Loading Car V Caravan

[Val & Frank]

Just trying to work out this weight thing, and would appreciate some comment as to wheather I have this right.

Car 2100kg Kerb Weight Gross Vehicle Weight 2850kg

Caravan MIRO 1569kg MTPLM 1854kg Essential Habitation 105kg

Optional Equipment 11kg So

1569 + 105 + 11 kg = 1685KG then I added a Mover 33kg Battery 22kg 2XGas Bottles 20kg Total 1760kg. Does this mean 1854kg - 1760 kg leaves 94kg of weight I can still put in the van ???

And then the Car 2100 K W Gross vehicle weight 2850 so can I put up to 750kg into the car ???. I don't intend to do this I am just seeing if I have it correct. Mind you if Val thought we could take that much we would be doing so.

Frank

 

[Val & Frank]

Just found out a little more information. I think I need to check the weight of the towbar, and deduct that from the 750kg that I thought I could put in the car, correct ?????

Frank

 

[Damian]

Almost right Frank, but, you are limited by the total train weight, and dont forget that the noseweight of the van transfers to the car, then add in any additional passengers, other than the driver, who should be included in the cars kerbweight.

Getting more confused? probably.

 

[Val & Frank]

Plus the weight of Two people say 140kg

sorry this is all in bits

Frank

 

[Tim_5127940]

dont the gas bottles, or at least one of them and the battery come under essential habitation equipment?

 

[Lutz]

I'd check the figure of 2100kg for kerbweight if I were you. You don't say where you got it from. As kerbweight is specific to each and every vehicle, it can vary quite a lot (by as much as 200kg even for the same model) and any published value can only be a guideline. Therefore, unless it was actually measured on a weighbridge, one should always question the accuracy of published kerbweight figures.

By the way, if kerbweight is measured according to EU standards, it includes 75kg for driver and miscellaneous items.

 

[gavin_5121842]

I find the best thing to do is find out where your nearest public weighbridge is. Have your car and van packed as if going away, drop the van and weigh your car, drive off and pull van onto weighbridge, now you can work out your car/caravan weight ratio and get a true reading. I think public weighbridges are in yellow pages, regards, Gavin.

 

[Lutz]

The only really useful piece of information you will get by measuring the kerbweight accurately is to find out how much payload you have available. There is little point establishing the kerbweight to the nearest kilogramme (or even to the nearest 10) for the sole purpose of working out the weight ratio. No-one is going be able to tell the difference in the way the outfit handles whether the ratio is 82%, 85% or 88%, especially as few people tow with an otherwise empty car anyway (and that, after all, is the basis for the weight ratio calculation).

It's too easy to get obsessed with weight ratios. The main thing is to ensure that you are legal and within your own driving capabilities, but that's quite another story.