Idiots guide to towing capacity please!

[Spinador]

Hi, newbie caravanner here who is completely confused by towing capacity! So we're looking at changing our car and have recently purchased a Coachman Vision 450/2 which has a MTPLM of 1350kg

Potentially looking at either a VW Tiguan or a Tiguan Allspace, could anyone help explain in easy to understand way how we work out the towing capacity when looking at potential car? I'm quite switched on with calculating things usually but the number of different things that come into play are making me doubt myself that I'm working it out correctly!

We've got a heavy awning that we need to carry plus other bits and pieces and will be doing some lengthy trips so I'd prefer to get a car on the higher capacity side to make sure we've allowed enough leeway

 

[otherclive]

This link should help clarify how you determine the cars Towing limit. Also the V5 will give maximum braked towing load, plus the cars owners manual too. Your van is a relatively modest weight MTPLM so the Tiguan should be fine but best to check as you will see in the link one model of Audi used as an example has zero towing limit. Engine petrol or diesel gearbox DSG or manual and drive train 4WD or 2wd can present differing limits. There may even be different figures that you obtain for your chosen car(s) but the legal figure is the cars vin plate.

How to check your maximum towing weight

It is important to know the exact towing capacity of your vehicle in order to tow safely.

www.towbarexpress.co.uk

 

[Lutz]

Depending on the variant, a VW Tiguan has a towing limit of between 1800 and 2300kg and that of a Tiguan Allspace between 2000 and 2500kg, so you’ll definitely be on the right side of the limits whichever you choose.

 

[Hutch]

Welcome to the forum, be ready for your question to divert a bit, but persevere.
A couple of questions if I my,
Why do you need to carry a heavy Awning, ,? Sleeping area for children, area for dogs etc.
When you say lengthy trips, what mileage, some of us do you anticipate ,,?
I would do a 4 week trip to France and only do 1000 miles, but the next trip 600 miles. Next trip 3000 miles.

 

[Spinador]

Welcome to the forum, be ready for your question to divert a bit, but persevere.
A couple of questions if I my,
Why do you need to carry a heavy Awning, ,? Sleeping area for children, area for dogs etc.
When you say lengthy trips, what mileage, some of us do you anticipate ,,?
I would do a 4 week trip to France and only do 1000 miles, but the next trip 600 miles. Next trip 3000 miles.

Thank you!

So the awning is for dogs and extra space for us.
We live in Yorkshire and will be travelling as far as Scotland, Cornwall and possibly over to Ireland but not sure on that one yet

 

[otherclive]

Thank you!

So the awning is for dogs and extra space for us.
We live in Yorkshire and will be travelling as far as Scotland, Cornwall and possibly over to Ireland but not sure on that one yet

We used full size awnings, then it dawned on us that you lose a shedload of money every time you change van. So we then bought a pre owned Isabella Magnum a large porch of top quality. We never had any issues with space and could even have bought an annex had we needed more sleeping space for family etc. Just a thought based on our experience.

 

[ProfJohnL]

... the legal figure is the cars vin plate.

How to check your maximum towing weight

It is important to know the exact towing capacity of your vehicle in order to tow safely.

www.towbarexpress.co.uk

Hello Clive,
The link you provided I find misleading in two respects. The firsts is it states
"The actual, exact and only towing capacity figure that should be used for your vehicle is that which is stamped on the Vehicle Identification Number Plate, VIN Plate."

Factually the VIN plate does not state the " towing capacity" as a separate figure, The figure suggested has to be calculated by GTM - GVM. This calculation is only made clear later in the document. This might confuse novices trying to follow the advice. it has the Gross Train Mass figure which should have been explained as being the combined Maximum Authorised Mass for the whole outfit, which only establishes the allowed maximum towed mass when the tow vehicle is also fully loaded.

Secondly it states
"The manufacturer’s recommended maximum towing capacity for your vehicle is the gross vehicle weight subtracted from gross train weight. The vehicle identification plate detailed in the above picture has a towing capacity of 1695kg."

This we also know is not entirely true either. It is permissible for the tow vehicle manufacturer to assess the capability of the vehicle and where there is capability to specify a higher maximum towed weight limit on the basis the tow vehicle is not using its entire load capacity, the unused portion can be (but not always, its dependant on the precise model of tow vehicle concerned) ) allocated to the trailers maximum towed mass limit set in the vehicles specification. At All times the GTM has to be observed, so if the tow vehicles load increases, it can affect the available towed load capacity of the vehicle if the manufacture has adopted the load sharing regime.

 

[otherclive]

Hello Clive,
The link you provided I find misleading in two respects. The firsts is it states
"The actual, exact and only towing capacity figure that should be used for your vehicle is that which is stamped on the Vehicle Identification Number Plate, VIN Plate."

Factually the VIN plate does not state the " towing capacity" as a separate figure, The figure suggested has to be calculated by GTM - GVM. This calculation is only made clear later in the document. This might confuse novices trying to follow the advice. it has the Gross Train Mass figure which should have been explained as being the combined Maximum Authorised Mass for the whole outfit, which only establishes the allowed maximum towed mass when the tow vehicle is also fully loaded.

Secondly it states
"The manufacturer’s recommended maximum towing capacity for your vehicle is the gross vehicle weight subtracted from gross train weight. The vehicle identification plate detailed in the above picture has a towing capacity of 1695kg."

This we also know is not entirely true either. It is permissible for the tow vehicle manufacturer to assess the capability of the vehicle and where there is capability to specify a higher maximum towed weight limit on the basis the tow vehicle is not using its entire load capacity, the unused portion can be (but not always, its dependant on the precise model of tow vehicle concerned) ) allocated to the trailers maximum towed mass limit set in the vehicles specification. At All times the GTM has to be observed, so if the tow vehicles load increases, it can affect the available towed load capacity of the vehicle if the manufacture has adopted the load sharing regime.

My post at # 2 gave the OP three ways by which the vehicles tow weight could be determined and also cautioned in that different models of the same car can have varying tow specifications. So hopefully the OP will be able to sort out wheat from chaff without further complications.