Suitability of match

[rh010a2370]

Is there anyone out there towing a Hobby Excellent 460UFE, With a Citroen Xara Picasso 1.6HDi 92 B.H.P. Or any other make of Caravan at the Maximum Weight of 1300kg

The reason I ask this question Is I will be towing my caravan shortly with the very same outfit as above and would like to know how it would handle.

The mass running weight of the caravan is 1300kg for which was the weight I was told to get by a dealer so it would match my car, But just after I bought the caravan a friend of mine gave me a website, what tow car, after punching in the car and caravans details, The results are very poor saying it 102% and the car will struggle and will get very poor performance.

Can anyone please advise

Thanks

Robert.

 

[BeemerMal]

Robert....from the data given it appears your friend is right.

Good caravan dealers would put the car and caravan details into a database they use to confirm suitability but many are only after the sale and often gloss over the facts.

The Caravan Clubs and most experts recommendations are that the caravan MTPLM does not exceed 85% of the cars kerbweight, particularly if you are a new or inexperienced caravanner. However it is not illegal to go over the 85% guide providing you don't exceed 100%.

You MUST NOT exceed the maximum MTPLM of 100% by law. It would also invalidate the insurance on your car and caravan in the event of an accident.

MTPLM means the Maximum amount the caravan can weigh as stated by the manufacturer. To calculate the MTPLM you need to combine the Miro (Mass in Running Order) and the User Payload allowance.

MIRO is the weight of the caravan equipped to manufactures specification.

The User Payload is a figure that includes a basic equipment required to use the caravan battery, gas bottle, spare wheel, aqua roll, etc, etc.

eg; Miro = 1080kg + User Payload of 220kg = MTPLM of 1300kg

hope this helps, Mal

 

[Lutz]

Correction to Beemer's reply:

It is not illegal to tow over 100% kerbweight of the car unless you passed your driving test after 1st January 1997 and you don't have a B&E licence.

The mass in running order (MIRO) of the Hobby 460UFe is 1146kg and it's maximum gross weight (MTPLM) is 1300kg (unless it has been uprated to 1400kg).

From the figures given I woud agree that the match is rather borderline.

 

[BeemerMal]

Thanks Lutz...I did'nt make it clear regarding the B+E licence condition. Sorry for any confusion Robert.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Robert,

Thanks to Beemer and Lutz you have a set of answers, though you may just need a little bit more explanation.

Beemer correctly state that the MIRO is manufacture basic specification, just as it leaves the factory. What he did not say was that it excludes all the bits and pieces your dealer and you need to add to make it habitable.

The MPTLM is the absolute maximum weight of the caravans and all its contents, so the difference between the two is the permissible pay load.

The Payload has to include all the bits you add, such as gas bottles batteries pots and dishes, clothes radios and suntan lotion etc,

The other fly in the ointment is that the manufacture may quote an MIRO but due to manufacturing tolerances, humidity, make of tyres etc the real MIRO if measured may be different, so that affects the available pay load. The one figure you cannot exceed is the MPTLM, which is absolute.

 

[rh010a2370]

Thanks to Beemermal & Lutz For your quick reply.

I was aware of this law regarding the driving licence, And what your able to Drive and Tow On a driving licence acquired after the 1st January 1997.

As I only passed my driving test in 1999, As I am one the ones who fall into the category of having to pass an additional Caravan and trailer test, Only if I am wanting to tow a Car and Caravan with a combined weight of more than 3500kg.

But as it stands with the outfit I have at the moment, The Car I have unladen weight is 1315kg and the Caravans laden weight is 1300kg, As the laden weight of the Caravan doe's not exceed the unladen weight of my Car I am legal to drive because the Car & Caravan combined doe's not exceed 3500kg.

As I am totally new to caravanning and I did not want to do anything stupid or illegal, Once I found out about there could be a problem with my driving licence, I checked out with the DVLA.

 

[Lutz]

Yes, from the data you quote you are (just) legal.

The law isn't interested in the MIRO of the caravan, only its MTPLM and that, and not the actual weight (which may be less if you don't load it up fully), is what determines whether you are legal or not.

 

[Lutz]

Hello Robert,

Thanks to Beemer and Lutz you have a set of answers, though you may just need a little bit more explanation.

Beemer correctly state that the MIRO is manufacture basic specification, just as it leaves the factory. What he did not say was that it excludes all the bits and pieces your dealer and you need to add to make it habitable.

The MPTLM is the absolute maximum weight of the caravans and all its contents, so the difference between the two is the permissible pay load.

The Payload has to include all the bits you add, such as gas bottles batteries pots and dishes, clothes radios and suntan lotion etc,

The other fly in the ointment is that the manufacture may quote an MIRO but due to manufacturing tolerances, humidity, make of tyres etc the real MIRO if measured may be different, so that affects the available pay load. The one figure you cannot exceed is the MPTLM, which is absolute.

The payload includes not only the bits that you add but also the bits that the dealer added prior to delivery to you.

 

[rh010a2370]

Thanks again to John L & Lutz for your advice.

Regarding driving licences of what your aloud and not aloud to tow with the new driver licensees after 1st January 1997, to sum it up it's a bit of a mine field.

Back to the caravan and weights, According to the dealer that I bought the Hobby from is the unladen weight of the caravan includes the weight of the onboard weight of the 50L fresh water tank when full which I believe to weigh in at 50kg, Also according to the dealer the water tank is meant to be full at all time, For what reason I don't know that's the information I was given from the dealer.

So by that I can reduce the weight by 50kg if I empty the water tank each time I am ready tow the caravan, Plus there's a fitted carpet to protect the Vinyl floor covering for which is removable that weighs 25kg so there are things I can do reduce the weight to make the caravan lighter for towing,

Plus I will just have to juggle things about between the car and caravan to even out the weights.

 

[Lutz]

There's no real need to take anything out that's already in the caravan. So long as you're legal, you're not going to notice up to, say, 50kg either way.