Choosing a Caravan1

How to Use This Guide

The advice in this article will help you choose the caravan layout, size and weight that’s right for YOUR circumstances. Then view the tables, descriptions and pictures that follow the article to find out which specific makes and models of new caravan match your needs and the weight limits suitable for your car.

For secondhand caravans, follow the advice given in the Buying Secondhand section of this article and refer to the Used Caravans Price Guide section to get a feel for the price level you should expect to pay.

CHOOSING A CARAVAN


	Words: Barry Norris


	There are many things to consider when deciding on which caravan is right for you. Follow our advice and stay safe, legal and happy with your purchase.

Finding the caravan that best meets your needs and situation involves some tough choices. That’s why, unless you want to risk making mistakes that you’ll literally have to live with, it’s best to choose methodically, rather than buying on impulse or under persuasion from a salesman. After all, a caravan is probably one of the most expensive purchases you’ll ever make.

Matched & Legal

Even before you start searching for your ideal touring caravan, you need to check what weight your car can legally and safely tow and what limits are imposed on you by your driving licence.

If you have the luxury of being able to upgrade your car at the same time as buying a caravan, then select the caravan first and then find a towcar to match. Remember, though, that the bigger and heavier the caravan you choose, the bigger the car you’ll need to tow it.

You can get an idea of the size of caravan you will be able to tow by doing a few calculations (see below) and then referring to the New Caravans A-Z Listing at the end of this article.

Matching Car and Caravan

Many people make the mistake of looking up the Towing Limit or Maximum Trailer Weight (definitions in columns to right) in their Driver Handbook and assuming this is the maximum weight of caravan they can tow. Unfortunately, it isn’t that simple, because some vehicle manufacturers quote a Towing Limit that assumes the car is only partially loaded. That’s why you need to do your own calculations.

In addition, it’s generally accepted that, for good safety and stability, the Actual Laden Weight of the caravan should not exceed 85% of the kerbweight of the towcar. Some industry bodies say EXPERIENED caravanners (not beginners!) can safely tow a fully loaded caravan weighing up to 100% of the towcar’s kerbweight.

We recommend you to stick to the 85% guideline and the calculation below is based on this.

Making the Calculation

1	Look up the towcar’s Gross Train Weight and Gross Vehicle Weight (the first two of the four weights on the car’s data plate).
2	Subtract the GVW from the GTW to give you the Towing Limit for the car when fully loaded. Write this figure down - it might not agree with the Towing Limit figure given in the Drivers Handbook.
3	Look up the towcar’s Kerbweight and calculate 85% of that figure. Write it down.
4	Compare the two figures you have written down and the LOWER of them is the weight of fully-loaded caravan you can safely tow with that particular towcar based on the 85% recommendation.

Caravan & Towcar Weight Terminology


	MTPLM The Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass of the caravan as stated by the manufacturer. This is the absolute maximum weight a fully-loaded caravan can be, once you have put all your things into it, in order to remain legal on the road. You can usually find this figure on a data plate by the caravan door or by looking it up in the User Manual. MTPLM figures for many current caravan models are given in the Buyers Guide that follows this article.



		MAW or MAM Maximum Authorised Weight or Maximum Authorised Mass. Older terminology meaning the same as MTPLM. MIRO or MRO Mass in Running Order. The weight of the caravan as it leaves the factory (with no added equipment or luggage). This, also, is quoted on the caravan’s data plate (and in the User Manual) and figures for many current models are given in the Buyers Guide that follows this article. Previously known as Unladen Weight or Ex-Works Weight.
		Payload or User Payload The difference between the MTPLM and the MIRO. This is the maximum weight of the items you can carry in the caravan. It includes the weight of Essential Habitation Equipment such as gas bottles and a leisure battery and the weight of Personal Effects such as clothes, bedding and food. Some caravan manufacturers calculate the typical weight of Essential Habitation Equipment for you and refer to the balance as the Personal Effects Payload. An awning counts as Personal Effects. Actual Laden Weight The actual weight of the caravan and its contents when loaded and ready to be towed. It must never exceed the MTPLM. Noseweight or Hitchweight The vertical load that the caravan hitch exerts on the car’s towball. It is affected by how and how much you load your caravan and can be altered by redistributing the load. The car and caravan manufacturer both quote a maximum noseweight figure in their owner manuals and the lower of these two figures should not be exceeded. On the other hand, a noseweight that is too light will lead to an unstable caravan and its generally advised that noseweight should be around 7% of the MTPLM of the caravan but NEVER less than 5% of the Actual Laden Weight.


		Noseweight can be measured (once you have loaded your caravan ready for a trip) using an inexpensive noseweight gauge or even bathroom scales and a length of wood.



	Gross Vehicle Weight (of the towcar) Sometimes also called Maximum Authorised Mass or Maximum Gross Vehicle Weight. The maximum total weight (defined by the manufacturer) that a vehicle can be when fully loaded and with the maximum number of passengers. This MUST INCLUDE the noseweight of any trailer being towed. It is shown on the vehicle data plate and in the Driver Manual.



	Kerbweight or Unladen Vehicle Weight The weight of the towcar in standard form and with standard tools and equipment (as it leaves the factory), plus an allowance for a full tank of fuel. Some manufacturers quote a slightly different definition of Kerbweight. It is quoted in the Driver Manual. Towing Limit or Maximum Trailer Weight The maximum trailer weight that the towing vehicle is designed to tow (as defined by the vehicle manufacturer). You need to be mindful that some vehicle manufacturers quote their figures in such a way that the towing limit considerably reduces if the towing vehicle is heavily laden. Gross Train Weight The maximum permitted combined weight of the towing vehicle and trailer, as defined by the towing vehicle manufacturer. NEVER exceed this limit, which will be displayed on a data plate (usually under the bonnet) or sticker (usually on a door pillar).

The reality is that you don’t know what the Actual Laden Weight of a caravan will be before you have bought and loaded it. Consequently, you can do one of two things when applying the result of your calculation. These are:-

Estimate the weight of items you’ll be carrying in your caravan (not just your clothes and food, but also your awning, full gas bottles, leisure battery, etc.) and add this figure to the MIRO of the caravan under consideration. Once you’ve bought the caravan check the weight by visiting a weighbridge.
Assume you will be carrying the maximum allowable load. To do this, simply make sure the Safe to tow figure you arrived at in your calculation is greater than the MTPLM of the caravan under consideration.
If all this sounds too complicated, remember that both the Caravan Club and the Camping & Caravanning Club offer a free technical helpline to their members.


	In addition, the National Caravan Council has published a Towing Guide in association with these two clubs and you can request a free copy by visiting www.nationalcaravan.co.uk.



	Alternatively there’s a professional ‘matching’ service called Towsafe which, at a very reasonable price, will do the matching calculations for you. For more information, visit www.towsafe.co.uk.