Towing Capacities

[davec]

Found it your right 4000,2510 so my Indiana is 1500kg,if I am not fully loaded is that OK or is it the theoretical possible weights as even at the NEC yesterday looked at Eldiss Tornado 1600kgs and the dealer checked and said it was fine,luckily we didnt put a deposit,said we'd ring back but now its looking like the one we've got isnt legal either.

[Richard gal]

Found it your right 4000,2510 so my Indiana is 1500kg,if I am not fully loaded is that OK or is it the theoretical possible weights as even at the NEC yesterday looked at Eldiss Tornado 1600kgs and the dealer checked and said it was fine,luckily we didnt put a deposit,said we'd ring back but now its looking like the one we've got isnt legal either.

 

Its the total load of the train that matters for the 4000 figure, will you be putting over half a tonne of people, clutter in the car?

[RADIOTWO]

Found it your right 4000,2510 so my Indiana is 1500kg,if I am not fully loaded is that OK or is it the theoretical possible weights as even at the NEC yesterday looked at Eldiss Tornado 1600kgs and the dealer checked and said it was fine,luckily we didnt put a deposit,said we'd ring back but now its looking like the one we've got isnt legal either.

 

Hi dave

 

As you say the one you have got is not legal BUT !

 

What you need to do is fill your fuel tank to the top, and populate the car with all the people who you would normally have in the car when towing the caravan, and

any luggage you would put in the boot, and take to the weighbridge and get the print off, and if it is convenient, do the same with the caravan, and weigh that with

all the kit in it.

And don't forget a Galaxy is possible worse than a normal saloon as you can put more in, as in more people, seven average adults @90Kgs = 630Kgs

 

Now as we know the 2510Kgs is the max so lets say the weigh bridge comes back with 2470Kgs so deduct this from the 4000Kgs and this leaves 1530Kgs so in

your case. yours is under,(is your Indiana 1500Kgs GROSS ?)

 

And I do have to chuckle when the Dealers say "oh yes that caravan is fine" are they bothered if you get pulled up and will they pay the fine ? Don't think so they

are just after a sale.

 

Sorry for keep going on at this, but some of you don't seem to grasp this,and how strict they are on the roads now, if you never get caught, Great ! but is it worth

the risk. ?

 

Radiotwo

[JRWR]

I'm starting to feel a bit sory for davec with all this conflicting advice. I'd recommend he follows Sparky Paul's link and get the information from the people who really know.

 

Making blunt statements like ...

 

... the one you have got is not legal ...

 

is rather unhelpful because it's simply not true.

 

RadioTwo may like to err on the side of caution and assume that everyone loads their car to the limit but let's not insist that when considering the legal position it's necessary to assume everyone always does that .. I certainly don't load my car to 2510kg when I tow my shed.

[davec]

your certainly right about the dealers the 1500 is fully loaded and cant be plated any higher if i wanted as Baileys say it is at maximum already.Luckily we dont fill car up,take at back seats as usually there is two adults and possibly two young grandchildren but I'd hate to be pulled and have all the hassle of trying to sort it out as presumably you couldnt even move the car if you were given a ticket without losing a passenger or something,what a nightmare on the way to the ferry.So first thing is to tell the salesman hes not getting any commission of us and if we do want a bigger van it'll have to be a 4x4 .Thanks for all the help anyway

[Mirez]

Sorry for keep going on at this, but some of you don't seem to grasp this,and how strict they are on the roads now, if you never get caught, Great ! but is it worth the risk?

 

I don't know who's right or wrong on this one but it makes for interesting reading. (I'll throw this link in though) and one thing I will say is to confirm Radiotwo's comment - there is a weighbridge near me on a busy A road and VOSA are there most days in the layby pulling vans, lorries and caravans in and presumably then weighing them.

 

To add to the mix, IF its overweight and therefore illegal - that'll invalidate your insurance so if you are unlucky enough to be caught up in an accident you COULD end up with a

Edited February 26, 2010 by Mirez

[Richard gal]

Davec, do us all a favour and go and hitch your caravan and weigh the outfit at a public weighbridge and report back!

