Volvo Community Forum. The Forums of the Volvo Owners Club

Forum Rules Volvo Owners Club About VOC Volvo Gallery Links Volvo History Volvo Press
Go Back   Volvo Owners Club Forum > "Technical Topics" > Towing and Caravan Topics

Notices

Towing and Caravan Topics A forum for all towing/caravanning related topics

Information
  • VOC Members: There is no login facility using your VOC membership number or the details from page 3 of the club magazine. You need to register in the normal way
  • AOL Customers: Make sure you check the 'Remember me' check box otherwise the AOL system may log you out during the session. This is a known issue with AOL.
  • AOL, Yahoo and Plus.net users. Forum owners such as us are finding that AOL, Yahoo and Plus.net are blocking a lot of email generated from forums. This may mean your registration activation and other emails will not get to you, or they may appear in your spam mailbox

Thread Informations

V60 D5 auto - sensible weight for caravan

Views : 1315

Replies : 10

Users Viewing This Thread :  

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old Aug 9th, 2017, 21:52   #1
Friendly
Junior Member
 

Last Online: Oct 20th, 2023 20:46
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Halifax
Default V60 D5 auto - sensible weight for caravan

Hello
I am looking to buy a caravan sometime in the next few months and have been looking at what layout would be best for me, the wife and the baby. We think a 5 berth traditional layout would work well, with living areas at both ends that get made up in to beds.

Looking at various manufacturers it would seem that the maximum weights range from about 1300 -1600kg.

I know that the tow limit for the car is 1800kg and the max tow ball wight limit is 90kg.

Does anyone have any experience of towing a caravan with a V60 that can offer any advice about what weight of caravan would be sensible. I'm sure there is plenty of power so it's more the stability, and stopping that I am concerned about.

I have looked on the tow match websites and a caravan of about 1400kg would be under the recommended 85% but thought it was still worth asking on here.
Friendly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Aug 10th, 2017, 07:43   #2
pagan8c
Master Member
 

Last Online: Jun 23rd, 2023 00:53
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: lincoln
Default

I did have a D5 S60 with the 215 engine and towed a 1500kgs van with no difficulty. It was a good stable tow car. It was also geartronic 6 speed box which certainly makes for relaxed towing. I would guess that the V60 would make a very good car to tow your van.
pagan8c is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Aug 18th, 2017, 11:46   #3
swedishandgerman
Premier Member
 
swedishandgerman's Avatar
 

Last Online: Oct 23rd, 2023 22:39
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: EXETER
Default

If the Volvo has a maximum permissible towing limit of 1,800kg, then that's the limit of the weight of the caravan plus everything you put in it or on it (gas tanks, mover, battery, water cans , luggage, bikes etc).

As such, any caravan with an MTPLM of 1,800kg (the maximum weight the caravan can be loaded as specified by the manufacturer) is good to go. That's providing you don't overload it! However, you could choose a caravan that weighs 1,800kg with a MTPLM of 2,000kg and tow it with nothing in it and it would be OK, though I don't recommend it.

The maximum loaded weight of the caravan is the key in choosing your caravan, not the unladen weight of the caravan (kerb weight). The MIRO (mass in running order) is what the thing weighs unloaded. So don't choose your caravan based on what it weighs with nothing in it!

I don't agree with the 85% recommendation as it is based on the loaded weight of the car and the kerb weight of the car, both unloaded. NB: Not 85% of the maximum permissible towing limit of the car that I think you have understood. My advice is to go for the actual figures available from the sticker on your car and caravan manufacturer. The 85% recommendation is too arbitrary for my liking.

To be certain of the correct maximum towing limit of your Volvo, you have to look at the sticker:



Here you have the weight you can load the car up to (2,220kg) and the maximum gross train weight (4,020kg). Subtract one from the other gives me 1,800kg.

My caravan is a total pain because the sticker doesn't show the MIRO, so I've had to get it weighed so that I can work out how much stuff I can put in it (user payload) and not to exceed the MTPLN of 1,000kg.

__________________
2006 XC70 D5 Manual
1968 Amazon Estate, B18A + Overdrive
2019 V60 D3 Momentum Pro Manual
1970 Amazon 2-Door
1970 142DL

Last edited by swedishandgerman; Aug 18th, 2017 at 14:37.
swedishandgerman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Aug 18th, 2017, 23:26   #4
Friendly
Junior Member
 

Last Online: Oct 20th, 2023 20:46
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Halifax
Default

Thanks for the reply.

I did understand that the 85% recommendation is calculated using the car kerb weight and maximum caravan weight.

Just looking for caravans now. I don't really want one until early next year but might as well keep looking at what is available.
Friendly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Aug 20th, 2017, 18:52   #5
Ern
Junior Member
 

Last Online: Dec 17th, 2019 18:11
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Caldicot
Default

Legally, you must not tow a caravan with a plated MTPLM exceeding the plated towing limit of the car. The towing limit of the car is shown on the plate on the B post. Deduct the Highest number from the second highest number and it will probably be 1800Kg in your case. These are the figures which would be used in law, or by the authorities carrying out a spot check.
Additionally you should ensure that the maximum plated train weight of your outfit (Caravan plated MTPLM + Car plated Gross weight limit) is within your driving licence group. You need B+E to exceed 3500Kg plated train weight. Your V60 will have a plated Gross weight of about 2200Kg which limits your caravan to 1300Kg MTPLM if your deriving licence is Group B only.
Your car insurance requires that you only drive vehicles within your licence groups, so this can be a further issue.

