Towing weight ? (1 Viewer)

Swifty_Morgan

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I have a Swift 620 thing (I think about 4000Kg) and I may have to tow a trailer which I think may weigh in at up to two tons.
Anything I ought to know please?

A direct reply would help; we are away at Easter. . . .
[ dave_g8uyz@lineone.net ]
 

Landy lover

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You need to check the weight plate on the vehicle - that will dictate the weight you are legally allowed to tow - I would doubt that you could go to 2 tonnes with a motorhome. When did you take your licence ?? do you have the licence to tow over 3.5 tonnes ??

Get either of those points wrong and the fines can be very heavy and will impact on your insurance as well.
 
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TheBig1

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as mentioned, you will need to know your maximum train weight and the mass in running order for your vehicle. subtract the second number from the first and that will give the maximum weight your vehicle can legally tow. you may be shocked at how low this is with many motorhomes

if your ok with the weights, you then need to ensure your licence covers you for this combination

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pappajohn

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You need to check the weight plate on the vehicle - that will dictate the weight you are legally allowed to tow - I would doubt that you could go to 2 tonnes with a motorhome. When did you take your licence ?? do you have the licence to tow over 3.5 tonnes ??

Get either of those points wrong and the fines can be very heavy and will impact on your insurance as well.

as mentioned, you will need to know your maximum train weight and the mass in running order for your vehicle. subtract the second number from the first and that will give the maximum weight your vehicle can legally tow. you may be shocked at how low this is with many motorhomes

if your ok with the weights, you then need to ensure your licence covers you for this combination

you may be surprised......

older 2.5ltr 3500kg Ducato's were plated at 5500kg....a 2000kg trailer weight.

my first (2.5ltr 3500kg) was 2000kg and my second (2,8ltr 3850kg) was reduced to 1600kg by Alko-kober
 
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TheBig1

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but a swift royale 620 is a big heavy beast from memory, so its unlikely to have anything like 2000kg towing limit.

Any large motorhome towing a really big trailer is likely to get some unwanted attention from the VOSA inspectors at checkpoints. So expect to be escorted to a weigh bridge and if overweight paying a large fine etc:Eeek:

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Mar 29, 2011
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You might struggle even if its a heavy weight Alco chassis I dont think they are meant to tow heavy loads, my Iveco MH is 5.2 t gross and plated to tow 3 tons which is fine as long as you passed the test before 97.

Dave
 
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slobadoberbob

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The driving licence needs to be an early check

To legally tow the first port of call is check your driving licence does it cover you.

The second has well been covered re the towing weight v chassis.

Lastly I would say if you intend to tow in the future look at a vehicle that has a chassis that is designed for the job.. my Winnebago can pull and does a 2 ton trailer often and is way under the max 8.25 tons allowed.

Bob
 
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Apr 29, 2009
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It might be worth checking the handbook as well - just in case the plated weight exceeds the recommended weight in the handbook.

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Apr 27, 2008
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My maximum tow weight is 1400kg. OK for a small car on an A frame but not for a heavy trailer.
You also need to check that it is within the towing limits for the towbar, as this may be less than the train wt minus MAM.
 
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Heyupluv

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you may be surprised......

older 2.5ltr 3500kg Ducato's were plated at 5500kg....a 2000kg trailer weight.

my first (2.5ltr 3500kg) was 2000kg and my second (2,8ltr 3850kg) was reduced to 1600kg by Alko-kober

John may be correct on this, as my new motorhome...Fiat Ducato130multijet..2.3 is 3500kg uprated to 3700kg with a maximum train weight 5500kg plated......one question I think (I am not sure on this so please correct me if wrong)... if you licence is after 1997 and only allowed to drive up to 3500kg I also think your trailer weight is lower.... please correct me as I not positive on this.

Mel
 
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darklord

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you may be surprised......

older 2.5ltr 3500kg Ducato's were plated at 5500kg....a 2000kg trailer weight.

my first (2.5ltr 3500kg) was 2000kg and my second (2,8ltr 3850kg) was reduced to 1600kg by Alko-kober


Mines plated at 3850 with a GTW of 5500, its classed as PHGV, but i likes the GTW very much::bigsmile:

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aba

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there is something also that vosa will use the gross trailer plate weight even if it is empty.
so a trailer weighing 1000kg on a weigh bridge but with a maximum weight of 2500kg on a motorhome with a 1500kg towing limit will be classed as over weight because the trailer [HI]CAN[/HI] weigh 2500kg.

so my advise is weigh the trailer loaded then get its maximum weight down rated to just above what it weighs.
 
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darklord

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This is true, and is why an articulated vehicle than CAN weigh 44ton, but only weighs less than 15 tons empty, CANNOT go through a 16.5t weight limit, nor can an empty 18tonner, go through a 7.5ton weight limit.
Vosa are simple creatures, they just read plates, exceed them, and you will get a "PG9" which prevents you travelling further and is an immediate prohibition until the problem is rectified.


Not scaremongering, but just to show that VOSA DO get a little arsey at times, there are a LOT of limo's parked up in VOSA compounds at the moment.......because of "grey area's".:thumb:
 
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slobadoberbob

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yes read that re the limo's on the VOSA site

This is true, and is why an articulated vehicle than CAN weigh 44ton, but only weighs less than 15 tons empty, CANNOT go through a 16.5t weight limit, nor can an empty 18tonner, go through a 7.5ton weight limit.
Vosa are simple creatures, they just read plates, exceed them, and you will get a "PG9" which prevents you travelling further and is an immediate prohibition until the problem is rectified.


Not scaremongering, but just to show that VOSA DO get a little arsey at times, there are a LOT of limo's parked up in VOSA compounds at the moment.......because of "grey area's".:thumb:

I think I read that on the VOSA site a while ago that they had impounded lots of stretch limo due to the 'grey' areas... so when people say it cannot happen... wrong it can.

Bob:Blush:

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Swifty_Morgan

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Hi folks,
The towing (a distance of only 12 miles) went well, despite my nerves. But the grass was wet and I slipped all over the place; had to get the cadets (who's kit is in the trailer) to do a bit of pushing.
But it all went well, thanks to your help.
It went so well, I was asked to do it again! :Smile:
 
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