Please help.

[Ratty3]

I am new to caravaning and have been reading lots of info on various sites but I'm now really confused. I drive a Volvo S80 se d5 auto, on a 54 plate. 2.4 diesel. The log book says it can tow braked 1800kg. My caravan is a 2003 abbey safari 470 which has a max weight on the rating plate of 1350kg. Is this safe? Does this fit into the 85% rule? What should the nose weight be?

Having lots of sleepiness notes looking for info but getting lost.

 

[RogerL]

At a quick check on the internet, your car's kerbweight is about 1650kg, so your towing ratio is about 82% and as you're well within the towing limit of 1800kg, it should be a well balanced outfit.

Not all will agree - but I like noseweight as heavy as possible without exceeding any limit imposed on towbar or hitch, 100kg limit on the hitch so it depends on your car noseweight limit.

 

[Ratty3]

RogerL. Thank you very much for that I have found my nose weight needs to be 75kg. Feel a lot better now.

 

[ProfJohnL]

I am new to caravaning and have been reading lots of info on various sites but I'm now really confused. I drive a Volvo S80 se d5 auto, on a 54 plate. 2.4 diesel. The log book says it can tow braked 1800kg. My caravan is a 2003 abbey safari 470 which has a max weight on the rating plate of 1350kg. Is this safe? Does this fit into the 85% rule? What should the nose weight be?

Having lots of sleepiness notes looking for info but getting lost.

Hello Ratty,
Roger and I disagree about working at the top of the nose weight, but neither of is wrong, so that is just a question of preference. But my reason for commenting, is you have related 85% as a rule. It's not a rule it is only a guideline. It has no legal significance and it offers no guarantees of good towing or safety. However, Whilst I don't like the use of a specific figure, I do agree with the underlying principle of keeping the trailers weight as small as possible.

 

[xtrailman]

I always found using cars with a 75kg nose weight limit that 60 to 65kg was preferred, going to the limit with a fully loaded family car could and did drop the back end too much, I fitted rubber doenuts to four different cars to help of set this.

Must people don't weigh a car contents before a holiday, just fill it up with all the luggage and go.

 

[Raywood]

Looks a good match and weight is certainly not going to be a problem. The nose weight problem is not one there is an easy answer to but the Caravan Club do go for heavier rather tham lighter but try out different wkeights and see if any feel better.

 

[GeoffK]

Read somewhere that the noseweight should be 7% of the weight of the van

 

[ProfJohnL]

Read somewhere that the noseweight should be 7% of the weight of the van

This is another one of those piece of guidance that by virtue of its continual quoting has become another of the holy grails that inexperienced caravanners try to attain. Provided the actual nose weight is within the specification of car and trailer, an outfit tows well then it doesn't matter what it exactly is However it has been found that most outfit do tend to tow better with a nose weight of between 5 and 7%, and generally the greater it is the better. BUT do not exceed the limits of the two ball or eth trailers hitch.