85% tow matching
I am well versed with the 85% rule and that if experienced you can tow up to 100%.
I always tow with two large GSD dogs in the back of the car weighing approx 100kgs ( around 15 stone ) Plus pack the awning etc in the car. That brings the car weight up and then of course there is the weight of driver and passenger. Does this not assist in the match and should you take that into consideration when towing ?
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I would take it into consideration only in so far as I might have overloaded the car or exceeded the GTW.
"Yes, Officer, I know I'm towing more than my car is legally allowed to but I've increased its weight by adding two German Shepherd Dogs and an awning."
Common sense rules the day.
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It is not a rule only 'guidance' using my handbook and V5C figures, my tow ratio is 88%, the C&MC matching service says 92%. Correctly loaded and with 75kg noseweight it is a very stable tow. You could also add in the towbar, optional steel spare wheel weight, but all that comes within the cars payload according to the handbook.
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The 85% recommendation is of the car's kerb weight. That will not change no matter how much you load into it. All you will succeed in doing is possibly making your car struggle by overloading it and exceeding the car's weight limits.
Your maximum legal towing weight is that stated by the manufacturer.
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Tinwheeler is right. The weight ratio is always a worst case scenario and the actual ratio will invariably be more favourable, but that's beside the point. However, whether the car struggles is more a matter of its performance than its weight,
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To Tinwheeler and Lutz, bearing in mind the car I am looking at is designed to carry three adults in the rear , lets say for argument sake 10 stone each, combined weight of 30 stones. I never tow with rear passengers so that would be a lot of equipment across the rear seat area which has to be within the cars weight limits. So surely can effect the 85% recommendation in a positive way.
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Ray, the weights to use in the calculation are the car's kerb weight and axle loads, max van weight, max download weight for the tow bar and coupling and the gross train weight, all as stated in the documentation. These are the figures that will be used if you are stopped for a check. If you exceed these weights you will be committing an offence. These weights also are used to check compliance with the limits of your driving licence.
The kerb weight of your car remains the same no matter how much gear you load in it. It is (almost) the unladen weight of your vehicle which should be compared with the laden weight of your van. That is why Lutz used the words 'worst case scenario'. 85% of your kerb weight (the recommended) will always be 85% of your kerb weight.
Whether or not you believe this is your decision. Feel free to check for yourself.
I'm only an amateur but Lutz is a very knowledgeable person. Ignore him at your peril.
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The calculation takes into account that the tow car is almost always going to be carrying extra weight so you cannot add that into the calculation. If you are experienced at towing 90% is possible but some cars tow better than others so it is difficult to advise not knowing what you intend towing with. The towing limit has nothing to do with safety though. It is the maximum weight it can restart five times on a 12% hill and is basically showing the strength of the drive train.
Cars can possibly tow more that their kerb weight in the right circumstances, for example moving a broken down car in an urban area where speeds are limited. Towing a long high flat sided caravan down a motorway at sixty is entirely different so you have to look at this when looking at towed weights.
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Happy to help.
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