Maximum Towing Capacity T6.1 4-Motion

[B J G]

I found this that can be used for matching a caravan to the Cali (only has Transporter listed)

Outfit Matching Car and Caravan

Find out how your car and caravan match to ensure that your outfit is safe and comfortable to tow. Calculate speeds, road gradients and the stability of your caravan

towcar.info

 

[TripleBee]

Thank you, TripleBee and WelshGas.

I take it you are referring to maximum legal load, rather than maximum comfortable load to tow (braked), though if 2500kg is correct for the former (braked) then I am guessing this is also comfortable to tow.

Also, that you are referring to the Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) of the trailer i.e. including any load.

I had heard those figures too, but they do not match what GOV.CO.UK id telling me given my licence entitlements, see insert. What is your source, please?

Calimili, where your 5300kg figure come from, please?

All these info is in the certificate of conformity of your vehicle:

 

[Viktorgeorge]

All these info is in the certificate of conformity of your vehicle:

View attachment 87560

 

[66tim99]

Might have been under the question 'is the vehicle being used to tow?' in the past on other vehicles.

Not a question seemingly these days

 

[Viktorgeorge]

Thank you TripleBee, I will not get my California (and therefore a certificate of conformity) until late next year (fingers crossed): so I have extracted into English - all corrections welcome:

Whole vehicle empty 2407kg
Whole vehicle fully loaded allowable 3000kg
Distribution of that mass across axles (F- R) between 1425 - 1550 and 1450/1575 kg
Maximum load on either axle 1550 to 1575 kg
Maximum roof load 50kg
Maximum braked/unbraked trailer mass 2500/750 kg
Maximum trailer and vehicle mass 5200 kg
Maximum load to tow ball 100kg

I am a little confused as I think the vehicle I have ordered is 3080 kg, in which case taking the maximum trailer and vehicle mass and subtracting my vehicle weight plus luggage and people say 250 kg, that leaves1870 kg for a trailer. But then I guess the above certificate of conformity is for a T5 which is probably that much lighter. All thoughts welcome.

 

[TripleBee]

Thank you TripleBee, I will not get my California (and therefore a certificate of conformity) until late next year (fingers crossed): so I have extracted into English - all corrections welcome:

Whole vehicle empty 2407kg
Whole vehicle fully loaded allowable 3000kg
Distribution of that mass across axles (F- R) between 1425 - 1550 and 1450/1575 kg
Maximum load on either axle 1550 to 1575 kg
Maximum roof load 50kg
Maximum braked/unbraked trailer mass 2500/750 kg
Maximum trailer and vehicle mass 5200 kg
Maximum load to tow ball 100kg

I am a little confused as I think the vehicle I have ordered is 3080 kg, in which case taking the maximum trailer and vehicle mass and subtracting my vehicle weight plus luggage and people say 250 kg, that leaves1870 kg for a trailer. But then I guess the above certificate of conformity is for a T5 which is probably that much lighter. All thoughts welcome.

No, this info is for a front wheel drive vehicle without 5th seat.
A 4 motion, or a 5 seater is 3080 kg I suppose (correct me if wrong).
As the T6.1 up to now is still the same base vehicle as the first T5, the weight is still the same (apart from options and extra safety features).

 

[B J G]

Not a question seemingly these days

Bit more recollecting -- it was when Green Card was required for travel to the EU. It also came up when changing my Wife's car Insurance over when new car bought, towbar fitted after purchase on that vehicle.

 

[andyinluton]

I am a little confused as I think the vehicle I have ordered is 3080 kg, in which case taking the maximum trailer and vehicle mass and subtracting my vehicle weight plus luggage and people say 250 kg, that leaves1870 kg for a trailer. But then I guess the above certificate of conformity is for a T5 which is probably that much lighter. All thoughts welcome.

Not quite, your maximum weight for the vehicle of 3080kg includes all luggage & passengers & is the absolute maximum the van can weigh.

