Good morning everyone.
We started caravanning last year with an old van and have really enjoyed it. Our first van is a 2001 Abbey Freestyle 520SE. We are now considering an upgrade because we find it a little small with children and a dog.
We have been looking at a Swift Sprite Major 6 TD. But our problem is our tow car.
We have a 2011 Suburu Outback with a kerbweight of 1648kg.
The major has a MIRO of 1307kg and a MTPLM of 1528kg, the payload is then 221kg. Using the 85% recommendation then the maximum MTPLM our car can tow is 0.85 x 1648kg = 1401kg.
My understanding is that this limit is recommendation based on the relative masses of the car and the van so that under a dynamic situation (snaking) then the car is the heavier component and this is what controls the dynamic response of the combined car and van. Hence actual masses, not the plated figures.
My question is then, if we limit the payload to 94kg (1401kg - 1307kg) then the total mass is less than 85% of the kerbweight so would follow the recommendation?
The other question, was it we could find a van that has had its Plated MTPLM increased by the manufacturer, could we use the old MTPLM and take 85% of the lower figure?
The car has a maximum towing weight of 1700kg and my license is B+E issued in 1996.
Thanks for your help.
Phil
We started caravanning last year with an old van and have really enjoyed it. Our first van is a 2001 Abbey Freestyle 520SE. We are now considering an upgrade because we find it a little small with children and a dog.
We have been looking at a Swift Sprite Major 6 TD. But our problem is our tow car.
We have a 2011 Suburu Outback with a kerbweight of 1648kg.
The major has a MIRO of 1307kg and a MTPLM of 1528kg, the payload is then 221kg. Using the 85% recommendation then the maximum MTPLM our car can tow is 0.85 x 1648kg = 1401kg.
My understanding is that this limit is recommendation based on the relative masses of the car and the van so that under a dynamic situation (snaking) then the car is the heavier component and this is what controls the dynamic response of the combined car and van. Hence actual masses, not the plated figures.
My question is then, if we limit the payload to 94kg (1401kg - 1307kg) then the total mass is less than 85% of the kerbweight so would follow the recommendation?
The other question, was it we could find a van that has had its Plated MTPLM increased by the manufacturer, could we use the old MTPLM and take 85% of the lower figure?
The car has a maximum towing weight of 1700kg and my license is B+E issued in 1996.
Thanks for your help.
Phil