MAM experts - What can i tow?

muddyl

Following on from another thread https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/61101775#Comment_61101775 where i am looking at getting a first caravan, im looking for help understanding the MAM weights.

My wife can tow more than me as her licence was obtained before the licencing laws were changed however i am restricted to the 3500kg limit.

I have looked at the likes of the caravan club site, which has lots of info, but i cant quite get my head around the weight limits. It may be easier if i knew what caravan i wanted but im trying to work out what i would be able to get.

I have two cars, a Citroen C8 with the following:
Weight 1710 kg
Kerb Weight 1760 kg
Unbraked towing weight 650 kg
Braked towing weight 1850 kg


And a Primera with the following:
Weight 1436 kg
Kerb weight 1574 kg
Unbraked Towing Weight 725 kg
Braked Towing Weight 1500 kg

Im not sure if these are all of the figures i need (dont know how to find out the max nose weight if its needed), but if anyone can please help me understand them and give me an idea what the max is i could tow (and my wife with the higher limits if its not too much trouble), i would be very grateful indeed.

Many thanks, your helping my planning continue!

diesel_dog

This should help a bit ....

http://caravanningnow.co.uk/caravanning/faqweight.htm

Hintza

muddyl wrote: »

I am restricted to the 3500kg limit.

Are you sure about this? I'm not sure about the limit since it doesn't affect me but I suspect it is a lot less.

Time to take the test and don't be to blase about it, someone whom I rated quite highly failed it for being too cocky.

muddyl

Hintza wrote: »

Are you sure about this? I'm not sure about the limit since it doesn't affect me but I suspect it is a lot less.

Time to take the test and don't be to blase about it, someone whom I rated quite highly failed it for being too cocky.

Well im still looking into it. I know there are vehicle limits (which are lower) but i beleive the main restriction is the Total Train Weight which is 3500kg i beleive. I could be wrong, which is exactly why i am asking, id like my facts to be correct before taking to the road.

At some point i will take the test, but as im doing this on a budget ill avoid the £300 - £500 cost of a course if i can.
I have towed before, both small trailers and larger car transporter trailer. Both on the road and on site when towing with a forklift.
I dont intend to be blase about it, im arranging the lending of a trailer to practice the reversing and manouvering with as, being on a budget, i dont want the extra cost of a re-test.

forgotmyname

Muddy you missed the important number. What are the cars gross laden weight?

Post 1997,
Cars gross weight + caravan or trailers gross weight must be less than 3500kg.

Caravan / Trailer's gross weight must also be less than the cars unladen weight.

So although the C8 can tow more. It may actually mean a lighter caravan for you to tow it legally.

muddyl

Thanks, forgotmyname.
I suppose I would just have to estimate the gross laden weight for now to get a rough idea.
I'll come up with a number tomorrow, way too tired right now.

marlot

The flowchart on this page is the best explanation I've seen.

http://www.iwt.co.uk/customer-care/faq-categories/towing-laws/trailer-towing-test

Note that for a post-97 licence holder (ie. who just has B rather than B+E) then the maximum plated weights for both the caravan and the car are used for the basis.

When you run the figures you'll find you're allowed to tow a heavier caravan with the Primera, despite it being safer to tow with the heavier car.

As long as your wife is with you you can tow something larger, but you'll have to use L plates. I believe you can even tow on the motorway with L plates but you'd have to check this with DVLA or VOSA.

marlot

Stooby2 wrote: »

...

a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as it is no more than the unladen or ‘kerb’ weight of the towing vehicle (with a combined weight of up to 3,500kg in total)

So if you're driving the C8 you can tow a 1740kg (MAM) van ...

I do not believe this is right. If the citroen has a kerb weight of 1760Kg, then its MAM will be around 2500Kg, so putting the outfit over 3500Kg.

Even if the car and caravan are lightly loaded you can't get around the rules - its the plated weights which matter.

marlot

muddyl wrote: »

Thanks, forgotmyname.
I suppose I would just have to estimate the gross laden weight for now to get a rough idea.
I'll come up with a number tomorrow, way too tired right now.

No, its not the actual car weight that matters. It is the maximum plated weight. This is normally on a plate on the car and on the V5.

marlot

muddyl wrote: »

I have two cars, a Citroen C8 with the following:
Weight 1710 kg
Kerb Weight 1760 kg
Unbraked towing weight 650 kg
Braked towing weight 1850 kg


And a Primera with the following:
Weight 1436 kg
Kerb weight 1574 kg
Unbraked Towing Weight 725 kg
Braked Towing Weight 1500 kg

According to the caravan club matching service:

Citroen C8 2.0 HDi 16v LX (non-FAP) (2004) Gross vehicle weight 2505.00kg. You could legally tow a caravan with a Maximum plated weight of 994Kg with this car. Even if you only loaded the car to 2300Kg you cannot tow a heavier caravan.

I couldn't find a Primera on there which matched the kerb weight you gave - if you give me the precise details I'll run it through for you. But you would find it could legally tow a slightly heavier caravan.

Sorry for posting four times - but the rules for this are rather complicated and it is very easy to get caught out.

Rolandtheroadie

Stooby2 wrote: »

Additionally the Caravan Club recommend a caravan weight of no more that 80% of the cars kerb weight for safety and stability.

Thinking the CC recommend a maximum of 85%?