97 replies to this topic

[Ronny Stormo]

He he good point, i cant do anything moore than to take out the propane tank...and i have not measured the nose wheel weight on this caravan..as i said before any vacation i'm upgrading my car..and even then i dont have much weight to play with, only 220kg so i've only bought an caravanstore to this outfit and and new aluminium chairs and table, a small flatscreen tv, there is not anything mounted to the caravan other than an cd-player no bicycle rack, no aircon...

[SheffSean]

This is the latest pic of my outfit, nothing special I know but we like it, hoping to get a mk4 and a much newer fixed bed van soon.

[Paul332]

Heres our Mondeo & tin tent..

[Yorkshire_Dan]

[harby]

Looking to get a caravan soon to tow with my new mk1, so 1500kg limit.

If I can find it I've a pic of my mk1 V6 towing my 25ft boat from years ago

[PURPLE_2L_LX]

MK1 probably only weighs 1300kg so ideally 85% of that.

[jenks]

Paul332, on 05 March 2012 - 01:35 PM, said:

Heres our Mondeo & tin tent..

That looks a big van for a mondeo.
Do you tow with another car or do you have a removable towbar?

[Paul332]

Tow her with the Ford Maverick, have the tent on site almost as cheap as storeage.

[harby]

Quote

MK1 probably only weighs 1300kg so ideally 85% of that.

I'm quite experienced at towing various types of trailers etc 85% is recommended max for novice towing. My pickup has a 3450kg towing limit and only weighs 2460kg, most suv's and indeed cars have max tow limits above their kerb weight. As long as nose weight is setup properly and the weight is kept over the axles of the trailer, a heavier caravan should tow easily. In the 80's my father used to tow a 5 berth bailey pageant with a Capri 2.0S and it was fine.

[logiclee]

harby, on 19 April 2012 - 07:40 AM, said:

Quote

MK1 probably only weighs 1300kg so ideally 85% of that.

I'm quite experienced at towing various types of trailers etc 85% is recommended max for novice towing. My pickup has a 3450kg towing limit and only weighs 2460kg, most suv's and indeed cars have max tow limits above their kerb weight. As long as nose weight is setup properly and the weight is kept over the axles of the trailer, a heavier caravan should tow easily. In the 80's my father used to tow a 5 berth bailey pageant with a Capri 2.0S and it was fine.

The two big clubs and the National Caravan Council recommend that for novice towers the caravans MTPLM (Maximum caravan weight) should be less than 85% of the cars kerbweight. For experienced caravanners it is recommended that the MTPLM of the caravan can be upto 100% of the cars kerbside weight but under no circumstances exceed it. Experienced caravaners are expected to have knowledge of loading the caravan correctly as well as experience of towing.

I've towed trailers at over 100% but they have been industrial trailers and car transporters without issue. Caravans are a very different type of trailer, they are tall and long so catch the wind, they also have fixtures and fittings high up so have a high centre of gravity. How they handle and the effect on the car is very different than that of an industrial trailer or car transporter.

Car manufacturers base their towing figures on the vehicles ability to pull off on an incline. What is actually safe to tow is down to the driver and the Camping and Caravanning Club's. Caravan Club's and the National Caravan Councils recomendation is sound advice.

Cheers
Lee

[PURPLE_2L_LX]

Not going to get into a long debate but what one person thinks is ok another person may not.

My caravans under 1100kg loaded. I think the performance of a mk3 2l petrol or diesel is adequate when towing, others may say its the best towcar ever.

Personal thing. I've seen landrovers towing landrovers. All legal, properly loaded and secure. Doesn't stop them having accidents.

[logiclee]

PURPLE_2L_LX, on 19 April 2012 - 04:31 PM, said:

Personal thing. I've seen landrovers towing landrovers. All legal, properly loaded and secure. Doesn't stop them having accidents.

I will only add I fully agree with the recommended limits for caravans. I have towed them for over 25 years. But I've also towed industrial trailers and car transporters for nearly as long. I've also been on several towing courses through work and a Land Rover specific one.
Car transporters and industrial trailers tend to be short but have multiple axles and low centre of gravity. They are vastly more stable than caravans.
I'd be more comfortable towing a twin or triple axle industrial trailer at 100% than I would a caravan at 85%.
Car transporters are a little different the higher the car on the transporter and the softer it's suspension the more it will move about. But properly loaded they are still far more stable than caravans.
Never towed a boat though.

Cheers
Lee

[harby]

Quote

I will only add I fully agree with the recommended limits for caravans. I have towed them for over 25 years. But I've also towed industrial trailers and car transporters for nearly as long. I've also been on several towing courses through work and a Land Rover specific one.
Car transporters and industrial trailers tend to be short but have multiple axles and low centre of gravity. They are vastly more stable than caravans.
I'd be more comfortable towing a twin or triple axle industrial trailer at 100% than I would a caravan at 85%.
Car transporters are a little different the higher the car on the transporter and the softer it's suspension the more it will move about. But properly loaded they are still far more stable than caravans.
Never towed a boat though.

Cheers
Lee

Towed many cars on farm trailers so high centre of gravity, all ok as long as the vehicle is properly tied down and nose weight balanced, also I tend to keep speed down especially going down hill, boats are bouncy as the trailer tends to be quite flexible and the boat also flexes quite a bit, the aerodynamics of a boats hull also tend to pull the nose of the trailer up at speed.

[PURPLE_2L_LX]

Ive seen no end of hay bales that have fallen from vehicles though, Worst ive ever seen was a double
decker lorry with sheep on board, (Shrewsbury bypass). That was not a pretty sight.

I had things fall in the back of the lorry before and quite glad i never had livestock in the rear.

[doctor747]

Back on the thread of Mondeos and caravans.....
MK4 2.0 TDCi + Bailey Pageant Imperial

Attached Thumbnails

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[mondeotdci55]

this is our Elddis Wisp towed with my mondy 2ltr tdci and it pull like a dream

[DamonUKFN]

Not a caravan, but it's a camping unit and we tow it, so it counts

Our Ghia X TDCi dragging a 2012 Camplet Concorde SE.

[PURPLE_2L_LX]

Where is the rest of it? Did you drive under a low barrier or a lorry?