My SKODA towball can only take 75 klg, the Charisma 535 fully loaded is 1340 klg which I am told is 93% of car weight.So to get the ball weight down to 75 klg or near it I have to put more in the back of caravan and that makes it 5.5%. This makes for a good ride and mpg, Just done trip to Scotland 1200 miles there and back with a reading of 42 down to 39 mpg. What I cannot get my head around is cars around the 2.0 hp or so tow well above what we can of 1340 klg. Our Skoda can easy tow at motorway speeds but keep at a steady 60 mph..
Towball weights and that 5-7%
- Thread starter Robert_374373903
- Start date
Hello Robert,
I have just read your post and I think you may have not fully checked/edited it, but let me take a stab at what I think you are getting at.
Are you wondering why your 2.0L Skoda has such a small tow ball nose weight limit? You don't tell us which model and year your car is so we can't review or confirm your figures.
When car manufacturers design a car generally speaking its towing capacity is not a high priority. Its only after prototypes have been made that they design is tested to establish what it can tow. There could be a number things that limit a cars towing capacity, such as the strength of the body to accept the towing bracket, the engine cooling, the weight limits of the rear axle, and so on.
In relation to the tow ball nose load limit, the EU regulations only require the car manufacturer to make the hitch capable of carrying a minimum of 4% of the trailers towed weight. The 5 to 7% recommendation comes from the caravan industry not the motor manufacturer or the EU.
In point of fact you only need enough nose weight to ensure your outfit remains stable, in many cases that could well be nearer 5% or even less but there is no harm working close to but never exceeding the manufacturers specified limits.
To be fair there are many family saloons with only a 75Kg nose weight limit.
I have just read your post and I think you may have not fully checked/edited it, but let me take a stab at what I think you are getting at.
Are you wondering why your 2.0L Skoda has such a small tow ball nose weight limit? You don't tell us which model and year your car is so we can't review or confirm your figures.
When car manufacturers design a car generally speaking its towing capacity is not a high priority. Its only after prototypes have been made that they design is tested to establish what it can tow. There could be a number things that limit a cars towing capacity, such as the strength of the body to accept the towing bracket, the engine cooling, the weight limits of the rear axle, and so on.
In relation to the tow ball nose load limit, the EU regulations only require the car manufacturer to make the hitch capable of carrying a minimum of 4% of the trailers towed weight. The 5 to 7% recommendation comes from the caravan industry not the motor manufacturer or the EU.
In point of fact you only need enough nose weight to ensure your outfit remains stable, in many cases that could well be nearer 5% or even less but there is no harm working close to but never exceeding the manufacturers specified limits.
To be fair there are many family saloons with only a 75Kg nose weight limit.
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