If you are towing a trailer or caravan it is really important that you take extra care as there are a lot of additional factors you need to take into account.
When towing a trailer you should always think “Safety first”!!
In general, car and van accidents that involve a trailer have far greater consequences than those where no trailer is involved. The main reason for this is the additional size and weight that the trailer adds to your vehicle along with the fact it is only attached by a very small point.
Making sure that the trailer you are planning on pulling is within the towing capacity of you car is extremely important. Whilst the 85% Rule is there as a guide, its important to know that the towing capacity and weight vary from car to car and between different models so please make sure you find the exact towing capacity for your car and that you double check this in your car’s handbook.
Tow Car Matching
Before you head out and buy a new tow car or caravan, it's really important that you find thre right match. Finding a "tow car match" means using a towing capacity calculator to check the car or vehicle you are using is a suitable match for your chosen caravan before to ensure the car and caravan combination is safe, legal, and comfortable to tow with.
There are a wide range of Towcar Match tools available for free online and they are very quick and easy to use. They will help you find the best car for towing a caravan based on size and weight. To find these look for towcar match, what tow car or car tow match online and use one of the free tools to find your perfect match.
These tools dont just look at the maximum limit of a car. Their calculations are much more sophisticated and look at factors like the noseweight and demensions of the caravan as well as the weight ratio. When you are checking the weight of a caravan or trailer its important to use the actual weight of a fully loaded car and trailer not just the kerbweight but you can use a towing capacity chart as a guide. When you are towing the car's engine is under a lot more strain that normal and it is important that you check your engine oil and water level before you set off on a long journey to help prevent breakdowns and damage to the engine.