Every caravan and towing vehicle has prescribed weight thresholds set by their manufacturers. To tow legally and safely, it is vital to understand these weights and how the water you carry on board affects towing. At Patto’s RV Centre Geelong, we want to ensure you have all the information needed for a safe journey. Here are the essential weights and rates to consider when buying or renting a caravan.
Vehicle Towing Capacity
Before looking at caravans, you need to know your vehicle’s towing capacity. This weight is crucial for safe towing and is divided into two categories:
- Braked Towing Capacity: The maximum weight your vehicle can tow if the trailer has an independent braking system.
- Unbraked Towing Capacity: The maximum weight your vehicle can tow if the trailer does not have an independent braking system.
You can find these capacities in your vehicle owner’s manual, on a sticker on the driver’s side door jamb, or online. Exceeding these limits can damage your vehicle and endanger everyone on the road.
Towbar Rating
Next, check that your vehicle’s towbar can handle the maximum towing weight. For example, if your car can tow 3000kg, but your towbar is only rated for 2500kg, you can only tow up to 2500kg safely. Always go with the lower rating to ensure safety.
Towing Vehicle Weights
- Kerb Weight: The vehicle’s empty weight with a full tank of fuel but no passengers or luggage.
- Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM): The kerb weight plus the payload of passengers, luggage, and accessories.
- Gross Combination Mass (GCM): The maximum allowed total weight for both the towing vehicle and the trailer.
Trailer Weights
- Tare Weight: The unladen weight of the trailer as supplied by the dealer with empty water tanks and gas bottles.
- Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM): The trailer’s tare weight plus its maximum payload when uncoupled from a vehicle.
- Gross Trailer Mass (GTM): The weight a fully loaded trailer exerts on its own axle when coupled to the towing vehicle.
Towball Weight
This is the maximum vertical weight that can be exerted onto the tow ball without raising the towing vehicle’s front wheels, which could affect steering and braking.
Water Weight
Water is essential, but it adds significant weight. Modern caravans have large water tanks that can impact your vehicle’s towing capacity. A litre of water equals a kilogram in weight, so full tanks add considerable weight. Positioning of tanks affects towball loading, so be mindful of whether to travel with full, empty, or partially filled tanks.
Here are some local to Geelong weighing stations:
At Patto’s RV Centre Geelong, we want your caravan adventures to be safe and enjoyable. Visit us for more advice on safe towing practices and check out our range of camper trailers in Geelong. Happy travels!
