Car to caravan weight ratios
This is my first post. Yesterday I put a deposit on our first caravan, finally. I've read and reread your words of wisdom about weights but the only one that sticks in my thick head is the 85% guideline. Having recently bought a bigger car to open our options, I've now put a deposit on a Lunar Ariva, one of the smallest caravans (MTPLM 999kgs). Our new car - a 2 litre Zafira Tourer kerbweight 1780kgs is probably a bit overkill, but we are inexperienced and quite nervous of towing - up hills and round corners anyway! We decide and pay on Thursday.
My questions are about this heavy/light car to caravan ratio . Will it cause a problem for loading? Can all our packed stuff be handled comfortably in the back of the car? Or do I need to even the ratio by storing in the caravan? In which case have I made a mistake in thinking a lightweight caravan is the best choice for nervous beginners?
Thanks in advance. kath
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Given the weight ratio I cannot see any problem with loading either the car or caravan. Do try to get the nose weight right though by moving things in the caravan but do not put heavy items right at the back and try to keep them as low down as possible.
The other thing to watch is the weight of what you put in the car boot as too much might overload the back axle so spread things between the two. If you have a heavy awning my best place for it is between the back and front seats or on the caravan floor over the axle.
Your weight ratio is probably as good as it gets so do not worry.
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You should have no problems with the car/caravan combination you describe. As Wildwood says make sure you load sensibly - heavy items in the caravan low down and close to the axle and keep heavy items in the car between the axles ie not just inside the boot but further forward. You will find the outfit will ride better laden than it does empty so when you collect it you may find it feels a little jumpy but this will change when car and caravan are loaded. Take it easy for your first trip and remember to enjoy yourselves. You'll soon wonder why you were apprehensive I'm sure.
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One thing you should be careful about is not to overload the caravan. There is a weight limit which shouldn't be exceeded (MPTLM) you can find this in the handbook or on a plate somewhere on the van. Enjoy your trips away and don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it 🤓
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I went on the Club's towing course which I recommend as it gave my confidence a boost. Caravans are provided so you don't have to worry about getting yours to the course venue.
Don't worry too much about towing, wherever you go your van is sure to follow.
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You can't beat a heavy towcar and light van in my opinion. It sounds fine to me.
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Hi & welcome , I tow with a Zafira 1.7dci 110bhp (2012) & our caravan is a 2014 Swift which weighs all in at 1200kgs .
We have never had any problems whatsoever & we travel all over , south coast to Plymouth on the steep A38 past Exeter, Whitby , North Norfolk , North Yorkshire & locally to several sites in the peak District up via gellar & A515 to Buxton & Macclesfield , Wales & Cheddar this year .
Your 2 litre will take everything & anything in it's stride basic rule is anything heavy in the caravan on floor over the axle , or in the car the Zafira boot is vast .
Relax & enjoy you'll be fine .👍 😇
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One piece of advice not mentioned that is very important and easy to avoid things starting very badly, prepare to be able leave dealers with a safe noseweight.
I take a gas bottle and a few empty 5 litre water containers so I can ballast the van with a healthily high enough noseweight.
Being new you should ensure the handing over engineer makes sure, in front of you, he has checked what your vehicle and van can take and gets it to that value, before you even move; better before opening your wallet.
I saw the remains of a brand new Knaus that left the Portsmouth importer and did not get far on its wheels, but a fair way on its side.
As a guide it is best the noseweight is near touching as high as the kit will allow.
In no way intended to scare but give you a safe start to a great hobby.
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Your tow car to van ratio will be fine. The thing to be sure of is not to overload that caravan. It's surprising how all the bits and pieces add to its weight. As has been suggested, take it along to a weigh bridge to make sure you're within your vans axle limit.
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Posted on 30/01/2017 17:23 by ocsid
As a guide it is best the noseweight is near touching as high as the kit will allow.
