Tow Dilemma...

[fooddestroyer]

Hey guys

Just bought a very clean Compass Corona 556 (first caravan) to tow with my 2009 Honda CRV 2.2 CDTi.

The MTPLM of the van is 1460KG with the MIRO being 1269KG.

My faithful CRV's weight is 1660kg (so my max '85% tow' would be 1411KG); but given the MTPLM, I'm concerned that the CRV isn't heavy enough, considering that I will no doubt have items to place in the van as we go.

Can anyone shed some light on this?

Thanks!

 

[Hutch]

The 85% towing advice goes back years and is just that, advice. If your CRV's weight is 1660, is that Kerb weight or MAX weight, if its kerb weight then you will be coming in at 87% which I think is still acceptable for this combination. Others will be along soon.

 

[fooddestroyer]

The 85% towing advice goes back years and is just that, advice. If your CRV's weight is 1660, is that Kerb weight or MAX weight, if its kerb weight then you will be coming in at 87% which I think is still acceptable for this combination. Others will be along soon.

Most sources including PC say the CRV's KERB weight is 1660KG. Thanks for your reply.

 

[CustardAvenger]

That makes the ratio 87%... I don't see any issue with that. The 85% thing is a guideline not a rule. Providing your car is rated to tow that weight, and you load and tow sensibly, you should be ok.

 

[Mel]

Hi. Did you pass your driving test before 1997? If so, or if you have acquired the B+E licence groups by another means, then all is well. If not the combination of the van weight and car gross weight may be too heavy for your licence. Hope not.
Welcome to the forum and congrats on your purchase BTW
Mel

 

[fooddestroyer]

Hi. Did you pass your driving test before 1997? If so, or if you have acquired the B+E licence groups by another means, then all is well. If not the combination of the van weight and car gross weight may be too heavy for your licence. Hope not.
Welcome to the forum and congrats on your purchase BTW
Mel

Hope I am interpreting the NIDirect website here; but it looks like I am okay with Cat B as long as the MAM is not over 3500KG:
From https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/cars-towing-trailers-or-caravans
Category B are vehicles up to 3,500kgs MAM and with up to eight passenger seats.
A category B vehicle may be coupled with a trailer over 750kgs MAM, provided the combination does not exceed 3,500kgs MAM. Or it could be coupled with a trailer up to 750kgs MAM, provided the combination does not exceed 4,250kgs MAM.

 

[Hutch]

You will have to check your cars MAM, maximum allowed Mass, Normally on a door pillar, and add that to the caravans MAM ( MTPLM) if it is over 3500 kg, then you need B+E licence, a quick check says that a 2.2 crv max weight is 2200 kg. So you would be over by 160 kg.
Check the actual max weight on the car.

 

[fooddestroyer]

You will have to check your cars MAM, maximum allowed Mass, Normally on a door pillar, and add that to the caravans MAM ( MTPLM) if it is over 3500 kg, then you need B+E licence, a quick check says that a 2.2 crv max weight is 2200 kg. So you would be over by 160 kg.
Check the actual max weight on the car.

Aghh!

Okay. So,
[ol]
[*]Either I get B&E test,
[*]Or, has anyone ideas for a good used towing vehicle that would work with my cat B?
[/ol]

 

[Craigyoung]

You will have to check your cars MAM, maximum allowed Mass, Normally on a door pillar, and add that to the caravans MAM ( MTPLM) if it is over 3500 kg, then you need B+E licence, a quick check says that a 2.2 crv max weight is 2200 kg. So you would be over by 160 kg.
Check the actual max weight on the car.

Aghh!

Okay. So,
[ol]
[*]Either I get B&E test,
[*]Or, has anyone ideas for a good used towing vehicle that would work with my cat B?
[/ol]

Why not get a quote for b + E test which will probably be a lot cheaper than swapping or buying another vehicle ?

 

[Hutch]

Before you panic too much do a check on your car for its Max weight. The google check I done didnt specify a year or model. Manual gearbox cars are lighter.

 

[Damian]

Get your B+E test , that way you remove any possibility of falling foul of the limits with B only, and as has been said it will be a lot cheaper than changing cars.

 

[CustardAvenger]

I would recommend taking the B+E....you can find some Course Providers here. I took a few hours of training with a local instructor who gave training on the towing and the reversing required for the test.

https://www.practicalcaravan.com/blog/43945-how-to-pass-your-be-test
It was about £115 for a weekday test when I took it in 2017, not including the instructor fees for training and vehicle hire for the test.

 

[Lutz]

Before you panic too much do a check on your car for its Max weight. The google check I done didnt specify a year or model. Manual gearbox cars are lighter.

Generally, the max. weight of auto and manual versions of the same model are identical. It is only the kerbweight which is different.

