matching tow car to caravan for beginer

RCLIVE5044
RCLIVE5044 Forum Participant Posts: 1
edited April 2016 in Towcars & Towing #1

I am a complet beginer and the more I read the more confused I get. I have put a deposit on a 2010 Swift challenger 480 van with a total loaded weight of 1387kl. I need to purchase a car to tow this van.I have looked at the passat, zafire skoda octavia as
I will be using this car as my main transport and will not be towing that offten at first I need somthing to give measonable ecconamy. My problem seems to be thatI get differant kerb weights on differant sites.I hope somone can help.

Comments

  • ChrisRogers
    ChrisRogers Forum Participant Posts: 435
    edited April 2016 #2

    I have a Skoda Octavia Estate 2.0TDi 4x4 (2012) the mass in service (V5C) is 1,495kg, towing a Compass Omega 482 mtplm 1,318kg giving a tow ratio of 88%. Standard Octavia's are around 90/100kg'ish lighter. With my set up I get between 33-37mpg towing depending
    on roads, good torque and very stable.

  • ChrisRogers
    ChrisRogers Forum Participant Posts: 435
    edited April 2016 #3

    Should have said with the van you have suggested the tow ratio would be 93%, so with a standard Octavia it will be lot higher.

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,582 ✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments Photogenic
    edited April 2016 #4

    For a beginner the Octavia is too light and the diesel  Passat would be a better bet. For beginners you should be looking at a car with a kerg weight at least over 1500 kg and probably more if possible. Both clubs suggest that the caravan MTPLM for beginners
    should be no more than 85% of the cars kerb weight so a figure nearer 1600 kg would be better if possible.

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