravans allow around 200kg for belongings. You should find a nice rear end washroom 2-berth for that money!

I'm sure it's not a problem with a Focus, but just check the car manual on the max train weight and permissible tow ball weight. Safe better than sorry.

Have fun!

Alan

 

[Gary_374372415]

Hi Gary

Responses here are a little out.

Basically the car kerbside weight is 1227kg, a safe caravan MTPLM will be 85% of that = 1043 (85% is recommended max by all organisations I know of). As a new caravaner, do not go over this by more than a few kg, ie don't be put off a good van just because it's 5-10kg over.

OK, now that's established, go to a caravan dealer's display (new and old) and look at the aluminium spec plates on the caravans located low down near the door - they all show MTPLM (by law) and this includes everything you put into the caravan, ie the max weight you can end up towing on the road. Most caravans allow around 200kg for belongings. You should find a nice rear end washroom 2-berth for that money!

I'm sure it's not a problem with a Focus, but just check the car manual on the max train weight and permissible tow ball weight. Safe better than sorry.

Have fun!

Alan

Hello Alan, thanks for your information, now time to start looking.

Thanks Again.

Gary

 

[alaintaylor]

Hello Alan, thanks for your information, now time to start looking.

Thanks Again.

Gary

Gary

Just a small correction - tow ball weight is correctly referred to as noseweight (a senior moment on my part!).

Also when I said don't be put off by a few kg over the recommended MTPLM, the 85% rule is not regulation, just sensible and safe guidance.

Also, look in the back of Practical Caravan magazine - it lists all new caravans with data including weights, so you'll get a very good idea of what's what.

Alan