M30bdg said:
Hi, this is my first post on this forum, so please bear with me. We bought a new Citroen C3 Picasso last September and chose the 1.2 'Puretech' turbo petrol engined version as we wanted to tow a small caravan and, unusually, the Citroen towing limit is higher for petrol C3 Picassos than for the diesel engined versions (1100kg vs 900kg). The caravan we have bought is a 2009 Bailey Ranger Series 6 GT60 380-2 with a MTPLM of 1058kg, well within our Picasso's limit. I am fairly experienced at towing (although haven't towed for about 15 years !) and having towed the new 'van for about 400 miles over 4 journeys, am happy and confident with the way it tows. However, something has been slightly bothering me about the noseweight limit of the Picasso, which is a frankly pathetic 36kg ! I've managed to get the 'van's noseweight down to this figure by having the front locker virtually empty apart from one 6kg gas bottle, but this seems rather drastic. I've now realised, from various online sources including this forum, that there is an EU directive stating that a trailer's noseweight must be no less than 25kg or 4% of the MPTLM, whichever is lower, i.e. 42.32 kg for our Ranger. So it would appear that I either stick with 36kg and break the EU law, or increase the noseweight to 42.32kg or higher, exceeding the car manufacturer's noseweight limit and invalidating my insurance, breaking UK laws. The car is having it's first service on Tuesday and I intend to broach the subject with the supplying dealer, but in the meantime I welcome comments, observations, advice, etc. from fellow Thanks.
Hello M30bdg,
As far as I can recall, the EU regulation relates to the capability of the towbar on the tow vehicle, where its is expected to be able to carry as Static Vertical Load of 25Kg or 4% of the towed weight limit of the vehicle. Strictly the towed weight limit only relates to the mass towed by the vehicle, and does not include the actual nose load as that is carried by the tow vehicle not towed.
Based on the figures you have supplied if the C3's towed weight limit is 1100kg then the cars tow ball should be designed to accept 1100x4% = 44kg, But you tell us its actually limited to only 36kg, which working the other way suggests a maximum towed weight limit should only be 900Kg.
That seems to correlate to the Diesel C3 limit, and it makes me suspect the wrong tow bar has been fitted to the car, or the incorrect data plate attached to it.
What I actually suspect is there will be no physical difference between the Diesel and petrol Towbars, it will most likely be just the data plate, But to be legal you must not exceed the the nose load limit on the towbar, so you need to contact the tow bar fitters and get the right one fitted.
The other aspect of this is, Whilst it is generally true that you will maintain better stability with a larger nose load, there is no point in using more nose load than is necessary to maintain stability, What that value is is determined by each outfit and the way it is loaded, which is of course in reality unique to each trip.
You would have to try your own outfit to see if its good at only 36kg, It may be absolutely fine.
As you appear to be working very close to you tow balls nose load limit, you should pay particular attention to how you actually measure it. as the height of the coupling affects the measurement of nose load. So the actual nose load mesurment must be carried out at the same height from the grouns as when its coupled and ready to tow.
Fully load the car and caravan with people and luggage etc as if you are ready to start off. Pull up on level (horizontal) ground, Measure the height of the hitch.
Chock the caravans wheels front and back, (though it shouldn't run away as its on level ground) Do NOT put the handbrake on, and uncouple the car.
Position the hitch on the measurement scales and adjust the height of the scales (As a suggestion use a set of bathroom scales on the caravan step and pad the scales with magazines to set the height) so the hitch is at the measured height, make sure the steadies and the jockey wheel are off the ground, and read off the nose load.