What Towcar v CC Outfit Matching

[jwa]

Hi, having joined the Caravanning fraternity last year we are now on our second caravan, an Elddis 556 and our second towcar, a Freelander TD4 S, the 2 litre diesel. We pick up the new caravan, traded in for our Bailey Ranger next week, but have not had the chance to try this new combination as yet. I checked out all towcar reccomendations and match ups, looked on this forum and was satisfied that the Freelander would have no trouble towing. However, on checking with the Caravan Club's new outfit matching section I found that it is not a good match, according to the CC anyway? Any advice gratefully received as this goes against all the information I have been given or researched?

JWA

 

[Francis_374353316]

Hi
I used the caravan clubs outfit matching service to match my car and caravan and it seems quite accurated to me. The info given by the club regarding my cars kerbweight matched that in the owners handbook as did the weight of the caravan so in this case it would seem to be accurate enough.
Hope This helps!!

 

[ProfJohnL]

The law places the responsibility on the driver to ensure the outfit they tow is safe and road legal. The use of these third party web sites or phone/club services does not negate the drivers responsibilty in these matters.
All of these sites are set up with the best of intentions, but because humans transfer the data into the systems mistakes have crept in, consequently you cannot implicitly accept their reports, you should check the figures yourself.
This subject has been and is being discussed in other threads, so if you are interetsed look through the technical and towing areas.

 

[mcghee]

I had a look through the clubs outfit matching doodah, and I'd have to say I'm confused. I put in the details of a friend's outfit which I know to be near its limit. The club's advice is that the outfit is not suitable because fully laden its a 102% match. That's fair enough, but the club's claim that "the Police may consider this combination unroadworthy" is absolute nonsense and its outrageous that an organization like the caravan club should be handing out such poor advice. The next section goes on to say "The caravan's laden weight is within the car's stated towing limit, and therefore meets legal limitations". Its no wonder new caravanners can't figure it out.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Mchee,

That is just another example of how these sites do get things wrong or can mislead, but I have to add, that a poorley loaded caravan that is still within 100 or even 85% and can still be considered as unroadworthy, Weight ratios alone do not determine the road worthiness or otherwise of an outfit.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Mchee,

That is just another example of how these sites do get things wrong or can mislead, but I have to add, that a poorley loaded caravan that is still within 100 or even 85% and can still be considered as unroadworthy, Weight ratios alone do not determine the road worthiness or otherwise of an outfit.

 

[jwa]

Thanks for the replies, I am still confused as to why there is such a mismatch between the two and would echo your comments Mcghee, the CC site also claimed that my car was not a good match, yet also claimed the caravan's laden weight is within the car's stated towing limit, and therefore meets legal limitations? When I worked out all the figures the match up came to 86%, so 1% off. Both the garage I bought the car from and the company I bought the caravan from are adamant that the match is more than suitable and I have read many reviews of Freelander owners who are towing much larger caravans than my own and are more than happy with stability etc.
Thanks Prof John L, for the info, I am aware there are more discussions on this or similar and have followed those too, but there does seem to be no common consensus other than make sure you have loaded your caravan as best you can for safe towing.
JWA