Max weights

[DeliDave]

Is it the actual weights of car and caravan or the theoretical maximum weights that decide if your legal to tow.Have had licence many years Ford Galaxy 04,4000kg train weight,2510kg max vehicle weight,Indiana 1500kg so 10kg over .Thats not serious I dont suppose but was looking at Eldiss Tornado 1600kg,dealer said it was fine,2000kg tow limit etc but the train weight would be well over (110kg)fortunately havent put a deposit on it

 

[RogerL]

Both - in different circumstances.

For B only licence holders, the sum of the maximum plated weights must not exceed 3500kg.

For all licence holders, the total actual laden weight of the outfit must nor exceed the car's plated gross train weight. In addition the car must not exceed it's maximum plated weight and the trailer must not exceed it's maximum plated weight.

Few people actually tow their caravan lighter than MTPLM, so it's not as simple as saying you'll not put much in.

 

[Lutz]

You would not be 110kg over the limit if the caravan were loaded to its MTPLM, but 110kg minus the noseweight, whatever that is.

 

[DeliDave]

My van is usually full but car never as only two of us and take the back seats out which are about 25 kg each alone then I think 80kg allowed per passenger so thats 160kg.Its still difficult to understand how you can get a 2000kg limit and actually use it

 

[Lutz]

Perhaps you might like to explain how taking the back seats out will affect the 2000kg limit? Besides, why travel with the caravan full but the car well nigh empty? It would be better to put as much as possible in the car instead of in the caravan.

 

[NigelHutson]

And using Lutz's theory about the noseweight, that would be transfered to the rear axle of the towing vehicle.

 

[Lutz]

Regarding Nigel's comment, the noseweight is part of the total GVW of the car, so allowance must be made not to overload the car when the caravan is hitched up. If you were to load the car fully to its GVW before attaching the caravan, it would later be overloaded when the noseweight is applied.