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Learn to Tow a Trailer/Caravan
Irish School of Motoring (ISM) run a course/lesson’s on towing a trailer/caravan. We highly recommend this service for anyone who is new to towing - https://www.ism.ie/driving-school/trailer-caravan-lessons/
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Maximum
Towing Weights
Calculating vehicle towing capacity:
Often we are asked what the
towing capacity of a specific vehicle is or how much weight a towbar can carry,
however it is the vehicle which determines the towing capacity and a fully type
approved towbar will cater for that capacity. The vehicles towing capacity is
defined by the vehicle manufacturer and is specific to each individual vehicle.
In essence two vehicles of the same make, model and year will not necessarily
have the same towing capabilities. The towing capacity for your
vehicle that is outlined in the owner’s handbook or on the manufacturer’s
website should only be taken as a guide.
The only correct towing capacity figure for a vehicle is that which is stamped on the Vehicle Identification Number
plate i.e. the VIN Plate.
The location of the VIN plate is
usually under the bonnet or on the door pillar, but the exact location will be
in the vehicle handbook.
The VIN plate will display
either 3 or 4 sets of weight, it is these weights that the authorities use to
determine whether your vehicle is over-laden.
This first image shows a VIN
plate from a vehicle that is homologated (Approved) to tow:
It has 4 lines of numbers:
2505kg
- Gross vehicle weight, the Maximum Allowable Mass (MAM) of the vehicle including occupants, fuel and payload.
4200kg
- Gross train weight, the combined maximum allowable mass of the vehicle and trailer.
1250kg & 1300kg
- Maximum axle loads front and rear respectively.
The manufacturer’s recommended maximum towing capacity for your vehicle is the gross vehicle weight subtracted from gross train weight. The vehicle identification plate detailed in the above picture has a towing capacity of 1695kg.
4200kg – 2505kg = 1695kg
Certain performance, hybrid, electric and city-car models or
similar variants of standard models are not homologated to tow, this means that
the vehicle manufacturer has deemed that the model is unsuitable for use as a
tow vehicle. With this type of vehicle the towing capacity will equate to zero
or a gross train weight will not be displayed.
The image below is from an Audi S3, which is not homologated (Approved) to tow, the Gross Train Weight is shown as 0000 kg. Some manufacturers simply leave this line blank. If you are unsure if your car is allowed to tow, you need to check this line on the VIN plate.
2505kg
- Gross vehicle weight, the Maximum Allowable Mass (MAM) of the vehicle including occupants, fuel and payload.
4200kg
- Gross train weight, the combined maximum allowable mass of the vehicle and trailer.
1250kg & 1300kg
- Maximum axle loads front and rear respectively.
The manufacturer’s recommended maximum towing capacity for your vehicle is the gross vehicle weight subtracted from gross train weight. The vehicle identification plate detailed in the above picture has a towing capacity of 1695kg.
4200kg – 2505kg = 1695kg
Vehicles
not homologated (Approved) to tow:
Certain performance, hybrid, electric and city-car models or
similar variants of standard models are not homologated to tow, this means that
the vehicle manufacturer has deemed that the model is unsuitable for use as a
tow vehicle. With this type of vehicle the towing capacity will equate to zero
or a gross train weight will not be displayed.The image below is from an Audi S3, which is not homologated (Approved) to tow, the Gross Train Weight is shown as 0000 kg. Some manufacturers simply leave this line blank. If you are unsure if your car is allowed to tow, you need to check this line on the VIN plate.