Your maximum VAN + Trailer = 5200kg
so if your van is fully loaded your max trailer is 5200-3080= 2120kg

If you only load your van to 2700kg you could have a trailer of 5200-2700kg =2500kg

 

[B J G]

Not quite, your maximum weight for the vehicle of 3080kg includes all luggage & passengers & is the absolute maximum the van can weigh.

Your maximum VAN + Trailer = 5200kg
so if your van is fully loaded your max trailer is 5200-3080= 2120kg

If you only load your van to 2700kg you could have a trailer of 5200-2700kg =2500kg

Pretty certain that most drivers thought that a 2,500 kgs trailer could be towed without ever considering the "Train weight" or combined weight.

2700kgs is defined as driver (75kgs) plus 90% fuel in the tank included.

 

[andyinluton]

Just to complicate it a bit more, put a 2500kg trailer with 100kg nose weight behind a cali & the trailer may loose 100kg to become 2400kg + the back axle of the van gains 100KG

 

[B J G]

Just to complicate it a bit more, put a 2500kg trailer with 100kg nose weight behind a cali & the trailer may loose 100kg to become 2400kg + the back axle of the van gains 100KG

I thought best not to go there or more into rear axle loading.

DVSA are getting more attentive on caravans & trailers during roadside checks especially during summer season.

 

[TripleBee]

For your 4motion Cali the maximum train weight is 5300kg ie the weight of the loaded van + loaded trailer, this will be stamped on a plate under the bonnet & also gives the maximum load on each axle.

A 4 motion ocean only has 377kg payload & you need to be careful not to overload the van, a bigger trailer/caravan can be 100kg nose weight - that is the load put on your tow bar. It uses up 100kg of that already small 377KG

There are rule as to maximum sizes of trailer - 7m x 2.55m excluding the A frame, any uk caravan should be within those dimensions.

Its worth noting that a 2500kg flat trailer tows very differently to 2500kg of caravan.

No, in the remarks it states: weight of the van +100kg with tow bar.
Also the rear axle weight is upped by 25 kg with tow bar.
So with tow bar, the van may weigh 3100 kg, not 3000.
So you may load the van up to 3000 kg, then put on a trailer with nose weight of 100 kg, and it is still legal.

And the minimum weight on the tyres is load range 100 (800 kg per wheel) = 1600 kg, 1575 kg + 25.

That is for my van (140 hp front wheel drive).

 

[andyinluton]

@TripleBee
Your CoC will not be the same as the OPs
His has van weight of 3080kg yours is only 3000kg

Chances are the limiting factor is going to be the 5200kg train weight.

In the UK you do not get a CoC as a matter of course with a vehicle. All enforcement by the police / VOSA is done on the basis of what is stamped on the plate under the bonnet.
If you get stopped and suspected of being overweight you escorted to a weighbridge and the axle load readings from that are compared to your plate to decide if you are in trouble or not.

 

[TripleBee]

@TripleBee
Your CoC will not be the same as the OPs
His has van weight of 3080kg yours is only 3000kg

Chances are the limiting factor is going to be the 5200kg train weight.

In the UK you do not get a CoC as a matter of course with a vehicle. All enforcement by the police / VOSA is done on the basis of what is stamped on the plate under the bonnet.
If you get stopped and suspected of being overweight you escorted to a weighbridge and the axle load readings from that are compared to your plate to decide if you are in trouble or not.

I can only give you the information I have.
If not usefull for you, don't use it.

 

[B J G]

I can only give you the information I have.
If not usefull for you, don't use it.

Basically in the UK the legal weights are taken from the Chassis/VIN Plate in the engine bay.
Axle weights are the main check points used by the Police & DVSA, 10% maximum over is generally considered to be the point that fines are issued. Under that they will, if possible get you to redistribute the cargo to balance the axle loads, otherwise the excess must be taken out for transportation by another vehicle.
Leaving the excess load behind isn't permitted as it is deemed as dumping with more potential fines/costs.

Another case of what applies in one Country can't be assumed to applied ion another.

 

[OxonCalifornia]

Maximum trailer gross weight is as said before 2,500kgs with a Cali..
Note! you cannot tow a trailer that is 3,500kgs gross even empty - legally.

