Thinking of getting a Caravan after a 20 year break, and had a good browse round a few on Saturday. This Calibre of mine would make a good tow car I reckon. Heavyish, but with a tourqey diesel motor. Kerb weight comes in at 1560Kg - so taking the Caravan club rule of thumb, 85% = 1326Kg - Looking good.
So I look in the specs... The Dodge manual says max permissible weight without brakes 450kg - What??? - I can pull more than that!
But wait the load is increased to 1400kg if its braked. Do Caravans have brakes these days? And then, I search for a towbar. - Witters is rated at 1120Kg - that doesn't help me at all - most decent vans are 1200+
I do know that where a manufacturer states a limit, then that limit is not to be exceeded, so strictly speaking if caravans don't have brakes, the car is useless as a towcar, as I don't see anything rated at 450Kg.
If the manufactures weights and towbar specs dont correspond, how do I work it out, and of course the obvious question, do caravans have brakes? My Sprite 400 didnt!!
So I look in the specs... The Dodge manual says max permissible weight without brakes 450kg - What??? - I can pull more than that!
But wait the load is increased to 1400kg if its braked. Do Caravans have brakes these days? And then, I search for a towbar. - Witters is rated at 1120Kg - that doesn't help me at all - most decent vans are 1200+
I do know that where a manufacturer states a limit, then that limit is not to be exceeded, so strictly speaking if caravans don't have brakes, the car is useless as a towcar, as I don't see anything rated at 450Kg.
If the manufactures weights and towbar specs dont correspond, how do I work it out, and of course the obvious question, do caravans have brakes? My Sprite 400 didnt!!