Numpty towing weights question

Luci07

Luci07

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As I am currently saving upto replace my Jeep. I want to buy a younger LWB version of the same car as I have now.

So I do fully understand the recommended maximum towing capacity of 85% of the cars overall capacity. This time around.. I currently have a 3.7l, was looking at going for a 4L with the LPG conversion BUT.. if I looked at a dieselt at 2.8 - are the max weights different as its a diesel? As someone asked me as obviously on a lorry, a diesel engine will pull a lot more.

I do not, under any circumstance wish to load my car anywhere near the limit. I have a bateson (deaville) and a 17 hand ISH who definately weighs more than my 16.2! and as he is muscling up, seems to be expanding somewhat.

I did have a quick flick on the net but thought I would ask here first before wasting any more time..
 
I have the Grand Cherokee Jeep, 2.8 D mercedes engine. It is capable of towing a 3.5 braked trailer. Don't waste money getting the huge petrol engine, it's not worth it.
 
Hi There
Limits are not set by engine capacity at all, it makes no difference. it's only about 'weight' now. What ever you tow behind your vehicle must not exceed 85% of the gross weight of the vehicle you are towing with. i.e. car weighs 2000KG - trailer and horse must not exceed 85% of 2000KG = 1700KG
Hope that makes sense! lol
 
BigRed said:
I have the Grand Cherokee Jeep, 2.8 D mercedes engine. It is capable of towing a 3.5 braked trailer. Don't waste money getting the huge petrol engine, it's not worth it.
Click to expand...


They are actually the same money (I am looking at second hand, not new!) - I didn't want a "straight" petrol but one that had the LPG conversion but would it still be better to get the diesel? tax is lower on the LPG - no idea on how it works out on petrol..
 
ScratchyMooMoo said:
Hi There
Limits are not set by engine capacity at all, it makes no difference. it's only about 'weight' now. What ever you tow behind your vehicle must not exceed 85% of the gross weight of the vehicle you are towing with. i.e. car weighs 2000KG - trailer and horse must not exceed 85% of 2000KG = 1700KG
Hope that makes sense! lol
Click to expand...
No another load of misinfomation !!!! the manufacture sets tha maximum tow capacity so this is what you use.. obviouly its best to have a little in reserve but if the capacity is 2000 kg that what you can tow 85% is something the beardy types at the caravan club came up with as advise for the average caravan towing moron to discorage them from towing huge boxes of air with tiny cars!!! nothing to do with the law .....
 
perfect11s said:
No another load of misinfomation !!!! the manufacture sets tha maximum tow capacity so this is what you use.. obviouly its best to have a little in reserve but if the capacity is 2000 kg that what you can tow 85% is something the beardy types at the caravan club came up with as advise for the average caravan towing moron to discorage them from towing huge boxes of air with tiny cars!!! nothing to do with the law .....
Click to expand...

No it is the law! it is to stop people towing heavy loads greater than the vehicle they are towing with. The law changed sometime back for safety reasons. I looked in to it because I wanted to try and buy a smaller towing vehicle, (freelander) which would only 'just' legally tow an info willliams 505 and a 'small' horse. Although it's towing 'capacity' was greater than this!

There is a really good website about towing horses. I looked in to it when I was searching for a suitable car.

www.towinghorsetrailers.co.uk/towing_vehicles.htm


Towing Vehicles

It’s essential - for the safety of you, your horses and other road users – that your towing vehicle is suitable for pulling the weight of your fully laden horse trailer.


To ensure that trailers aren’t pulled by underweight vehicles, there is a law in place – as a guide, the weight of the trailer plus any load that it is carrying, (the laden weight), should not exceed 85% of the unladen weight of the car; however, some vehicles differ as they’re designed for towing. The tool below provides another way for you to find out what vehicles are suited to towing your horse and trailer combination is safe – and legal – to drive, based on the manufacturers’ official towing weights.
 
ScratchyMooMoo said:
No it is the law! it is to stop people towing heavy loads greater than the vehicle they are towing with. The law changed sometime back for safety reasons. I looked in to it because I wanted to try and buy a smaller towing vehicle, (freelander) which would only 'just' legally tow an info willliams 505 and a 'small' horse. Although it's towing 'capacity' was greater than this!

There is a really good website about towing horses. I looked in to it when I was searching for a suitable car.

www.towinghorsetrailers.co.uk/towing_vehicles.htm


Towing Vehicles

It’s essential - for the safety of you, your horses and other road users – that your towing vehicle is suitable for pulling the weight of your fully laden horse trailer.


To ensure that trailers aren’t pulled by underweight vehicles, there is a law in place – as a guide, the weight of the trailer plus any load that it is carrying, (the laden weight), should not exceed 85% of the unladen weight of the car; however, some vehicles differ as they’re designed for towing. The tool below provides another way for you to find out what vehicles are suited to towing your horse and trailer combination is safe – and legal – to drive, based on the manufacturers’ official towing weights.
Click to expand...
Realy badly worded so I can see why you are confused about the law.... I stand by what Ive said it is the manufactues recomended towing weights that is important and would be used by the police, in court and by insurers if somthing went wrong....Oh and if this 85% crap was law you would not be able to tow two large horses with anything but a lorry !!!!for instance a range rover is about 2.5 ton :D
 
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P11s is correct. There are two 85% guides floating about.
The first was issued years ago by the caravan club which advised not to tow above 85% of curb weight of vehicle. This is because caravans are generally single axle, light and have a large side area which makes then very vulnerable to swaying.
The second is fairly recent and advises that you stay within 85% of the towing limit of the car which is different to the kerb weight.
Neither of these are law, just guides. The law simply states that the weight of item being towed must not exceed the manufacturer set towing limit of the vehicle.
 
aHHHH. There is MASSIVE difference between kerb and towing weights. So if I take my 2002 3.7 jeep - the towing weight is 3.3. The kerb is only 1.5...

I did look at the site recommended but it only shows the grand and not the short wheel base. However the diesel (CRD) have a higher kerb and towing weight than the larger petrol engines..
 
I found this website helpful to find out manufacturer towing weights

www.uktow.com

(sorry can't add link off phone!) There's a page where you can check towing spec for just about any car. I also read that the 85% was just a guide not law so I went by the manufacturers recommendations. Good luck! xx
 
Yes but I would try and get something with a little higher towing capacity than you need so there is a little in reserve...
good luck with your search ...
 
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