Towcars getting lighter
Is anyone else having the same problem as me in finding a suitable towcar.
We have a fairly heavy caravan, a Bailey Pageant Provence at 1490kgs. But there are many modern caravans which are much heavier. Around 10 years ago there were lots of vehicles which could safely tow this weight of caravan even when the 85% rule was adhered to.
However the car manufacturers seem to be making an effort to reduce the weight of their cars and there are very few that are now suitable. Cars like the Mondeo, Skoda Superb and even Citroen Picasso used to be heavy enough to tow a large caravan but sadly no longer.
However the caravan manufacturers seem not to have noticed this trend and keep producing heavier and heavier caravans.
Already the smaller 4x4's are too light, check on the latest kerb-weights of Freelanders, CSV's and Ravs.
I often see outfits which are mis-matched, with very heavy caravans being towed by family cars. If the police start checking there are going to be real problems for lots of people.
Soon the only vehicles out there which can tow a family size caravan will be huge 4x4's like Discoverys and Landcruisers.
Caravan manufacturers need to put all their efforts into reducing the weight of their offerings before it is too late.