Thanks for your replies, I feel more comfortable now. We went back to see it again today and made sure the bed was OK for my husband, and take measurements and so on. We are going to go ahead with it so I'm very excited. My parents caravanned throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s and I remember it well.
I do need to gen up on noseweight information - I'm afraid I haven't a clue what 'touching as high' means :-) but I will find out. Thanks again.
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Actually your weight ratio is so good thatyou may have the reverse problem of forgetting you've got a caravan on the back.No joking either, especially as it's a small van. Hope you enjoy the experience. We have an Ariva just like yours and have taken in all over Europe so don't worry. With it being slimmer than most vans you should find the maxim of "If the car with towing mirrors can fit through that gap then the caravan will (in a straight line)."
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I do need to gen up on noseweight information - I'm afraid I haven't a clue what 'touching as high' means :-) but I will find out.
Sorry to not be specific; let's see if I can help without writing too much.
The caravan's chassis and hitch typically have the ability to be loaded to 100kgs. Cars can be anything with values like 70, 80 100 and 150 kgs.
Towbars are generally at least what the car is or the fitter picked the wrong one.
Say your car specification says 70 kgs [just a guess] then despite everything else 70 is the maximum that can be used. I would work on getting the actual up to virtually that, 65kgs ie in my speak "touching as high as possible".
Incidentally, with your van's 1000 kgs max weight a 70 kg noseweight is close to the old school guide figure of 7% as possible.
Given your vans weight, I would try to keep at or above 60kgs; I am a great believer in keeping nose weights as high as sensible, there being no merit in light weights here if you are not forced into it.
Failed, wrote too much!
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Hi Kath. I have been towing since 1980. All I need to say is aim for a noseweight top side of 65kg and enjoy, toeing should present little problem. Remembering when I started towing I used to think that the vehicle behind was too close and then realised it was the caravan and moved the mirror, Get decent tiw mirrors tu see down the side of the caravan and enjoy
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We had an Ariva for three years towed all over Europe, you will not have any problem towing it with your car. The van does actually tow perfectly OK completely empty but as per previous post taking your intended gas bottle is probably wise. The Ariva is a good starter van barely wider than your car and short in length but the payload is small so you do have to be careful on loading, heavy items are best placed in car,the noseweight due to its short length is`nt a problem provided items are distributed sensibly.
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Are you sure that the Zafira kerbweight is 1780kg. I have an Smax 7 seater and mine is only 1725 Kg and is much bigger?
My first year of going to France I found I had some instability. Once I put as much weight in the boot as possible and checked the nose weight was right, not either too light nor heavy I found it was beautifully stable and I didn't have Alko Atc etc
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Thanks. I think the handbook says the kerbweight it is 1788kgs. We do have the heaviest model in the handbook as it's the 2L, automatic diesel. I remember being quite surprised. It's also 168bhp. I was looking for something chunky but not quite a 4x4. I have been warned I might forget it's there but that's not likely at first...
I am taking the plunge tomorrow morning. I've already had the dealer on the phone as someone else was after it. We get a starter pack and a second hand full size awning too so I feel like I'm made up and ready to go! Broadway open-all-year-round site here we come!
kath
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I agree entirely with CY. I'm sure there are many caravans on our roads that are overloaded. In fact, I wouldn't mind betting that there are more caravans on the road that are overloaded than not! (A rather sweeping statement, I know - and a gut feeling only) Amongst those who are less likely to overload are those on such forums as this who become more aware of it.
A visit to the weighbridge occasionally will be an eye opener for many.
David
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I agree! I use our local weighbridge several times a year. It is very easy to exceed the MPTLM particularly if you have lost a chunk of your payload with a motor mover.
And yet in my travels I have never met another caravanist who has their caravan weighed.
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Thanks for your all your replies. It's now ours, and stored at the dealers while I am getting the towbar and insurance sorted. Then we'll have the big handover and be off right away. I might post a Story about our first experience, if I have some amusing mistakes to impart!
kath
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