Advice on towing a caravan

Advice on tow vehicle weights, the law, the 85% guideline and a way to incorporate it into the real world. Also some practical maintenance and loading advice to stay safe while towing.

[@stevehammond4553]

I have been towing for years but still learned a lot from this, many thanks Darren/Atlantic caravans. (off to the weighbridge now)

[@neilwhitehead166]

Executed perfectly! Very informative and lots to consider.

[@brettcrook2417]

Very helpful advice, (I need to find my nearest weighbridge), thanks again

[@alancraigie7951]

Great video. 👍

[@waynerook239]

Great advice

[@wolf_kiff_workshop]

Great video for a newbie like me. I did my B+E license so the towing is OK but I had no idea how to use my nose weight gauge or about the 85% rule. Cheers 👍🏻

[@scotiajinker8392]

I was 80kg over limit, the amount of crap in the van was ridiculous. I now put the awning,food etc in the car.

[@darrenbull345654]

Scotia Jinker yeah, it just keeps adding up and people don’t realize what they have on board.

[@rich7447]

You should see how much crap you end up with when you have more than of 4,000 kg payload capacity (Class A diesel). We have a half width compartment full of firewood and that is just the beginning (Plus a Toyota Highlander and more stuff in a 20' enclosed trailer towed behind). Also, aren't the awnings attached to the RV?

[@irenarobh6058]

hi...hope you can help.....i have a freelander1 2005 in good order..i have just bought a 1995 swift challenger 470se that also in good order...freelander permissible mass (2040)mass in service (1520) braked 2000 unbraked 750...am i ok to tow this caravan as im not sure....keep up your good advice...great vid...👍

[@darrenbull345654]

Hi, no problem at all, just checked it and it’s fine, the 470 would only be around the 1300/1400 mark I would have thought, so there is plenty of gap between the two.

[@irenarobh6058]

@@darrenbull345654 thank you for your advice..😃

[@darrennjones]

mine empty was 1190 which was 15 kg above the laden weight given by the manufacturer. Very odd

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

That's interesting, I hadn't even thought of that..

[@rich7447]

That really is odd. Is the chassis manufactured by the same company as the trailer? Some companies buy the chassis (which comes with a weight rating) and then build the RV on top of that chassis. If they go a little overboard you could end up overweight before you even start. I have a coach that is built on a bus chassis so the rating (45,000 lbs loaded + 10,000 lbs towing) is based on the chassis itself. This gives the coach manufacturer a weight range for the build and the more they use the less payload you have. Stated empty weight (including fuel and water for some reason) of the completed coach is 36,000 lbs, but it comes out at 37,200 lbs at the scales. I'm guessing they base the weight off of the average weight for the build materials, but I don't know if this is really the case.

[@roadwarrior8560]

I'm confused, I have a 2.0 4wd diesel Hyundai Sante fe, what weight can I legally tow? think the vehicle weighs 1996 kg kerb weight.

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

Hi, check out my other video on what tow car. Com. Follow those instructions and it will give you a definitive answer, or reply with year, fuel type, manual or auto and I can have a look for you.

[@rich7447]

I can't believe that anyone would tow 1,500 kg with a 2L. My wife has a 3.5L that is only rated to tow 3,500 lbs. Also, nose/tongue weight is dependent on trailer weight and should be between 10 and 15% of the loaded trailer weight. A nose weight of 75 kg only works for trailers weighing between 500 and 750 kg. A 3,500 kg trailer should have a tongue weight above 350 kg.

[@bradbennett3778]

2 ltr diesel suv will and can tow easily 2500!!!!my disco shits it in...no worries..and legal

[@rich7447]

@@bradbennett3778 Tow ratings in Europe and Australia appear to be greatly exaggerated vs North America. I don't know if this is because the EU and Australia limit standard licenses to lower weight and require trailer brakes on almost every trailer or if there is something else that drives this. Usually engine power is not the determining factor in how much a particular vehicle can tow. We don't have 2L diesel SUVs in North America, but as an example, we own a 4.6L Lexus GX 460 that weighs around 5,200lbs and is rated to tow 3,000kg (barely more than your 2L diesel SUVs). My 8,000lb diesel pickup (6.7L L6 Cummins ISB) is only rated to tow about 6,500 kg and my 46,000 lb coach (11L L6 Cummins M11) is limited to 4,500 kg. I have towed a 10,000 lb trailer through Vail Pass with both my truck and the coach and I wouldn't want to go much higher in trailer weight on either (downhill is worse even with a Jake Brake). Either of these diesels would drag both your Discovery and a 2L suv around the block without a second thought.

[@martingilligan]

Talk about confusing people further..

[@darrenbull345654]

Hi Martin, it is a tricky subject, which bit did you struggle with?

[@m99343]

The 85% ‘guide’ is not a rule and dates back from the 1980s before Trailer stability systems on both the car and the caravan. It’s ridiculous to be still selling this as a ‘rule’. Perhaps for someone new to towing but not after that, Caravan weight must be less than the permissible towing weight of the car. Car can tow 2 tonnes, caravan to be less than 2 tonnes. (Law) Caravan weight must be less than the weight of the car. Not having the tail wagging the dog. Videos which preach these outdated bits of guidance need to be watched with a huge degree of caution.