TOWING LEGAL

[Wayne_5133334]

i should know, BUT

My caravan is just 80% of my cars kerb side weight yet it is 110% of the cars towing limit/train weight. If I restrict fully loading the caravan to keep it below the cars low towing limit am I legal. If so do I have to be able to prove the weight of the lighter loaded caravan against the towing limit in the event of a accident.

The car simply has a very low towing limit against the high kerbside weight. 1400/2025kg

Thanks

Wayne

 

[NigelHutson]

Wayne,

For you to be prosecuted, your car/caravan would have to be taken to a weighbridge, and the ACTUAL weights would be used. Therefore, if you were under the weight limit, you'd be ok.

However, should you be involved in an accident, you might find (no, make that probably will find) that any insurance company would make an issue, and would go on the plated weights of both the car and the caravan.

The other thing to bear in mind is any warranty issue with the towing vehicle as it could be argued that you are using the vehicle outside its tollerences.

Nigel.

 

[Lutz]

Kerbweight is not plated. An insurance company would therefore have difficulty in making an issue out of it unless they apply the data out of the V5c certificate.

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

hi Wayne

the low towing weight is probably due to the type approval of the tow bar and car fixing points rather than the percentage of the gross train weight or car kerbside weight: if you follow.

certain types of rover are a case in point allthough the 2ltr diesel engine has more than enough power to tow higher weights and the kerbside weight is average for this type of car they have a maximum towload of 1000kg and a low noseweight limit of 50kg or in other words 75% outfit match. this is nothing to do with the cars towing ability it is just the fact that the type approval towbar is of the body pull design rather than the rear chassis mounted type and therefore the load is restricted considerably.

 

[Lutz]

It could be a structural issue, but more likely it's due to engine cooling constraints. If the gross train weight is less than the sum of GVW and max. permissible towload, then the braking system could be the issue. Only a very low noseweight would suggest that structural problems prevented a higher figure. The towbar itself is unlikely to be the cause of a low limit as with skilful design it can be made to take almost any towload.

 

[ProfJohnL]

This means that you may tow a caravan with and MTPLM that is greater than the towing limit of the car, provided it is not fully loaded and its actual weight is at or below the cars towing limit.

With the figures that Wayne has given, and subject to the previous paragraph I believe he may be legal.

If a prosecution were sought on the grounds of an over weight trailer, the authorities would have to prove it was over weight. The same would apply to the insurance company. Because you are innocent until proven guilty - well in theory at least.

The story may not be true for others if the caravans MAM is greater than the the cars Unladen Mass

AND they passed their test after Jan 1997. Whilst the car is working within its limits, the driver will fall foul of the Cat B licence restrictions.

 

[gary]

I've came across this situation before, the reason given was the fitting of a small clutch, the low limit then was to protect this from an early demise.

For the same reason, a low nose weight may or may not have something to do with an excessive overhang from rear wheels to tow hook, Ford though always quoted 50kg until what they said became law, it was then raised to 75kg at the drop of a hat!

In short then there is possibly a good reason and it would therefore be useful to question the manufactures to find out exactly what it is?

As long though as you tow under the actual weight limit, then I don't see how you can be in the wrong, after all, your speedo says perhaps 140mph on it, but you won't be done until you actually exceed a speed limit, not for the potential of being able to exceed it!

 

[Lutz]

The only area where you can be 'done' for potentially, but not actually, exceeding the limit is in the case of a category 'B' licence holder who passed the driving test after 1st January 1997. Here the plated maximum counts, not the actual weight of the caravan.

 

[Wayne_5133334]

Thanks everyone. the car is a Nissan Qashqui 2lt Deisel 4wd auto with this daft 1400kg towing limit. The N/W is fine at 75kg

Wayne

 

[Philspadders]

the design (technical) criteria of the vehicle states that the maximum trailer weight is 1400kgs and if you tow a trailer that is 1401kgs you are exceeding the vehicle manufacturers specification.

The 85% guideline is a guideline and has no relevance on this whatsoever. If you choose to tow a trailer that is 110% of the vehicles kerb side weight thats up to you.

What is not up to you is if the trailer weight loaded or not exceeds the towing vehicle manufacturers specification... in short you will not be insured in the event of a claim and may subject to prosecution... for not being insured.

Also towing a trailer that exceeds the vehicle manufacturers specification will also invalidate any warranty you have with the towing vehicle.

For clarification you would be better off contacting your insurance company.

 

[Philspadders]

You no longerneed to be taken to a weighbridge. Many Traffic Patrol vehicles now carry portable single wheel scales.

 

[Damian]

I may be wrong, in which case forgive me, but now that you have said what vehicle it is I have a feeling that your vehicle uses the same Renault engine as the Navarra, albeit modified possibly.

There have been many disaster stories relating to this engine, like throwing the No 3 Piston and other misfortunes.

Now, if the engine IS a Renault unit, the tow limit may be tied in with that, as all Renault vehicles have low tow weights.

Just a thought.