No idea Ranroz, personally think they all should be banned on the roads between 0700 and 2300 hours

Whisper So it was you that I got stuk behind in the Mountains and I did not have the Carravan with me at the time, shame on you.  

Ranroz...  yes we do, but not perhaps as much as in the Netherlands.  I would stop them mainly on weights, checking the train weight from the towing vehicle against the manufacturers plate on the caravan / trailer.  We also have to look at driving licences these days as since 1998, the B+E grouping from a driving licence has been removed, so if your licence was issued before that date you will have what we call 'grandfather rights' and can tow heavier trailers, whereas after that date, you can only tow a 750kg trailer MAX, unless you sit a trailer test.  Also the trailer or caravan should not exceed the weight of the towing vehicle, for obvious reasons.....ie, it doesn't stop !

Nearly forgot (to clarify) , the grandfather rights come from date of test passed, ie first licence issued. Not the date of issue on the one youve currently got. I finally changed from a pink paper licence to photo, issued March 10 and it still has the B&E amongst others on it.

Ive seen that point debated on the caravan forums with exactly that point causing problems

Et tu Bikerider?
Expected more of a fellow northerner................

As soon as I get the photos on the PC you will see what I mean.

Edited by ranroz - 29 July 2010 at 11:37pm

I accept that one.  I did mean a licence FIRST ISSUED before 1998, not renewals etc.

Her are the photo's.

 

 

 

 

Edited by ranroz - 01 August 2010 at 5:08pm

Sorry Tommo not an entirely correct answer, no need to look at my plate off the top of my head:

I do have a large 4x4 and it can tow 3.5 tonnes period. It and its tow bracket have been rated to that, as I stated.

The max GVW is 2750kg which is the kerb plus just 400kg load allowance.

In addition to that it can tow a braked trailer of max laden 3500 and nose weight 100kg

That gives a formidable gross train weight on this occasion which  has to be spread across all axles to keep within their specified limit. But ultimately gives that marvellousy comfortable 3.5tonne towing capacity. Not 3.9t if I dont load the car or 3t if I overload the car, a clear 3.5t.

Thats one reason 4x4s are marvellous caravanning cars. Its nothing to do with machismo or mud.

Think about it as you intimate I'm wrong..........

I drive this vehicle with a GVW of 2.7t. Following your logic if the 3.5t is my GTW that means I am only supposed to tow 0.8t 

I regularly tow a 1.6t caravan. That clearly clocks in at a very sensible % ratio to the car. Crucially the loading is balanced between all 4 axles and their ratings as well as staying easily within both the GTW and the max tow rating.

On smaller cars the same logic applies but proportionally lower of course. a lot of vehicles go the other way with the max tow equal or less to the kerbweight ie the 100% match.

I used to tow with a mondeo and looking at this site http://www.cuddles.abelgratis.net/ford.htm  which backs up my crap memory and shows an old mondeo as the exception with a kerb weight of 1431kg but allowed max tow of 1800kg (granted with a need for axle weight limits to be observed but a well packed caravan would sort that) although earlier older ones came in at 1649kg but were tow rated to only 1285kg which by coincidence happens to be the 85% mark.

When you step back from quoting plated data, start treating axle weights as the second part of the enquiry if required and look at the correctly calculated conclusion of weights it makes sense with a single easily understood figure and its easily checked on various web sites 

Most reputable caravan dealers will not sell you a caravan if it exceeds 100% of the kerbweight or tow rating weight, whichever is lowest, of the vehicle you use to collect it or state youll be towing with.














Edited by LoudLee - 01 August 2010 at 5:35pm

Give in , you know it makes sense