General: V70 Towing Weights

[cralst]

I have a 2001 V70 T5 and I'm thinking of getting a caravan but all the weights are confusing me and everything I look at says something different, I'm looking for a little clarification if anyone can help.
V70 Facts & Figures.
The above link suggests I can tow up to a maximum of 1800 kg but this weight would have to be braked. It also suggests that anything under 500 kg could be unbraked. Not knowing anything about caravans, do caravans over a certain weight have to be braked and if so what weight? None of the adverts I've looked at for caravans mention brakes, does this mean not many caravans have brakes or do people just not mention it? What size of caravan would I get under 500 kg. I realise were talking electronic brakes, how effective are these brakes on a caravan and in reality does braked or unbraked really matter? What weight should I be looking at safely and legally towing?

[richardbell556]

have you towed a caravan before . if not ! you first need to look at you licence .you will need to check it covers you for b+e . this should be shown if you passed your test before 1998 ish

[cralst]

Originally Posted by richardbell556

have you towed a caravan before . if not ! you first need to look at you licence .you will need to check it covers you for b+e . this should be shown if you passed your test before 1998 ish

Thank you for your reply but my licence and driving/reversing of a caravan isn't the problem. I'm a class 1 HGV driver, I drive artics and have C+E licence. I know all about HGV fifth wheel and axle weights but I'm absolutely clueless when it comes to caravans.
The weights suggest different on different websites, I've seen on some it says 1500 kg but the on others 1800 kg. Is this laden weight with stuff in or unladen? Then there's the braking thing, I've seen some websites suggest up to 500 kg unbraked and others say 750 kg. Is it really the case that over a certain weight a caravan would have to have brakes. How effective can electric brakes be, I wouldn't have thought they're going to be as effective or as reliable as air brakes on my artic. Everything I've read is so vague and I was looking for somebody who knows about caravans and has the actual figures and information to add some clarity for me.

[richardbell556]

my v70 was the 2.5d year 2000 tow wight on that was stupid too... rual of thumb don't exceed 3/4 the kerb weight of the (any) car braked or 1/2 unbraked upto a max of 500kg loaded unbraked regardless...
loaded as in caravan/trailer fully loaded...

so in real life you be looking at around 1360/1400kg ish

[richardbell556]

i don't want to tell you to suck eggs but c+e is not a b+e if you get stopped may pay you to check pal....

[richardbell556]

by the way went to volvo dealers for my kerb weight ans : no data as all cars same model are fitted with more or less add on s, so got the ans at public weight bridge unladen near empty tank driver only (dry)

hope ive been a help. also fit a snake devise of some type. tow mirrors help too.

gaffer tape for the wife and kids .....lol...

[richardbell556]

could be 750kg unbraked not 100% ... any how a caravan will be over this unless you tow a shoe box..

[richardbell556]

http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/media/1...-questions.pdf

[tphilly]

Originally Posted by richardbell556

i don't want to tell you to suck eggs but c+e is not a b+e if you get stopped may pay you to check pal....

My brother passed his c+e recently. He was given the b+e automatically with his new licence.

[Brendan W]

On top of the n/s front turret there should be a weight plate with max vehicle weight, max axle weights and gross train weight ( incl trailer) GVTW iirc
The 1485kg in your link I would take with a grain of salt. Maybe your mot test has records of test weights.
Afaik 750kg is the max unbraked trailer allowed by law but there is a restriction to 500kg on the link and a max braked trailer weight of 1800kg. However the overriding consideration is the gross train weight on the plate.
For example my car tests at 1700kg depending on fuel load etc and the max car weight on the plate is 2160kg. The second number is the gross train weight 3960kg followed by the front and rear axle limits 1080kg and 1130kg.
Mine is a diesel so I would expect yours to weigh less but probably have the same max limits.
Hope this makes sense.