 

Do bother with passengers/luggage, it can be worked out after.

[Paul1]

Im going too have too read all this carefully.

 

Thanks for all the replies

 

My interest was too tow a car trailer with a heavy 4x4 on it

 

So thats out the window

 

So how do discoverys etc get on with horse boxes and trailers with 4x4's on because im sure you would be pulling close to 3 tonnes?

 

Thanks again

[Richard gal]

Im going too have too read all this carefully.

 

Thanks for all the replies

 

My interest was too tow a car trailer with a heavy 4x4 on it

 

So thats out the window

 

So how do discoverys etc get on with horse boxes and trailers with 4x4's on because im sure you would be pulling close to 3 tonnes?

 

Thanks again

 

Some 4x4s can pull more than their own weight, my 2 tonne SWB trooper can pull over 3 tonnes, its the limit you need for tachograph that soon kicks in you have to worry about then!

Edited February 27, 2010 by Richard gal

[big_kev]

Im going too have too read all this carefully.

 

Thanks for all the replies

 

My interest was too tow a car trailer with a heavy 4x4 on it

 

So thats out the window

 

So how do discoverys etc get on with horse boxes and trailers with 4x4's on because im sure you would be pulling close to 3 tonnes?

 

Thanks again

 

 

Typical plate from a Defender.

 

GVW 2400kg

 

GTW 5900kg

 

Therefore it can tow a 3.5 ton trailer......should be big enough for you.

 

I would imagine other 4x4's to be similar.

 

I think it a train weight of around 8.5 ton before you worry about tacho's etc ( not 100% on this though ).

 

Obviously all this is subject to usual width and length restrictions and having a b+e license or above.

[RADIOTWO]

Im going too have too read all this carefully.

 

Thanks for all the replies

 

My interest was too tow a car trailer with a heavy 4x4 on it

 

So thats out the window

 

So how do discoverys etc get on with horse boxes and trailers with 4x4's on because im sure you would be pulling close to 3 tonnes?

 

Thanks again

 

 

Typical plate from a Defender.

 

GVW 2400kg

 

GTW 5900kg

 

Therefore it can tow a 3.5 ton trailer......should be big enough for you.

 

I would imagine other 4x4's to be similar.

 

I think it a train weight of around 8.5 ton before you worry about tacho's etc ( not 100% on this though ).

 

Obviously all this is subject to usual width and length restrictions and having a b+e license or above.

 

 

This is to both you and Richard

 

If we are talking big numbers ! As you have gathered from my signature I tow with a Toyota Amazon, and these are the figures:

 

3260 Kgs GVW

6760 Kgs GTW

 

so will drag 3500Kgs

 

But with regards a Tachograph, you only need one if you are towing for hire or reward (Business), but if this is the case then the max weight before the tacho is 3500Kgs.

 

Radiotwo

[big_kev]

But with regards a Tachograph, you only need one if you are towing for hire or reward (Business), but if this is the case then the max weight before the tacho is 3500Kgs.

 

Told you I wasn't 100% on that ;)

[Paul1]

cheers for replies ;)

[davec]

Daventry Council have a weighbridge so next time Im loaded i'll pop up there the user payload on my van is about 160kg I beleive BUT take off 35 kg for motormover,15kg for 110Amp battery ,15kg for a pair of gas bottles and it soon goes down.I put the awning in the boot and heavy tins beer etc but I'd bet I'm close on the van weight and the train weight and theres only two of us.Many people have the Gal for family use and two kids ,bikes and all that stuff could easily go over thats without a roof box.Posters on the Practical Caravan site even say they travel with the internal tank full which is nearly 40Litres splashing around seems suicidal to me but there you go I just put a couple of litres in back of car for tea but I'm a bit of a scaredy cat :-) Edited February 28, 2010 by davec