Towing calculator for Lexus

[Cosmicsime]

👋 hello all - newbie here - have a lexus 450h and wanting confirmation on how to approach towing viability. Been using calculators from Towcar and Roamworthy and still confused.

I ideally want a big enough caravan for myself, partner and 2 kids (9 and 11)

Here is a report i ran: https://www.roamworthy.co.uk/tools/towing-calculator?kw=2205&tow=2000&mtplm=1690>w=4700&gvw=2700&make=Lexus&model=RX&year=2011&caravan=Bailey+Bailey+Unicorn+Cartagena&autorun=true

Help appreciated..

 

[otherclive]

Hi welcome to the Forum. Unfortunately you haven’t provided enough information wrt your car and intended caravan(s). Both Roamworhy and Towcar.info give good estimates, but do require information about the car model, and possible caravans. A starting point is what is the cars max towing load as shown on its weight plate ( in bonnet or on side pillar). This is its legal maximum, but a recommendation is that a newbie should have a caravan MTPLM, maximum weight loaded, that is 85% of the cars kerb weight.

As for size that’s really up to you. We had small vans with kids and dogs, but we then had larger ones for grandkids and dogs. Larger doesn’t always mean heavier.

So I’d recommend finding out what your cars max tow limit is, consider vans around 85-90% of the cars kerbweight then visit dealerships to see what layouts/ weights you like. Bear in mind a large flimsy aluminium 7 m box tows very differently to a low down car trailer. Hence the conservative approach on caravan weight for beginners.

PS your Roam worthy output looks fine, how did Towcar.info compare?

 

[Mel]

When car and caravan shopping take along
The weight range of the van you are interested in
Your good glasses
A calculator or pencil and paper
Ear plugs so you don’t listen to the sales persons assurances because s/he will be making it up
Look at the car VIN plate
Instructions below copied from internet

How to read your VIN plate
The VIN plate will display either 3 or 4 sets of weights.

• – The top figure ‘A’ is the gross vehicle weight, the Maximum Allowable Mass (MAM) of the vehicle including occupants, fuel and payload.
• – The second figure ‘B’ is the gross train weight, this is the combined maximum allowable mass of the vehicle and trailer.
• – The third and fourth figures ‘C’ and ‘D’ are maximum axle loads front and rear respectively.
  The maximum weight includes passengers, other loads, and fuel.

To calculate the recommended maximum towing capacity for your vehicle is the gross vehicle weight (A) subtracted from gross train weight (B).
On the above example 4200kg – 2505kg = 1695Kg


You check this figure against the MPTLM of the caravan which will be on the weight plate usually near the door
The cars handbook will give you the kerbweight and aim for the MPTLM of the caravan to be around 85% of the kerbweight. This is not a law or a rule but handy guidance to one factor in getting a stable unit

Also find out what the maximum noseweight a tow bar will take. This is also known as the S value. A relatively low noseweight ( say around 75kg) can be achieved with careful loading but a heavier S value will make you life and towing easier

Good luck
Mel

 

[Lutz]

To calculate the recommended maximum towing capacity for your vehicle is the gross vehicle weight (A) subtracted from gross train weight (B).
On the above example 4200kg – 2505kg = 1695Kg

I think you got those figures wrong. The towing capacity is, as you said, the gross train weight limit minus the gross vehicle weight, but this would be 4700kg - 2700kg = 2000kg.