how heavy is my car

aah

Hello folks

I want to find out if my dear old car will pull a horse trailer and I believe it is all dependent on weight:

weight of laden car
weight of laden horsebox.

I wonder if anyone could tell me how I can find out
a) what my car weighs - is there a website to ask?
b) the formula for finding out whats legal for towing

I'd be happy to do the calculations myself but I'd be delighted if anyone can help. Many thanks

a.

Rolandtheroadie

http://www.cuddles.abelgratis.net/kerbweights.htm try here for starters

gilbert_and_sullivan

Your cars handbook should state maximum towing weights which you should not exceed, if it doesn't then a competent main dealer should be able to tell you.

I seem to recall that the caravan club recommends a maximum trailer weight of something like 85% of the towing vehicles weight regardless of whats allowed, this would be quite silly when a Landcruiser weighing 2 to 2.5 tons can legally and safely pull 3.5 tons, but makes sense for most caravans (which are nowhere near as stable as a horse trailer...no pun intended)

BillTrac

Sometimes there is a plate attached to the bodywork. Usually inside the drivers door.

Should give you the details

Gloomendoom

Have a look at this web page Linky

There is a bit more to it than at first meets the eye. If you passed your test after 1996, things get even more complicated.

Hintza

My car (Jeep Cherokee) has a braked towing capacity of 3.5 tonnes.

A Freelander is 2.0 tonnes and then you go down from there. An Ifor Williams trailer will weigh 1.0 tonnes on it's own. So if you tow two large horses you will need a car that tows more than 2.0 tonnes.

If you have tow ponies then you might scape by with something like a freelander.

A bit more info would help.

forgotmyname

Log books now state cars maximum towing limit.

Why do people ask these questions and not tell anyone what the car is?


My guess its a 1200cc fiesta.

Also depends on when you passed your driving test. Laden weight of the car may actually decrease
your towing capacity.

Hammyman

Hintza wrote: »

My car (Jeep Cherokee) has a braked towing capacity of 3.5 tonnes.

A Freelander is 2.0 tonnes and then you go down from there. An Ifor Williams trailer will weigh 1.0 tonnes on it's own. So if you tow two large horses you will need a car that tows more than 2.0 tonnes.

If you have tow ponies then you might scape by with something like a freelander.

A bit more info would help.

If you passed your test after 1/1/1997 you wouldn't with a trailer > 750kg incl load.

maxheadroom

Remember that its the plated weight of the trailer is what counts, i.e. what its theoretical maximum weight it could be and not trailer unladen weigh plus load it is actually carrying,

Most horse boxes are plated at around the 2 tonne mark (you need to look for the plate on the horse box - if its too old to have a plate then its more complicated ) so effectively ruling out being towed by anything other than a large 4x4. If however you passed test after the 1/1/97 (as i did) then this is out of the question as youwill be above the GTW of 4.25 tonnes permitted on a normal car licence anf you will have to do a test.

You can get horse trailers that are light enought which you can match to a car tow on a normal car licence but requires forward planning to buy the right car an trailer combo (second hand these trailers command a premium for obvious reasons. I am currently having to weigh up wether to do the trailer test or a C1 to drive a 7.5 tonne box

Nice summary pdf here

http://www.iwt.co.uk/customer-care/faq-categories/1358/1761

tomstickland

Just google the car model and "specifications" or look on Pakers.