How do you find out what weight your car can tow?

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LJN

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As titled really, I was wondering where/how you find out how much a car can tow?

Also, (really long shot!) I have a UK car, and live in Spain, does anyone know if I would need to buy a UK trailer to go with my UK car or if I can do a mix and match with UK car + European trailer?!
 
I am sure there is an easier way but one way is to go on Autotrader and find a car for sale that matches yours in year/power then click on the tab that says something like details/stats and its all listed for you

Not sure about the UK trailer thing, I would think as long as you know the weight of the trailer and the electrics 'match' ok then it would be fine to buy a Spanish one but thats only my thoughts
 
Thank you both - I think I must an obscure model of the Ford Focus as no website seems to have any of the towing info for this model, very frustrating! Even the Ford website seems clueless!

When I asked OH where the car manual was, he just blinked at me in a confused sort of way :rolleyes:
 
LJN said:
As titled really, I was wondering where/how you find out how much a car can tow?

Also, (really long shot!) I have a UK car, and live in Spain, does anyone know if I would need to buy a UK trailer to go with my UK car or if I can do a mix and match with UK car + European trailer?!
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Post the exact model year etc of your car and I will try and find out what it can tow

EU trailers are fine as long as they are safe - same as any home made trailer

If the trailer has an EU manufacturers plate on it then that will also be used as the legal weight for the trailer in the UK
The UK is part of the EU so generally all things are equal in regards to driving matters
 
All EU cars have a plate stuck on them somewhere giving these 4 figures in KGs

GVW
GTW
Front axle
Rear axle

Example might be like this ...
2000
3500
1080
1060

In MOST cases the manufacturers will give the max towing capacity as GTW minus GVW so in this example the max towing capacity would be 1500
 
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I have a FOCUS DIESEL ESTATE 1.8 TDCi LX 5dr [Euro 4] 2006

I very much doubt that it will be man enough to pull a trailer, my horse is quite a big 16.2h CDE :confused:

Thank you all again for your help :)
 
LJN said:
I have a FOCUS DIESEL ESTATE 1.8 TDCi LX 5dr [Euro 4] 2006

I very much doubt that it will be man enough to pull a trailer, my horse is quite a big 16.2h CDE :confused:

Thank you all again for your help :)
Click to expand...

Every identical model to yours on the internet has the words - no details available - for kerbweight, GVW and towing capacity but I did find this older model
2000 Ford Focus 1.8 TDI LX 5DR
Max towing capacity 1200

Assuming that the capacity did not get lowered then towing a lightweight single horse trailer with an unladen weight of about 675 or less with a 500 kg horse will just work

I wish you could search the vehicle and find the VIN plate with the weights on it !!
 
Thank you so so much ROG, I will check the car when it returns from it's trip away - so much for doing some sneaky trailer purchasing while OH is away!!

Just for info - what cars do you think are the best for towing?
 
why not sell the car and buy a 3.5 ton horse box ie transit or sim prob solved
insurance is very cheap and with full recovery will not cost more than £300
my 10 ton horse box costs me less than £300 with anthony d evans google them they will qoute you on line or via landline
regards terry
 
I don't think I would get away with selling one of the cars.... Not sure OH would like driving to work in a horsebox!
 
LJN said:
Thank you so so much ROG, I will check the car when it returns from it's trip away - so much for doing some sneaky trailer purchasing while OH is away!!

Just for info - what cars do you think are the best for towing?
Click to expand...

Check the towing weights before you it. Although my Nissan X trail should be able to tow my 15hh cob in a small Ifo Williams, because its automatic, it's too close to the limits for me to be comfortable. A Grand Cherokee Jeep would be my immediate choice, particularly LPG conversions for fuel economy.
 
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