 

[SamandRose]

Not only will the B+E test inevitably work out cheaper than changing your car, but if Hutch's figures are correct you'd have to look at a car at least 160kg lighter to be able to tow your caravan without it. That would most likely mean reducing the kerb weight to approximately the MTPLM or your caravan, which is not advised even though it may be legally permissible.

Your best option, as others have said is just to do the test. Yes it costs money, which you're essentially giving to the government but my understanding is that (unless you do something stupid and lose your licence) you only have to do it once.

 

[ProfJohnL]

As Hutch ( EH52ARH) has said the answer is easily discoverd simply by checking the the weight plate on the car

On the basis that your caravan does weigh more that 750kg Your B licence limits you a "Combined MAM" of 3500kg

3500(B limit) -1460kg(Caravan MTPLM) = 2040kg (MAM of Car)

With that caravan you need a tow car not exceeding 2040kg MAM (or Gross Vehicle Weight)

Like others I suspect that the Honda will exceed 2040kg MAM. I also suspect that if you were to find a vehicle witha MAM of less than 2040, its kerbweight will also be correspondingly lower making the outfit match much less favourable.

I concure that your most cost effective solution will be to go for the E extension to your licence, also because the CRV should be great tow car for the caravan.

Good luck

 

[fooddestroyer]

I've absorbed the wisdom of all your guys and booked my B&E test for next Thursday!

Onwards,

FD

 

[SamandRose]

Good luck!

 

[CustardAvenger]

I've absorbed the wisdom of all your guys and booked my B&E test for next Thursday!

Onwards,

FD

You've not given any clue as to your towing experience, but I'm concerned that you are not prepared for this test. I would have spectacularly failed without training, despite 5 years of towing experience. Have you booked the test via an instructor? As you will need to provide the car and suitable trailer yourself for the test.

 

[fooddestroyer]

I've absorbed the wisdom of all your guys and booked my B&E test for next Thursday!

Onwards,

FD

You've not given any clue as to your towing experience, but I'm concerned that you are not prepared for this test. I would have spectacularly failed without training, despite 5 years of towing experience. Have you booked the test via an instructor? As you will need to provide the car and suitable trailer yourself for the test.

Apologies; I booked all through a local approved driving school. It’s a two day thing, with Thursday being day 2 inclusive of test.

I am looking forward to learning even though I am towing and reversing small trailers for over 10 years.

Thanks for your concern guys. Well impressed by everyone’s attentiveness and encouragement.

FD

 

[Mel]

Well done, and very good luck with your test. I am told that reversing small trailers is much harder than reversing a caravan, so I am sure you will be fine.
Mel

 

[Hutch]

I've absorbed the wisdom of all your guys and booked my B&E test for next Thursday!

Onwards,

FD

You've not given any clue as to your towing experience, but I'm concerned that you are not prepared for this test. I would have spectacularly failed without training, despite 5 years of towing experience. Have you booked the test via an instructor? As you will need to provide the car and suitable trailer yourself for the test.

Apologies; I booked all through a local approved driving school. It’s a two day thing, with Thursday being day 2 inclusive of test.

I am looking forward to learning even though I am towing and reversing small trailers for over 10 years.

Thanks for your concern guys. Well impressed by everyone’s attentiveness and encouragement.

FD

Well done mate . After all this hard work, you will do. think about meeting up with The Woosies. Caravanning is agreat way to get away and meet folk. .
Hutch

 

[Hutch]

Towing a short caravan, or trailer is difficult when reversing, which is the van they train and test you with so anything afterward that is easy. , go for it. .

 

[Craigyoung]

Towing a short caravan, or trailer is difficult when reversing, which is the van they train and test you with so anything afterward that is easy. , go for it. .

Agree , I've a small 1o foot twin axle house trailer for rubbish & find the caravan easier to reverse !
Good luck .

 

[CustardAvenger]

Apologies; I booked all through a local approved driving school. It’s a two day thing, with Thursday being day 2 inclusive of test.

I am looking forward to learning even though I am towing and reversing small trailers for over 10 years.

Thanks for your concern guys. Well impressed by everyone’s attentiveness and encouragement.

FD

Cool, sounds like you are sorted! Best of luck.

Towing a short caravan, or trailer is difficult when reversing, which is the van they train and test you with so anything afterward that is easy. , go for it. .

I took the test with a twin axle curtain sided trailer, it turned much slower than my single axle 10' caravan (which was not that much bigger!) made it easier to control the reversing portion of the test.

 

[ProfJohnL]

I took the test with a twin axle curtain sided trailer, it turned much slower than my single axle 10' caravan (which was not that much bigger!) made it easier to control the reversing portion of the test.

The factor that affects the trailers turning when reversing is not the length of the trailer, but the distance from the hitch to the axle. For a twin axle that will lie somewhere between the two axles, and it can change with loading and a different hitch height.