Kerb Weight for An
- Thread starter DazBaz
- Start date
I am currently looking at purchasing an Elddis Explore Barbados caravan the MPTLM
Weight 1335kg. My concern is I currently have an Astra 1.7 CDTI 3 door 55
plate, the log book state the kerb weight is 1400kg. firstly would this be ok
to tow and also if it is would it help if I didn’t load the caravan to its
maximum permissible weight load would this also help.
Weight 1335kg. My concern is I currently have an Astra 1.7 CDTI 3 door 55
plate, the log book state the kerb weight is 1400kg. firstly would this be ok
to tow and also if it is would it help if I didn’t load the caravan to its
maximum permissible weight load would this also help.
- Mar 14, 2005
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Hello DazBaz,
Weight ratios are of course important but they are not the only or necessarily the most important aspect of achieving a good outfit.
Your proposed outfit will have a ratio of 95%. This is fairly high value and exceeds the industries guidance of 85% for novices. usually a couple of percent is unlikely to be a problem, but 10% is worryingly high for novice tower.
Even though you may intend to keep the caravan below its load limit, this will not show up in the way the towing ratio is calculated which always utilised the MTPLM/ kerbweight.
Crazy I know, but that the way it is. From a purely practical way, yes under loading the caravan will move the real ratio in the right direction, but it still seems on the high side.
Weight ratios are of course important but they are not the only or necessarily the most important aspect of achieving a good outfit.
Your proposed outfit will have a ratio of 95%. This is fairly high value and exceeds the industries guidance of 85% for novices. usually a couple of percent is unlikely to be a problem, but 10% is worryingly high for novice tower.
Even though you may intend to keep the caravan below its load limit, this will not show up in the way the towing ratio is calculated which always utilised the MTPLM/ kerbweight.
Crazy I know, but that the way it is. From a purely practical way, yes under loading the caravan will move the real ratio in the right direction, but it still seems on the high side.
hi,
I agree with John it does seem a little on the high side given the 1.7cdti is rated @100bhp I personally would be more concerned with this aspect of the unit rather than the weight ratio,
there was a similar question asked here, http://www.practicalcaravan.com/forum/towcars/kerb-weight-0
it may help.or might not as the thread got a little long winded but to put things in context the the van you mentioned is 88kg over the one quoted in the thread, while using basically the same car.
I agree with John it does seem a little on the high side given the 1.7cdti is rated @100bhp I personally would be more concerned with this aspect of the unit rather than the weight ratio,
there was a similar question asked here, http://www.practicalcaravan.com/forum/towcars/kerb-weight-0
it may help.or might not as the thread got a little long winded but to put things in context the the van you mentioned is 88kg over the one quoted in the thread, while using basically the same car.
- Nov 11, 2009
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Hi
You also need to ensure that you are within the cars stated maximum towing weight. Some cars have stated tow maximum that sits below the weight you could tow if you stuck to the 85% load/kerbweight rule.
You also need to ensure that you are within the cars stated maximum towing weight. Some cars have stated tow maximum that sits below the weight you could tow if you stuck to the 85% load/kerbweight rule.
- Aug 23, 2009
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Personally I would consider looking for something with a bit more poke and a bit heavier. Not had any experience of Vauxhalls for years but maybe moving up to a Vectra or whatever the new one is called would be a good move but check out the figures before doing anything rash.
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