Car towing capability

I'm sure others will be able to baffle you with various numbers, but I believe you've been mislead. Lutz will tell you there's no such thing as 'kerb weight' but as your caravan is potentially somewhat heavier than the lightest your car will be, then you'll be towing way over 100%

Your Jaaag is ally so is relatively light

Legally, it seems OK.

However, the recommendation for safety is that the MTPLM of the van should be in the region of 85% of the kerb weight of the car. It's not law and many people successfully tow at 90-ish%. Your ratio is 110%.

It’s your call but consider the effect of the heavy van when you brake going downhill. It’s the cause of many a roll over. It’s not so much the pulling performance but the stopping ability that needs to be considered.

It never pays to take the word of a car or van salesman regarding a towing match. Their interest is in selling.

Mike

Go to top of the page and look in Advice & Training > Match your car and caravan or give them a ring

There most definitely is such a thing as kerbweight. It's even defined in UK legislation. The problem begins when you try to find out what the kerbweight of your car actually is. It is specific to each and every vehicle and can vary by as much as about 150kg even for the same model, so any brochure, handbook, database, etc. can only be a rough guide. Moreover, manufacturers aren't obliged to provide the figure anyway. The mass in service figure in your V5c isn't much help either, because, a) mass in service is defined differently to kerbweight and b) it is unlikely to represent the actual figure for your car because, by definition it applies to a car with the bare minimum of factory fitted options. On top of that, published weights are often referred to as being 'kerbweight' whereas on closer scrutiny, they aren't according to the legal definition at all. Often, the mass in service figure is referred to as 'kerbweight' - which is OK for a rough guide, and it would most certainly result in a very conservative figure if you want to calculate the weight ratio, but not if you want something accurate.

The trailer has brakes that should be perfectly capable of stopping it of its own accord without much assistance from the towcar other than to actuate the overrun.

In case the 100% limit is a condition of the insurance, I wonder how they can enforce it considering kerbweight is not documented anywhere. How would they prove that the outfit is over 100% (unless it's blatantly obvious, of course)?

Lutz, I have wondered the same myself however a number of forum members have referred to such conditions in their insurance when similar discussions have previously taken place. I personally choose not to go above 100% and currently tow at 94% (previous out fit was 97%) but given what I see abroad (and sometimes in the UK) and As we have agreed before, the weight ratio is but one of many factors to consider with towing safely.

Would be nice if Manjvan18 came back to us after all the answers he/she has been given so we know what he's decided.

That ratio is too high even for me just under 100%.

Over that my caravan insurance is void, not sure how or if it would affect my car insurance.

I don't know what the basis is for your statement, but on the Continent there is no such recommendation. Many tow their caravan at the car's towing limit even if this is over 100% and yet I have not noticed more caravans littering the road on the other side of the Channel than in the UK.

As Tony says, Jag website states from 1591kg. As there are several power variants with either maual or auto boxes at presumably differing weights, until the original poster clarifies which model they have its a little pointless speculating further unfortunately.

Regardless of legal or quasi legal definitions, opinion or pure stubbornness there can surely be no justification for towing a trailer with a greater weight than the towing vehicle. Which is more likely to take over if a towing incident occurs (tail wagging dog?).

Don't expect 'in my humble opinion' to carry any weight when your insurance company is looking for a get-out.

So if determined to do it your way make sure there are no clauses in your policy to give them cause. Similarly 'how can they prove it' is dodgy ground. If it's serious enough accident investigators are a lot cuter than most of us in determining cause.

Finally, whilst insurance policies have been mentioned has anyone looked at the Green Flag small print? I quote :-

Caravan and Trailer Cover What’s covered: Your caravan or trailer will have the same cover as the Insured Vehicle when being towed by the Insured Vehicle provided: • The weight of the caravan or trailer when loaded is not more than the kerb weight of the Insured Vehicle.

Food for thought?

Are you for real? Everything you say flies in the face of logic and recommendations from the club you belong to.

Your comments should come with a health warning.

Incidentally, contrary to your earlier post, kerbweight is not defined in U.K. legislation. There are two definitions which give slightly different values, but use the highest and you're on safe ground.

1) the weight of the vehicle as manufactured, inclusive of liquids, coolant, lubricating oil etc. 

2) the weight of the vehicle as manufactured, inclusive of liquids, coolant, lubricating oil etc. plus a tank of fuel.

In both cases passengers, personal effects and other items are excluded.