Rule generally used for Caravan towing weight is 85% of towing vehicle
eg 3,000kgs Cali is 2,550kgs. The 2,500kgs is the max.
Majority of caravans can be towed but the heavier the harder to both pull and control in emergency situations they are.

Cali Insurance only covers trailers up to 750kgs, over that requires trailer/caravan to be insured. Ensure you declare that the Towbar is fitted as it's considered a modification. You may know all that but----

ps the pre 1997 towing rule applies to all Drivers now due to a rule change a few days ago. Part of the speeding up tests for HGV Drivers etc.

Maximum trailer gross weight is as said before 2,500kgs with a Cali..
Note! you cannot tow a trailer that is 3,500kgs gross even empty - legally.

Is the above still the case?, was it ever law or best practice and /or has this been relaxed / rescinded? as info I have seen indicates that you can now this trailer as long as the trailer weight plus its load did not exceed the towing capability of the towing vehicle, in this case 2500kg

 

[OxonCalifornia]

Obviously with newly built Cali's now and specifically the 4motion the Towing capacity to tow a braked trailer has been reduced to 2300kg - confirmed with dealer yesterday.

 

[andyinluton]

Note! you cannot tow a trailer that is 3,500kgs gross even empty - legally.

Yes you can!

From IFor Williams ( who know a lot about trailers) FAQ


My vehicle has a maximum towing weight of 1500kg and my trailer has a maximum gross weight of 2000kg. Can I still tow this trailer?
Yes, as long as the unladen weight of the trailer you are towing combined with the trailer load does not exceed 1500kg, then you can tow this trailer with your vehicle.

There is no legal requirement to downrate the plate on your trailer.



Extract from the NTA website says the same thing worded slightly differently.


Working out what your car can tow can be very confusing. There is so much information on the web – much of which is conflicting.

The total weight of your trailer must not weigh more than the car’s maximum towing capacity (MTC).

Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to take the trailer’s maximum authorised mass (MAM) into consideration – unless you passed your test after 1 January 1997 (more on this later). It is the actual weight of your trailer that needs to be taken into account.

So, if your trailer weighs 700kg and your contents weigh 500kg, the actual weight is 1200kg. This is the weight your car needs to be capable of towing. Even if your trailer’s MAM is 2000kg, it is irrelevant, unless you plan on towing that weight.

“You can’t be penalised for towing something that could potentially go over your car’s maximum towing weight,” said a DVLA spokesperson. “It would be like fining someone for doing 30mph in a 50mph zone – because they could potentially go over the speed limit. If you are within the limits you are legal.”

 

[OxonCalifornia]

Yes you can!

From IFor Williams ( who know a lot about trailers) FAQ


My vehicle has a maximum towing weight of 1500kg and my trailer has a maximum gross weight of 2000kg. Can I still tow this trailer?
Yes, as long as the unladen weight of the trailer you are towing combined with the trailer load does not exceed 1500kg, then you can tow this trailer with your vehicle.

There is no legal requirement to downrate the plate on your trailer.



Extract from the NTA website says the same thing worded slightly differently.


Working out what your car can tow can be very confusing. There is so much information on the web – much of which is conflicting.

The total weight of your trailer must not weigh more than the car’s maximum towing capacity (MTC).

Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to take the trailer’s maximum authorised mass (MAM) into consideration – unless you passed your test after 1 January 1997 (more on this later). It is the actual weight of your trailer that needs to be taken into account.

So, if your trailer weighs 700kg and your contents weigh 500kg, the actual weight is 1200kg. This is the weight your car needs to be capable of towing. Even if your trailer’s MAM is 2000kg, it is irrelevant, unless you plan on towing that weight.

“You can’t be penalised for towing something that could potentially go over your car’s maximum towing weight,” said a DVLA spokesperson. “It would be like fining someone for doing 30mph in a 50mph zone – because they could potentially go over the speed limit. If you are within the limits you are legal.”

Thanks AIL...Remember BJG madethat statement in Dec 2021 and I wonder if anything had changed since then?

I have also see the Ifor Williams Website but failed to find anything similar on Gov or DOT websites.....Makes sense though