RAV4 and Hobby De Luxe

KerryJS
KerryJS Forum Participant Posts: 11
edited July 2019 in Towcars & Towing #1

Hi,

I‘m hoping someone can please help...

I have bought my first caravan, a Hobby 495 De Luxe 2004, I don’t think they are very popular in this country so am struggling to find info on them.

i want to tow with a 2002 Rav 4, 2 litre petrol, I believe the kerb weight is 1275kg. 

I am getting varying info on the caravan weight. The plate on the side of the van says 1350 but I’m not sure if this is the unladen weight or the maximum it should be when loaded.

Does anybody know please?

Thanks for your help in advance.

Comments

  • Kerry Watkins
    Kerry Watkins Forum Participant Posts: 325
    100 Comments
    edited July 2019 #2

    We had a  2004 hobby 460UFE De Lux and the max weight was 1300kg so I suspect yours would be heavier. Our external  plate stated 1300kg which was the max weight. We were very pleased with it and only change for a caravan with an island bed 

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,138 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2019 #3

    Whichever weight is stated for the caravan, it is too heavy for a towcar with a kerb weight of only 1275kg. The RAV4 is not a heavy car and, in my opinion, will not be a safe match for the van even if the plated weight turns out to be the max loaded weight.

    Sorry.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2019 #4

    The Hobby is to heavy for your rav 4 to be safely towed and if stopped for a check could end up in tears a heavier tow vehicle is necessary and preferably diesel

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2019 #5

    If stopped for a check the vin plate might well show it to be legal

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,138 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2019 #6

    Agreed. However, legal and sensible are two different things. I wonder whether the RAV4's legal towing weight and GTW have been considered by the OP.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2019 #7

    I suspect that the 'kerb' weight does not include driver and fuel. Probably close on 100% match. 2004 2 litres could have 1,500 kg tow limit. No idea as to OP's though

  • Wellys and Mac
    Wellys and Mac Forum Participant Posts: 447
    100 Comments
    edited July 2019 #8

    https://towcar.info/GB/

  • KerryJS
    KerryJS Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited July 2019 #9

    Thanks for all your replies. We have decided to buy a Jeep Cherokee 2.8d instead.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,138 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2019 #10

    Good move. You know it makes sense. 👍🏻👍🏻

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,581 ✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments Photogenic
    edited July 2019 #11

    The car is simply not heavy enough for the caravan by a considerable margin. You would be very foolish to tow with that combination, even if it is within the cars towing limit. A car with a kerb weight over 1400 kg would be a minimum for me and 1500 would be far better.

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2019 #12

    I think they know that W, as op has said now going for a 2.8 jeep Cherokee.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,302 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2019 #13

    Apart from the legalities, I would reject it on power alone. We started out with a similar weight van and a 2.0 l Mondeo petrol estate. It was fine until it got to a steep hill. Stopping on one would have been a disaster. We changed to a 2.0 D XTrail, which was like towing in a different world.😀

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