Differing information on tow car suitability

nannyanne
nannyanne Forum Participant Posts: 1
edited August 2016 in Towcars & Towing #1

We have recently bought a 2015 Vauxhall Zafira 1.8 and was told by the dealer that it would tow 1500kg. We have just visited our local caravan dealer to be told that it's maximum towing weight is 1150kg. On returning home we checked various information on
line and find that information from car dealers/manufacturers often differs widely from Carvan advice sites. ANyone know why this is?

 

Comments

  • Vulcan
    Vulcan Forum Participant Posts: 670
    edited August 2016 #2

    To put it bluntly they will tell you anything in order to get a sale.

    The correct towing limit will be shown in the handbook that was supplied with your vehicle.

  • bassett1
    bassett1 Forum Participant Posts: 40
    edited August 2016 #3

    go on to club site and go to tow match car caravan will tell you what you can tow at 85%

  • catherinef
    catherinef Forum Participant Posts: 647
    edited August 2016 #4

    Definitely go with the handbook.  

    Our Audi Q3 in the brochure shows a weight of 1625 Kgs and is theoretically capabale of pulling 2000 Kgs.  In the handbook and the V5 it shows as 1700 Kgs.  On a weighbridge with a full tank of fuel, towing bracket, part full Adblue tank and No Driver it
    weighs 1740 Kgs.

     

  • Tigi
    Tigi Forum Participant Posts: 1,038
    500 Comments
    edited August 2016 #5

    Dealers want a sale and manufacturers want to create an impression of infallability. If you are`nt used to towing the rule of thumb for safety is stick to a caravan weight 85% of the kerb weight of the car found in the handbook.

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #6

    We have recently bought a 2015 Vauxhall Zafira 1.8 and was told by the dealer that it would tow 1500kg. We have just visited our local caravan dealer to be told that it's maximum towing weight is 1150kg. On returning home we checked various information on
    line and find that information from car dealers/manufacturers often differs widely from Carvan advice sites. ANyone know why this is?

     

    Because they are sellling you something.

    Always know a lot more than more than they do, that way they can "facillitate" the sale if you want to buy not "make" the sale.

  • Lutz
    Lutz Forum Participant Posts: 1,564 ✭✭✭✭
    edited August 2016 #7

    Looking at the vehicle weight plate is even more reliable than the handbook. Deduct the gross vehicle weight from the the gross train weight on the plate and you've got what you can tow.

    The 1150kg figure that the caravan dealer mentioned seems to refer to the first series of Zafira with a diesel engine, but not to a 2015 1.8, although I may be wrong.

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