Towing Question

[DBennett35]

Apologies if this has been posted in the wrong section. I have a question regarding towing of my Renault Clio. I have a 2.0 VW Passat 2.0 Saloon with a towing capacity of 1800 and a kerb weight of 1532. My brother decided to buy a Brian James A4 trailer, and with all the addons the trailer comes in at around 700kg with the Clio coming in at around 1200kg with no fuel on board. This brings the total up to 1900kg, would it be illegal to tow now, the gov website does state any weight not used by the car can be used by the trailer but I’m concerned, A - how safe would it be with the trailer weighing the same or more than the car and B - would the police have a dimmer view on things.

Apologies if this comes across a bit of a silly question but I’d rather ask then chance it. Thanks I’m advance.

[angoooose]

What is to ask? Passat can tow 1800kg, trailer + Clio = 1900kg

1900 > 1800 so it's not legal. It can probably do it and you'd probably get away with it BUT IT'S NOT LEGAL

And most towing limits is with driver only, passenger(s) in the towing car reduces the towing limit

Edited by angoooose on Monday 7th February 16:20

[Snow and Rocks]

Where are you getting the towing limit of the passat from - the owners manual?

[Snow and Rocks]

tendown said:

As i understand it the towing limit of that car is 3925-2100=1825kg.

Happy to be corrected if i'm wrong.

I'm glad because that post is almost entirely wrong!

Firstly the plated weight of the trailer can be in excess of the car's tow rating as long as the actual weight of the trailer is acceptable. (see below from the government website)

Thr tow rating is sometimes calculated using the method you describe above but often heavier trailers are allowed if the car isn't fully loaded - the manual will have the actual tow rating. The tow rating seems to vary depending on the year so don't rely on Google.

[tendown]

Snow and Rocks said:

I'm glad because that post is almost entirely wrong!

I realised and deleted it before i saw your post

Got a link for that snip? I can't find that info on an official website now.

[vonhosen]

There's a sticky thread in Speed, Plod & the Law section.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[HustleRussell]

Snow and Rocks said:

tendown said:

As i understand it the towing limit of that car is 3925-2100=1825kg.

Happy to be corrected if i'm wrong.

I'm glad because that post is almost entirely wrong!

Firstly the plated weight of the trailer can be in excess of the car's tow rating as long as the actual weight of the trailer is acceptable. (see below from the government website)

Thr tow rating is sometimes calculated using the method you describe above but often heavier trailers are allowed if the car isn't fully loaded - the manual will have the actual tow rating. The tow rating seems to vary depending on the year so don't rely on Google.

OP has already plainly said that the actual Clio & trailer combination does exceed the tow car’s maximum towing weight.

[Snow and Rocks]

HustleRussell said:

OP has already plainly said that the actual Clio & trailer combination does exceed the tow car’s maximum towing weight.

All that was to correct some (now deleted) incorrect information posted earlier.

The only thing left to clarify is where the figure for the towing weight came from as there's quite a range of weights quoted online.

[Snow and Rocks]

tendown said:

I realised and deleted it before i saw your post

Got a link for that snip? I can't find that info on an official website now.

Sorry don't have a link to hand, I took that snip just before Christmas to show to a friend who was worried about towing a 3500kg ifor williams with his 3300kg rated pickup.