Caravan Towing Questions

[weeginger73]

Hi, we have a 4wd Diesel 1997 and we're thinking of having a towbar fitted for towing a caravan for a bit more comfort on our holidays now that we have a family. I was hoping that someone would be able to help with these questions please:

- From reading tinternet I have found that the kerbweight is 1790kg so at 85% of this we could tow a caravan up to 1521.5kg max laden weight (please correct me if I'm wrong). The maximum towing weight is 1600kg I think so thats within the legal limit. The thing is, we've removed the rear seats so this will reduce the weight of the bongo, thus reducing what we can tow ...does anyone know the kerbweight of the bongo with seats removed?

- The max noseweight is 85kg? Or is it 75kg? I've found both figures on this forum.

- If the max noseweight is 85kg then at the safe towing recommendation of 7% of the actual weight of the caravan, this would suggest that for safe towing I can actually only tow a laden caravan up to 1215kg...? And this means I actually can't safely tow up to the 1521.5kg suggested by the kerbweight calculation...? Or am I misunderstanding this?

- Is anyone aware of a public weighbridge near Edinburgh, or indeed anywhere in Scotland; a google search has turned up nothing.

Thanks for your help.

[Getcarter]

Make sure you fit a heavy duty tow bar, the light weight one is no good for heavy caravans.

I tow a single axel with a MTPLM of 1472 kg and this is fine for my V6. I work on a max noseweight of 85 kg and have a noseweight scale to check the loading

Never looked back since getting a caravan. 20 minutes set up once you get to site rather than 1.5 hour faf with our old AFT bongo and drive away awaning. We don't use an awning with the caravan so there is nothing to dry if you pack up in the wet.

[Bob]

Hi

For a weighbridge try the council, many recycling centres have one, especialy where trade waste is accepted, and bear in mind if you only want to know the weight rather than have an official, printed, ticket then any local one will do, many will let you weigh in for a 'Drink'.

Without doing the calculations again our caravan is 1600kg max and we run a nose weight of 85kg. I recal the recommended noseweight is 5 - 7% of the actual weight so this is in range, but the decider is the Bongo limit of 85kg anyway.

A diesel Bongo should be fine pulling its own weight if you are experienced.

Not sure of the effect of removing seats but 85% is a guide line, not law, and if you're like us the extra holiday stuff will replace the lost weight.

I fitted an oil cooler on the auto box to help things along, hope that helps a bit.

[Bob]

Found it (again), this is useful:

http://caravanchronicles.com/guides/und ... of-towing/

And we have one of these:

https://www.obelink.co.uk/caravan-weight-control.html

[weeginger73]

Hi, thanks for the replies. I think I'm even more confused about noseweight now though.

I don't understand how you're able to tow such a heavy weight safely if the max nose weight is 85kg and this should be 7% of Max laden weight- would this not suggest the max laden weight should be no more than 1215kg?

Thanks for the links- the article seems to suggest however that we shouldn't be towing at 85kg max weight as we need to allow for braking etc., which would mean perhaps loading the noseweight at around 70kg for example, which at 7% would mean a max laden weight of caravan of 1000kg!

Everyone seems to be towing much more than that so I must be misunderstanding-can anyone explain it to me please?

I will get the tow bar manufactured by A1 from the bongo bits shop- can't see what is max noseweight is though?

Bob-also, whats the approx cost of getting an oil cooler fitted to the autobox please?

Totally new at this - not towed before and we need to pass the additional test to do it.

Thanks

[weeginger73]

The article states -

"In the braking example, we decided that towing slightly nose down was the best option, and we discovered that under braking forces, the caravan imparted a downward force on the rear of the vehicle, well this will increase the nose weight and if you are loaded to the maximum nose weight permitted for your combination, the act of braking will take your nose weight over this limit. Most of the components are engineered to take more than the specified limits, but to continually exceed this under braking will contribute to increased fatigue on all the components, in addition, the over-run system will be subject to increased lateral forces and may not work as efficiently or as smoothly as the manufacturer intended. So be careful if you are loading close to the nose weight limit."

[weeginger73]

This article seems to suggest the same -

http://www.caravantalk.co.uk/caravan-ad ... ose-weight

"A 1200kg laden caravan with a 7% nose weight of 84kg would need a car that could support a weight of 100kg or more, such as a large saloon or a medium 4x4."

Sorry if I'm being daft, but I just don't get then how a Bongo can safely tow these bigger weights.

[maxi_77]

Nose weight is much more to do with the tow vehicle, too much and you will find steering both light and imprecise, very dangerous, and too little and the van can pitch and lift your tail again dangerous. In most cases the minimum nose weight is 50 Kgs and some vehicles cant take much more than that. We tow at about 70 to 80 kgs and find that is quite comfortable

[Getcarter]

I've also got a gearbox oil cooler. Cost about £140 fitted if I remember

[Bob]

Briefly, the nose weight does not 'Have' to be 7% of the the weight, the 'Ideal' is 5 to 7%, but limited by the vehicle max and not less than 5%.

It would be unusual to start your towing calculations based on noseweight and a noseweight of 85kg is the static loading, ie you do not have to allow extra for going over bumps any more than a 40 ton truck needs to be rated at 100 tons 'Just in Case'.

Also, as someone new to towing I would recomend a caravan weighing 1250kg or less and you won't be near limits. 1600kg Is the 85% guideline max not a starting point, and is a very big, heavy, caravan.

Hope that helps.

[weeginger73]

Thanks again for your replies. The articles were confusing me but I understand you now.

[Bob]

Good oh.

Apolgies for not spotting your location, and do ask if you want more info.

[weeginger73]

Done now (Edinburgh), thanks Bob.

Another couple of quick questions-

- MOT is due on the Bongo this week. While it's in the garage anyway, I was wondering if there's anything specific I should be asking the mechanic to take an extra look at to make sure alls okay for towing e.g. gearbox?? (Can you tell I'm not very technical.... )

- Apart from the obvious towbar, reg plate for caravan, towing mirrors, and noseweight gauge is there any other essential bits of kit I need to get in advance of caravan purchase?

- Whats a good going rate to pay someone to fit the towbar?

This novice really appreciates your help!

[mikeonb4c]

Done now (Edinburgh), thanks Bob.

Another couple of quick questions-

- MOT is due on the Bongo this week. While it's in the garage anyway, I was wondering if there's anything specific I should be asking the mechanic to take an extra look at to make sure alls okay for towing e.g. gearbox?? (Can you tell I'm not very technical.... )

- Apart from the obvious towbar, reg plate for caravan, towing mirrors, and noseweight gauge is there any other essential bits of kit I need to get in advance of caravan purchase?

- Whats a good going rate to pay someone to fit the towbar?

This novice really appreciates your help!

As mentioned by Getcarter, an extra radiator for keeping the autobox cool is considered to be a good idea - one longstanding Bongo owner and autobox specialist always recommended fitting one.

[Bob]

I recomend a good pressure gauge for tyres and and a torque wrench to check wheel nuts before you tow any trailer.

Also, before buying a caravan check the date on the tyres and be certain there is no cracking on sidewalls.

I tend to just factor in new tyres when buying a caravan, easier than being stuck somewhere.

Not sure there's anything specific to get the garage to check on Bongy, but obviously the cooling system should be in top nick.