Last edited by Ern; Aug 20th, 2017 at 18:56.
Ern is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Aug 20th, 2017, 20:30   #6
mike95
Senior Member
 
mike95's Avatar
 

Last Online: Jun 6th, 2023 21:07
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Northamptonshire
Default

I towed a 1500kg van all over Europe with my V60 and it was easy. Very stable & power to spare.

Overall a great tow car.
__________________
MY18 XC60 D4 Inscription Pro Polestar
mike95 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Aug 21st, 2017, 00:29   #7
Tannaton
Bungling Amateur
 
Tannaton's Avatar
 

Last Online: Today 11:17
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Beverley, East Yorks
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ern View Post
Legally, you must not tow a caravan with a plated MTPLM exceeding the plated towing limit of the car. The towing limit of the car is shown on the plate on the B post. Deduct the Highest number from the second highest number and it will probably be 1800Kg in your case. These are the figures which would be used in law, or by the authorities carrying out a spot check.
Not quite correct - it's the actual weight of the caravan (or any type of trailer) that counts when it comes to assessing vehicle towing capacity. The MTPLM is the heaviest weight a caravan can be (fully loaded) - it's a technical limit. If a the Police or DVSA intend to prosecute or issue a Fixed Penalty Notice for towing excess weight - they first have to establish factually what that weight is - either the car, caravan or combination.

This is general legislation pertaining to towing, it's not specific for caravans, many HGV trailers have maximum technical weights substantially above that of the towing unit.

The DVSA do tend to deduct the maximum gross weight of the car (not always stamped but same as both axle weights added) from the Maximum Authorised Mass to arrive that the maximum towing weight by the roadside but this isn't always correct, to take proceedings they would need to check the manufacturer specified towing capacity (the calculation does work for most modern Volvo though).
__________________
2011 XC90 D5 Executive
2003 C70 T5 GT
2012 Ford Ranger XL SC
1977 Triumph Spitfire 1500
1976 Massey Ferguson 135

Last edited by Tannaton; Aug 21st, 2017 at 00:47.
Tannaton is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Tannaton For This Useful Post:
Old Aug 21st, 2017, 09:37   #8
swedishandgerman
Premier Member
 
swedishandgerman's Avatar
 

Last Online: Oct 23rd, 2023 22:39
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: EXETER
Default

Thanks for the clarification there. Are you saying that the DVSA can't take any actions if you have exceeded your MTPLM? In other words, it's just exceeding what your manufacturer recommends you not to exceed?!

I am confused over how they work out the MTPLM as I have imported an Eriba from France which has a significantly lower MTPLM to English ones. I've tried really hard to find out what the differences are to see if it's an easy modification, but I can't see a single difference. I think it's to do with you being able to go faster on the Autoroutes if your gross max train weight is under 3.5t.
__________________
2006 XC70 D5 Manual
1968 Amazon Estate, B18A + Overdrive
2019 V60 D3 Momentum Pro Manual
1970 Amazon 2-Door
1970 142DL

Last edited by swedishandgerman; Aug 21st, 2017 at 09:49.
swedishandgerman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Aug 21st, 2017, 10:55   #9
Friendly
Junior Member
 

Last Online: Oct 20th, 2023 20:46
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Halifax
Default

Thanks for the replies.

It sounds like a caravan with a maximum weight of 1500kg will be fine.

I have got my B+E test booked for September.
Friendly is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Friendly For This Useful Post:
Old Aug 21st, 2017, 13:15   #10
Tannaton
Bungling Amateur
 
Tannaton's Avatar
 

Last Online: Today 11:17
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Beverley, East Yorks
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by swedishandgerman View Post
Thanks for the clarification there. Are you saying that the DVSA can't take any actions if you have exceeded your MTPLM? In other words, it's just exceeding what your manufacturer recommends you not to exceed?!

I am confused over how they work out the MTPLM as I have imported an Eriba from France which has a significantly lower MTPLM to English ones. I've tried really hard to find out what the differences are to see if it's an easy modification, but I can't see a single difference. I think it's to do with you being able to go faster on the Autoroutes if your gross max train weight is under 3.5t.
Yes they can - if your gross caravan weight (itself + loading) exceeds what the manufacturer specified as a maximum then that is an offence - even if it is within the towing capacity of the car. If caught, pepending on the % of overloading, you will likely receive a non-endorseable fixed penalty notice (£60 rising to £200) but if it is considered dangerous you may be issued with a prohibition notice an reported for prosecution.

Also - any trailer (incl Caravan) manufactured 1983 or after is legally required to be plated with its maximum gross weight and individual axle weights if more than one axle - so the MTPLM should be easy to establish.

With regard to your imported caravan, that's a tricky one, suggest you go through the manufacturer to see if they will provide you with a replacement UK spec plate assuming there are no differences?
__________________
2011 XC90 D5 Executive
2003 C70 T5 GT
2012 Ford Ranger XL SC
1977 Triumph Spitfire 1500
1976 Massey Ferguson 135

Last edited by Tannaton; Aug 21st, 2017 at 13:18.
Tannaton is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 17:01.


Powered by vBulletin
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.