Volkswagen Passat 2.0 tdi 2012

Boonster
Boonster Forum Participant Posts: 5
edited October 2018 in Towcars & Towing #1

Hi all. i have just bought a Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI estate 2012 and would like to know what weight caravan i can tow, i have looked on various web sites but have found them to be a little confusing. I think I need to know what weight caravan I should buy and what the weight for towing should be. Any help with this matter would be much appreciated.

Many thanks Dennis

Comments

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2018 #2

    Sorry you have not had a reply yet.  However, if you go onto 'Advice and Training' link above you will find a link to the matching service.  With the info you have given it looks as though your car's kerb weight is 1571 kgs.  The guide is to keep the caravan MPTL (ie the max weight as shown on the plate) to  within 80% of this, so you should be looking for a caravan weighing in the region of 1256 kgs.  The max nose weight on the car hitch looks like 90 kgs - just bear that in mind.

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited October 2018 #3

    Sorry to correct you comeyras, the recommended match is 85% of the vehicles kerb weight but can go to 100% if experienced at towing. Also your license comes into play. If you passed your test after 1997 you are restricted to a total mass of no more than 3500kg ( car and caravan weight added together) unless of coarse you have passed a towing test. you need to look at the V5C and check the cars merbweight or mass in running weight, then work out your 85% match. you don't tell us which variant of passat you have.

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2018 #4

    Sorry, yes typo it should of course have been 85%, my sum was done using 85%sealed.

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2018 #5

    Should stop digging a hole! My calc was on 80%; the 85% sum gives a caravan weight of 1335 kgs.  Back to schoolsealed

  • flatcoat
    flatcoat Forum Participant Posts: 1,571
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    edited October 2018 #6

    The club matching service is often inaccurate so do not waste your time with it. You should either check your V5C for the weight or better still take it to a weighbridge. Remember the 85% is a guide and does not have any legal jurisdiction however if you are a novice to towing a 'van I personally would not go beyond 100%. There is more to a safe and balanced outfit than weight ratio alone. Nose weight, tyre pressures, load distribution and so on also come into play. 

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited October 2018 #7