Outfit Matching

kentman
kentman Forum Participant Posts: 147
edited January 2017 in Towcars & Towing #1

I have been towing caravans for 37 years and have generally tried to stick fairly closely to the 85% rule, which I realise is only a guideline.  My current towcar is a LandRover Discovery Sport auto and I am contemplating buying a caravan with a laden weight of 94% of the car's kerb weight.  Of course, when towing the car would have the added weight of two adults and various kit including folding bikes (one electric).  The Club matching service tells me that the outfit would be legal in every way and that the car has sufficient power but warns that it deviates from the Club's recommended ratio.  What do those if you out there with experience of towing with such outfits feel about the advisability of going down this route?

Comments

  • flatcoat
    flatcoat Forum Participant Posts: 1,571
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2017 #2

    Personally I wouldn't have any qualms at all. I currently tow at a similar ratio and as you say it is purely a Club recommendation, with no legal validity. I would rather tow a properly loaded and balanced outfit at 94% than one which meets the 85% criteria but is badly loaded such as tail heavy with too little nose weight. Which is safer?! Far, far too much emphasis is put on the 85% figure in this country. However the decision is, ultimately yours nevertheless I always wonder if those who treat the 85% figure as rule that if broken automatically leads to carnage on the roads are themselves safe drivers? 

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2017 #3

    I think I'd feel happier with a LR at 94% than a conventional car. Just think of the number of LR's towing all sorts of stuff at higher ratios. Just don't try setting pole position lap times.

  • xtrailman
    xtrailman Forum Participant Posts: 559
    edited February 2017 #4

    I tow around 91% anyway so don't see another 3% making much difference, in fact my next caravan will be heavier still.

    If you take your car on a weighbridge the car will be heavier than the declared KW anyway, i have yet to read of a car being weighed that returned a lower weight.

    To give an example my last car at 1663kg was weighed by a member on another forum, exact car same towbar, car weighed 1725kg.

    I should add that the club don't include a driver in any calculation, and for my last four cars has consistantly given incorrect kerb weights.

  • allanandjean
    allanandjean Forum Participant Posts: 2,401
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2017 #5

    Hi Kentman, the higher the car to van weight the better but the 85% figure is only a guideline. This has been discussed many times and it is clear that some do take it as a rule but so long as you are within the vehicle plated capacities then you are legal.

    Whether, however, you are happy with being up around the 90% plus mark is a very personal thing and as CY hints at you may need to amend your  driving style, but the most of us do when we hitch up anyway.

    Our first van choice was governed by a few factors but mainly what we could afford. Looking at the figures it was near 100% but back then the kerbweight did not include passengers or all the stuff you take so we went for it and putt all heavy items in the car,which we still do,and had no problems. 

    I can still remember the, Audi 80 Sport, kerbweight-it was 1080kg, and the van was an Avondale Perle Olympus.

    Spookily I saw one yesterday and took a pic which I showed to my wife just before seeing your post!

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