Rav4 curb weight confusion

[Roy_374352497]

Hi there

I am a complete novice and looking to buy a caravan,my car is a 2003 Toyota Rav4 2.0D-4D GX 5dr .I have gleaned about ten curb weights for this model from the internet -all different ranging from 1370kg to 1545kg,why isn't car passengers weight taken into account for the 85% car/caravan ratio?I am looking to buy an Elldis Avante 462 which has a mtplm weight of 1285kg the salesman says theres no problem with the car and van combination,I have some doubts.Can anybody out there help a novice with the correct curb weight of my car?

Thanks

 

[Bezzer]

Your Rav was the 2003 Caravan Club Towcar of the Year in it's class so it's a capable motor. The CC write up gives its kerbweight as 1440kg - 1224kg at 85%. The only way you're going to know for sure is to stick it on a weighbridge as you get variations depending on the spec and extras fitted.

 

[Lutz]

Yes, any of the figures given could be right. As Bezzer says, the only way you will know the kerbweight accurately is to have the car weighed. All published data can only be a guideline and is usually very conservative. I have yet to come across a car which didn't actually weigh more than what you read in brochures, etc.

That said, you will not be able to tell a difference that a couple of percent either way makes to the stability of the outfit anyway so there is no real need to know the kerbweight with absolute accuracy. However, I do accept that the figures that you give would give a range of between 83% and 94% and that could be noticeable.

 

[Roy_374352497]

Thanks for advising me to get the car weighed.As I said the kerb weights that were advised to me varied from 1370kg to 1545kg and three different people said it was 1370kg.On this basis I rejected three caravans as being too heavy.So I had it weighed with half a tank of petrol in .The result was 1520kg a lot of difference to 1370kg