Help with car towing weights
 

Hi all,

Does anyone know the exact rules/law for towing weighs? Dad is looking at a caravan that has a MPTLM (whatever that is) of 1466kg. His car is a Skoda Octavia that has a towing limit of 1400kg in the handbook, is this figure a recommendation or a law?

Is it the manufacturers weights of the caravan that is used in the eyes of the law or what the caravan actually weighs when on a weighbridge?

He's looking at getting an 05 Audi A4 avant 2.0 diesel, anyone got one who could look in the handbook and let us know what the towing limit is as different websites say different things!

Cheers,
Andy

Re: Help with car towing weights
 

A C+E licence (unless the licene is pre 1990 i think) is required if the tow weight it over 750Kg (most caravans).

the Tow weight of the vehicle can't be exceeded as its knowingly overloading a vehicle. Go by the manufactures spec as they will have tested it to death.

Re: Help with car towing weights
 

This is only a hunch but I'd expect 1466 to be roughly the wet weight of an A4 - so towing the same weight again is likely to be nudging inadvisable and probably close to legal limits. Can't help on the exact model but I've got a 99/2000 A4 with a 2.5 V6 diesel in the drive, if you can wait till tomorrow I'll dig out the handbook (I've drunk far too much tonight to be seen with car keys in my hand, even if only to check the glove box).

Other thing to consider is licencing, I'm guessing your dad is sufficiently grey to have a fairly open driving licence but I know the newer ones are much more restrictive and I've got a feeling even ones in the last 10 years or so limit to 750kg tows without extra exams (though I haven't checked any of this, very much hunch only).

Re: Help with car towing weights
 

Cheers for the help guys. He's no problem with towing as he has HGV categories still on his license from when he drove them and took his license about 40yrs ago :)

I just need clarification on towing weights in relation to cars as some say it's OK to ignore the manufacturers recommended as long as you don't got above the kerb weight (or something like that!). It's all confusing me :mad:

Re: Help with car towing weights
 

Follow the manufacturers guidelines, there should be braked and unbraked limits. if you exceed them and are involved in an accident (even if someone crashes into you whilst parked) you will not be insured. Insurance companies will try everything not to pay out, that would just be giving them another excuse.. imho

Re: Help with car towing weights
 

Try this link to the Camping and Caravan Club help?
http://www.campingandcaravanningclub...wingandthelaw/

Re: Help with car towing weights
 

I obviously don't know the age of your dad. But if he did his HGV 40 years ago and the age limit for taking HGV (unless you are Armed Forces) is 21, you might find his HGV will have been automatically revoked and a medical is required before he can be granted his licence back again.

Re: Help with car towing weights
 

yup, mine runs out in about 5 years.

Re: Help with car towing weights
 

Did this research when I was doing a lot of lanscaping and building work on my house in Scotland, when trying to decide whether to buy a plant trailer capable of carrying a couple of tonnes.

It's 750kg unbraked, or 3.5 tonne gross with a braked trailer, but it's illegal to overload your vehicle, and inadvisable to tow more than 85% of your vehicles kerb weight.

Re: Help with car towing weights
 

Don't worry about it, when it starts shaking, with a stabaliser fitted, then you are going too fast, should be good for 80-85mph hth ;)