Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: coop1952 on 21 September 2012, 14:21:51
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I have a 2.6 auto omega and was wondering what the maximum size caravan I could tow with this car is. Has anybody else had experience with this and have you any tips.
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I have a 2.6 auto omega and was wondering what the maximum size caravan I could tow with this car is. Has anybody else had experience with this and have you any tips.
It's the weight of the caravan that is of concern, not the size. Ideally, check the kerb weight of your car (your car empty) against the MTPLM (maximum technically permissible laden mass) of the caravan.
In laymans terms, your empty car should always weigh more than the maximum permitted weight of your caravan. This ensures that the car always out-weighs the van.
As for size, a sparsely equipped huge van will weigh similar to a smaller well equipped van. As a rough guide, you will be looking for a caravan with a MTPLM of no more than 1600kg for safety but DO check your cars kerb weight first. The loaded caravan should NEVER EVER weigh more than your empty car.
That's the general gist of it. :y There are now the added complications of when you passed your test against the weights of what you can tow to consider. ::)
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The formula recommended by the Caravan Club for many yrs is the 80/20 rule
That is laden weight of caravan no more than 80% of the kerbweight of the car
Can easy check out on your local public weigh bridge
You just don't want the "tail to wag the dog"
Or you can be in big trouble :o :o :o :'(
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I have a 2.6 auto omega and was wondering what the maximum size caravan I could tow with this car is. Has anybody else had experience with this and have you any tips.
It's the weight of the caravan that is of concern, not the size. Ideally, check the kerb weight of your car (your car empty) against the MTPLM (maximum technically permissible laden mass) of the caravan.
In laymans terms, your empty car should always weigh more than the maximum permitted weight of your caravan. This ensures that the car always out-weighs the van.
As for size, a sparsely equipped huge van will weigh similar to a smaller well equipped van. As a rough guide, you will be looking for a caravan with a MTPLM of no more than 1600kg for safety but DO check your cars kerb weight first. The loaded caravan should NEVER EVER weigh more than your empty car.
That's the general gist of it. :y There are now the added complications of when you passed your test against the weights of what you can tow to consider. ::)
look at the VIN plate this gives you the axle loading for each axle also a permissable gross combined weight.This is the biggest number there so for example the vin plate reads axle 1 900kg axle 2 900kg, gvw 1800 (gvw. gross vehicle weight)then it might have another weight, (example 2900kg) this is the max combined weight of the car and caravan put together and should weigh no more.
Some cars don't have this which is a god send also this is why some body/accident repair companys use 4x4's to tow car transporter trailors