Weights of items which go in a caravan

[LMH]

I thought I had seen a list on the Caravan Club site which gave approximate weights of articles associated with caravanning such as battery, aqua rolls, hook up cable etc.

I've looked on their website and can't find it. Does anyone have an idea where I might get this information from?

Replies appreciated.

Thanks.

Lisa.

 

[ThePlotter]

Hi there if you get your Caravan Club 2005/2006 sites directory and handbook on page594 is the info you require it is not an exhaustive list but includes the main items.

Tony

 

[LMH]

Thanks Tony.

I'll have to search for the directory as I don't tend to use that, I use the website.

Lisa

 

[JandP]

Hi Lisa, went to our local dealer today and asked him this exact question. He said they estimate the normal "payload" for 2 people at 100kg + 25kg for each additional person. I dont know how reliable this is but he worked out the 85% towing limit for our car at 1167kg but had to get his calculator out again to subtract the 100kg for 2 people ! Jim.

 

[RogerL]

100 kg for 2 people plus 25 kg per extra person - this is often regarded as a minimum.

For UK-built caravans it's best, ie safest, to assume that a caravan will be loaded to it's MTPLM. If it's important to you to be significantly under this, you'll need to weigh everything using kitchen scales.

Many foreign-built caravans have more generous load allowances so using MTPLM may be unnecessarily high for conventional loading.

 

[AnthonyVJ]

I don't understand the MTPLM figure, does it include the weight of the number of people 2/4/6 that can occupy the caravan? After all people vary in size and weight so much!

Suppose you had 4x16 stone occupants what relevance does the MTPLM have if it doesn't allow for the actual weight of the occupants?

Helen

 

[Tina3]

Hi Helen

Am pretty sure the above discussion is regarding weights whilst towing!

weights stated i,e personal payload is for the equpment each person would take, i.e clothes, toiletries etc etc !! someone step in and state what MPLTM IS !! I think its Maximum prmissable laden TOWING mass !!

but there are more experienced people out there who will soon let you know!

Tina x

 

[Tina3]

Helen

go to the home page

have a look at the towing law section (in purple) glossary on the left gives you all the technical jarb, but it all pertains to towing not sitting in the van!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Lutz]

Not quite, Tina. MTPLM is the Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass, i.e. the maximum that the caravan may, in total, weigh, including the load on the jockey wheel.

It is NOT the towing mass because this is only the axle weight of the caravan. It does not include the noseweight, which is treated as part of the payload of the towing vehicle.

 

[Tina3]

Hi Lutz!!

Listen to this guy Helen, he is the Master ! lol !!

thanks Lutz, so what Helen is saying is right is it,it is the weight it can mange with everyone and everything in it,towing or not ????

:0) (confused) !

Tina x

 

[Lutz]

The MTPLM is only of significance when towing. When you're on a site and there are occupants aboard the caravan you will probably be over the MTPLM but that doesn't really concern anybody.

 

[Tina3]

The MTPLM is only of significance when towing. When you're on a site and there are occupants aboard the caravan you will probably be over the MTPLM but that doesn't really concern anybody.

thanks Lutz !

 

[AnthonyVJ]

Thanks both - I had visions of us all on a starvation diet for at least a month before every holiday!

Helen

 

[TrevorM]

Lutz; in relation to your text as follows:

"Not quite, Tina. MTPLM is the Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass, i.e. the maximum that the caravan may, in total, weigh, including the load on the jockey wheel.

It is NOT the towing mass because this is only the axle weight of the caravan. It does not include the noseweight, which is treated as part of the payload of the towing vehicle."

I noticed you had also posted this (similarly) on another thread, as a result of which I searched (albeit not thoroughly) the web to confirm this fact. (It is not that I doubt your word, but quoting a PC web thread if stopped may not carry much weight with the authorities - excuse the pun!)

Since I could not find confirmation, can you please let us know where this information can be found?

Many thanks.

Trevor M

 

[Lutz]

The full text can be found in EU Directive 92/21/EEC which says, quote:

Annex II, Paragraph 2.6

'Towable mass' means the mass of the trailer towed excluding the vertical load on the coupling point of the towing vehicle.

Towable mass is the figure that car manufacturers publish in their specs.

MTPLM is fairly obviously the maximum total weight and I don't think there is any uncertainty about that.

 

[TrevorM]

Thanks for that Lutz. Having had a look I think it may be the later directive which you are quoting, since the earlier one contradicted this - see copy / pastes below:

From: Council Directive 92/21/EEC of 31 March 1992 on the masses and dimensions of motor vehicles of category M1

"4.3.1.2. The technically permissible maximum towable mass is that stated by the manufacturer, the towable mass being the total actual mass of the trailer drawn including the actual drawbar load on the coupling device."

But from this from: Commission Directive 95/48/EC of 20 September 1995 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 92/21/EEC relating to the masses and dimensions of motor vehicles of category M1

"2.6. 'Towable mass` means the mass of the trailer towed excluding the vertical load on the coupling point of the towing vehicle."

No wonder I am confused (I hope I am not the only one.)

My brain is beginning to hurt now, so I think rather than investigate how this directive may have been implemented in UK law, I will make sure I only tow to the lower limit (i.e. I will include the hitch weight as part of the towed mass in my calculations!)

Thanks again.

Enjoy your hols.

Trevor M

 

[Lutz]

If you think about it, the towable mass cannot be the total weight of the trailer including the noseweight because the noseweight is definitely treated as part of the payload of the the towcar (because it has a bearing on the towcar's rear axle load).

Therefore, if the towable mass also included the noseweight, one would be counting noseweight twice when calculating the gross train weight, once in the GVW of the car and again in the towed weight if this were the total weight of the trailer.

 

[RogerL]

The MTPLM is the total mass of the caravan, including noseweight - it can't be defined any other way - to do so would be a variable MTPLM depending on noseweight loading.

The towing limit of a vehicle USUALLY excludes the noseweight but vehicle manufacturers can use their own definition, eg Renault.

 

[Lutz]

The towing limit is always without noseweight, even for Renault. It's just that Renault specify, in addition, a maximum permissible gross train weight which is less than the sum of the GVW (including noseweight) and the towing mass (excluding noseweight).

 

[Lutz]

The MTPLM is the total mass of the caravan, including noseweight - it can't be defined any other way - to do so would be a variable MTPLM depending on noseweight loading.

The towing limit of a vehicle USUALLY excludes the noseweight but vehicle manufacturers can use their own definition, eg Renault.

I don't think anyone way questioning the definition of MTPLM.