Need some advice whilst buying a car (for towing?)

alexl92

I am a casual caravanner-  in the sense that I do 2 weeks per year, and the caravan we own is stored just 4 miles from the site where we stay in North Yorkshire. Usually a friend has towed the caravan for us as I've either not had a car powerful/heavy enough to tow or I haven't had a towbar on my car. 

I'm about to buy a new (well, new to me) car and intend to use it to tow our caravan for the above purpose.

I don't have the full towing licence but as far as I can tell from my research, I can tow anything as long as a) the combined weight of car and caravan is less than 3500kg and b) the car weighs more than the caravan. Therefore assuming I buy a car of 1700kg or less, I just have to make sure that the caravan weighs less than the car. (Please do correct me if I'm wrong)

I'm looking at buying 2006-2010 Skoda Octavia 1.9TDI PD, and the dilemma is whether to go for a hatchback model, which weighs in at 1310kg, or an estate at around 1515kg.

My question is: If I went for the lighter hatchback, would I be severely limiting myself to the makes and models of caravan I could tow in future, compared to what I'd be able to tow with the estate?

Hope that makes sense, thanks in advance.

Simon100

Yes you would because the kerb weight is 200 kg less, meaning that you would have to go for lighter caravans which tend to be smaller.

My advice would be to find a caravan that you like and then identify a car to tow it based on the MPTLM of your caravan, which might need to be heavier than either of the cars that you have identified.

cyberyacht

I haven't read the regs in detail for some time. Does the 3500Kg refer to gross train weight as the car may well weigh more than the kerb weight when loaded. Is the figure not the two maximum weights quoted in the plating?

Tinwheeler

Try this, Alex.

https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/advice-and-training/advice-for-beginners/driving-licences/

 

EmilysDad

I agree with your theory & would go for the estate rather than the hatch. You could always take your B&E part of your test  ..... but I appreciate that's easier said than paid for. 

EasyT

Remember that it is not the actual weight of car and van but the max permitted weights.

Our X-Trail has a weight of 1725kg but max laden weight of 2,200kg. Similarly with the caravan the relevant weight is the MPTLM

Boff

Legally speaking the tow car doesn’t have to be heavier than the caravan.    As others have said the 3500kg limit is based on the theoretical weights not the actual weights. 

alexl92

Thanks everyone for your contributions; they're very helpful. I definitely would like to do my B + E but the cost makes it impossible at the moment.

ChrisRogers

Example. I have the 2012 Octavia Estate 2.0TDi 4x4, kerbweight 1,495kg plated GVW 2,095kg, towing my caravan with a mtplm of 1,318kg gives a tow ratio of 88%. Also GVW 2,095kg + mtplm 1,318kg = 3,413kg so OK with a B licence.

Brian1

A couple of other points:

• Be aware of the maximum towbar weight the car can accept.  Many otherwise 'good' cars have miserably low towbar weights which can preclude towing a lot of 'vans that need 80kg or more.
• There is an 85% 'rule' - so called - which states that your car should be at least 85% of the weight of the 'van it is towing.  However, this is a recommendation, it is not the law and is up to your discretion.
• ... which leads up to the fact that, with only a 4 mile tow to do twice a year, assuming the conditions are good weatherwise and there are no steep hills on the route,  in your position I'd be prepared to 'bend' the 85% rule

lornalou1

you can answer your own question really as you already have a caravan so look at the weight plate near the door and subtract the mtplm from the max weight for the car (not the kerb weight) and what's left will be what vehicle you can go for so you are under or near to the 3500kg. plus once your all legal you can venture further afield and enjoy other sites around the UK and eventually Europe. good luck with all your travels.

ATB

Correct me if I’m mistaken, but isn’t the 85% rule (recommended): the caravan should not weigh more than 85% of the car’s kerb weight.

Tinwheeler

That is the recommendation, ATB, and is probably what the other poster meant. That is, the car’s kerb weight is heavier than the cvan’s all up weight in a ratio of around 100/85.  

Vulcan

You've lost me there, surely you mean subtract the MTPLM of the caravan from 3500kg which will give the weight of vehicle you have to play with. Subtracting the MTPLM of the caravan from the maximum weight of the vehicle will leave you with next to nothing.

lornalou1

Correct===That's what I meant to say. cheers.

DS3

Do all road users and you a favour and pass the B+E test. Mucking about with weights, you could very well end up being unlicensed. Don't forget thet every car is different, and every accessory adds weight to that car, even the tow bar, and they are very heavy. If you go over that 3500kg limit, you will be unlicensed. Plus trying to find a car that will legally tow it may be much costlier than doing the test if it struggles to pull it. Maybe fit a motormover for the four miles?

Two weeks a year and it is stored four miles from the site? What is the point? Do your test and venture out into the World. Each to their own and all that, but the same place every year and you don't even tow it there yourself? Sorry, but my dog has a more exciting life.