Hi

I have tried to increase my understanding of towing with my car online and on briskoda but I am no further forward so I hope someone is able to help me because I dont really know a lot about it...

I have a 2002 Fabia estate, approaching 75,000 miles on the clock and I believe it is a 8v and something like 67bhp.

Would it be ok to tow a caravan?

Somewhere online said its capacity is 800kg but I have my eye on a caravan that is 850kg but then what about the stuff I want to put in it - can it all go in the boot or is it ok to be stored in the cvan?

I was told to check the chassiss plate which is as follows:

1615kg

2415kg

1- 900

2- 840 kg

--------------

450kg

I have found something on here describing what these mean but I think these are in a different order.

So... I am thoroughly confused!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I love my car and I dont want to do anything to kill it but a small caravan would be a great addition to the family.

Many thanks :

I think the caravan should be no more than 85% of the kerb weight of the car, engine wise it could tow a small van...or better still a trailer tent as it would be painfully slow to accelerate with the caravan

Thank you - how do I find the kerb weight?

The weight of your car is 1190kg. See here:

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/facts-and-figures/skoda/fabia/estate-2001/

Phil

You will be able to find out the towing weight allowed in the back of the handbook with all the other specs such as kerb weight. The caravan club recommend that the weight of the caravan should be no more than 85% of the cars kerb weight, though with mine I am up at 88% and so far seems OK. If your car is 1190kg, then the 85% weight is 1011kg. That being the case then you should be OK with a small 2-berth caravan with a MTPLM (Maximum Technically Permissable Laden Mass) i.e. gross weight of no more than about 1000kg, providing, of course, that you don't exceed the maximum allowable weight in the handbook. There are a few on the market suitable such as Elddis Xplorer 302.

Ian

Edited 7 June, 201214 yr by countryboy

Well, you can, but unless the caravan is really really small, it's not gonna be legal. The Fabia can tow twice the allowed weight without major issues. But what it can tow and what its allowed to tow a two different things.

Well, you can, but unless the caravan is really really small, it's not gonna be legal. The Fabia can tow twice the allowed weight without major issues. But what it can tow and what its allowed to tow a two different things.

Yup. As per the link I gave on parkers. Max unbraked is 450KG and braked is 800KG so it will be a little caravan.

If you're serious about getting a caravan then you might either want to consider getting a bigger/more capable car to match or get a trailer tent.

Phil

Wow, thanks for all the info guys.

I couldnt find anything giving me figures anywhere in my handbook but they were easy enough to get online, I just couldnt understand them!

I was confused too because 85% of 1190kg is clearly more than 800kg which would make me feel better about towing this cvan but I guess its too risky insurance-wise going over the 800kg even by a meagre 50kg?

Can't say as I'm not gutted but better safe than sorry, and at least I have a better idea what I'm looking at now for towing. I don't want to replace my car, touch wood it's actually reliable!

Thanks though everyone

It probably would go un-noticed if it was just a tiny bit over 800kg but there's always the risk of course.

Bear in mind though that that limit is there for a reason. Your car is a low powered one and has smaller front discs, rear brake drums and, possibly, no ABS? So although it will handle it the limits are set in place to ensure it is safe and you are able to stop safely etc while towing.

As I said before perhaps a trailer tent would be a viable option. Plus it causes much less drag and greatly reduce the workload of your engine. I would still avoid hills though if I were you...

Small point, but worth asking i think!

Do you have the Driving Licence required that allows you to hitch up & Drive a car towing a caravan?

If you do, but do not know about Weights etc and have never done any towing,

then maybe still best get some tuition on trailer towing before setting out with a Caravan on tow and family in the car.

george

Edited 8 June, 201214 yr by sk4gw

A VW Touareg can tow a 747, but you wouldn't want to take it on the road!