New to towing and need advice

[taz_116]

Hi all,

I have a bit of a dilema. I passed my driving test after Jan 1997 so i am restricted to a total weight of 3,500kgs for both the car and the van.

My van has a MAM of 1415kgs leaving me with 2,085kgs MAM for a vehicle.

Does anyone know a website where i can browse this information to find a vehicle?

I really can't be bothered to have to take a towing test at the moment and i now need to tow my once sited van

Thanks in advance,

Simon

[Paddler Ed]

I think that you'll be wanting at least a 700 or a 900 rather than something like a V40.

I used to tow a MAM 1500kg Canoe trailer, but it was more realistically 750kg with a V40 or a V50

Try www.whattowcar.com, doesn't seem to have many Volvos in though...

[James_N]

I too passed after 97.

I quite happily tow a fully laden caravan (1500kgs roughly) and a fully loaded car + 3 people to france.

Its a bit (OK a lot!) of a grey area. I sometimes wonder if the police know the correct laws and weights on this one.

I wouldnt worry too much, nobody else seems too!

[iand1967]

Originally Posted by James_N

I too passed after 97.

I quite happily tow a fully laden caravan (1500kgs roughly) and a fully loaded car + 3 people to france.

Its a bit (OK a lot!) of a grey area. I sometimes wonder if the police know the correct laws and weights on this one.

I wouldnt worry too much, nobody else seems too!

thats till it all goes wrong then you will be well in the s-it , we had a young lad at work tip a trailer over and it was heavier than he was allowed to tow company got a great big fine boy got lots of points , trailer was not overloaded and no problem that it was overturned just the licence so in reply to the above you are talking bollocks sorry but thats the way it is

[4wheeldriver]

The laws a bit vague on all this to be honest. best place to ask the question is the Caravan Club!! Some vehicles are have lower towing weights than there kerbweights etc. the C70 Volvo being one. Kerbweight is about 1700 kgs but max towing is only 1500kgs yet an S80 with sameish kerbweight can tow 1800kgs. Another valid point to mention in here is the fact that the new photocard licences are only valid for 10 yrs!! So if you passed your test in 1998 then your licence could well be expired and you dont know it. It costs £17.50 for a new one. I just had to get a replacement for a lost licence and they still left it with the 2011 expiry date!!! grr

[cumbrianmale]

Originally Posted by 4wheeldriver

Another valid point to mention in here is the fact that the new photocard licences are only valid for 10 yrs!! So if you passed your test in 1998 then your licence could well be expired and you dont know it. It costs £17.50 for a new one. I just had to get a replacement for a lost licence and they still left it with the 2011 expiry date!!! grr

If you had sent a new photo at the time they would also have renewed it.

[4wheeldriver]

When I phoned to tell them that I needed a replacement they omitted to tell me that part!! But then that would have meant Gordon losing out on 17.50 in 2 years so they probably get told not to tell you that

Oh and dont go ny MAM for a caravan now. It goes by the MTPLM now. They assume that the van will be at its max weight when youre towing!!! Some sites go by the MIRO when telling you whats a match etc. Whattowcar.com being one of them

[pdr944]

Originally Posted by taz_116

Hi all,

I have a bit of a dilema. I passed my driving test after Jan 1997 so i am restricted to a total weight of 3,500kgs for both the car and the van.

My van has a MAM of 1415kgs leaving me with 2,085kgs MAM for a vehicle.

Does anyone know a website where i can browse this information to find a vehicle?

I really can't be bothered to have to take a towing test at the moment and i now need to tow my once sited van

Thanks in advance,

Simon

hello simon,

as regards towing and weights half the people towing caravans dont have a clue what weight they are towing or what weight the car is,just use your common sense.your supposed to use extension mirror,s i dont there a pain in the arse.load your van sensibly and take your time and i,m sure you will be fine.if your going to worry about what might happen and the letter of the law then you might as well sell your van and car and stay indoors forever.

all the best peter.

[Frank]

Originally Posted by pdr944

hello simon,

as regards towing and weights half the people towing caravans dont have a clue what weight they are towing or what weight the car is,just use your common sense.your supposed to use extension mirror,s i dont there a pain in the arse.load your van sensibly and take your time and i,m sure you will be fine.if your going to worry about what might happen and the letter of the law then you might as well sell your van and car and stay indoors forever.

all the best peter.

I think it is the drivers who don't give a toss about towing safely that should sell their cars and stay indoors forever. There are sadly many fools towing badly and we do not need to add to that number.

[JimDay]

Originally Posted by Frank

I think it is the drivers who don't give a toss about towing safely that should sell their cars and stay indoors forever. There are sadly many fools towing badly and we do not need to add to that number.

Originally Posted by pdr944

hello simon,

as regards towing and weights half the people towing caravans dont have a clue what weight they are towing or what weight the car is,just use your common sense.your supposed to use extension mirror,s i dont there a pain in the arse.load your van sensibly and take your time and i,m sure you will be fine.if your going to worry about what might happen and the letter of the law then you might as well sell your van and car and stay indoors forever.

all the best peter.

I'm with Frank on this one, to advise someone to "just use your common sense" regarding towing weights & to state "Your suppose to use towing mirrors I don't there a pain in the ar*e" is in my opinion totally irresposible & gives a new person to caravaning the wrong outlook on thier future as a safe & competant tower. The use of towing mirrors is a legal requirement you need to use at least one fitted to the drivers side of the towing vehicle but 2 are better as regards to towing weights it is becoming more & more a requirement to stay within the recomended towing weights for your tow vehicle & caravan if you tow in the west country you will see they have set up mobile weigh bridges to check caravaners to see if they are complying with the recomended weights etc & people have been prosecuted for being over these limits. So I'm sorry but the days of "yeah that looks okay " have gone & we all need to be more thoughtfull when we load up the Car & Caravan for the holiday season.

OK my Rant is over