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Understand Tow Vehicle And Caravan Weights

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Towing Capacity:

Towing Capacity: Towing capacity refers to the maximum weight your vehicle can safely tow. It is important to know your vehicle’s towing capacity to ensure you do not exceed its limits, which can affect safety and performance.

  • ATM (Aggregate Trailer Mass) – Can be found on the VIN plate of your caravan: ATM is the total weight of your fully loaded caravan when it’s not coupled to the tow vehicle. It includes the weight of the caravan itself, along with any belongings, water, fuel, and supplies inside it.
  • GCM (Gross Combination Mass) –  Can be found from your Tow vehicle manufacturer: GCM is the maximum weight allowed for both your tow vehicle and the fully loaded caravan combined. It includes the weight of the tow vehicle, passengers, cargo, and the caravan itself.
  • GTM (Gross Trailer Mass): GTM is the weight that the loaded caravan puts on the tow vehicle’s tow ball when they are connected. It includes the weight of the loaded caravan.
  • Ball Weight (or Tow Ball Mass)– Can be found on the VIN plate of your caravan: Ball weight refers to the downward force exerted on the tow vehicle’s tow ball by the loaded caravan when they are connected. It is an important factor for safe towing and stability. The ball weight should typically be around 10% to 15% of the caravan’s GTM.
  • Tare Weight – Can be found on the VIN plate of your caravan: Tare weight is the weight of the empty caravan as it comes from the manufacturer, without any additional belongings or supplies. It includes the weight of the caravan’s structure and standard equipment but does not include any optional extras or personal belongings.

Too Complicated?  A simple way and essential to know about your caravan weights

A: Payload -All things that you put on/in the van afterwards, including water, clothes, food in the fridge, anything that is not fitted by caravan manufacturer.

B: Weight on the Caravan wheels

C: Weight on the Ball, people call it ball weight. Imaging you are trying to lift up the caravan at front of towing hitching, that is weight we are talking about here.

  1. ATM = A+B+C, ATM is defined by caravan manufacturer, can be found on the VIN plate, whatever you do, don’t exceed the ATM defined on the VIN plate.
  2. Tare weight = B+C, Tare weight is what caravan manufacturer give to you and you can find on the VIN plate. You need to make sure the tare is well below than ATM which give you some payload. You will need at least 400Kg payload for tandem and 300Kg payload for single axle caravan.
  3. GCM = A + B + fully loaded tow vehicle, GCM is the number you can find from the tow vehicle manufacturer. Fully laden towing vehicle and caravan can not exceed the GCM

Toyota Land Cruiser 200 Series:

Make: Toyota

Model: Land Cruiser 200

Year: 2022

Towing Capacity: Up to 3,500 kg — Caravan Tare Weight need to be no greater than 3100Kg as general guideline

GCM: Up to 6,500 kg —— Full laden tow vehicle and caravan together can not exceed this number 

Ford Ranger:

Make: Ford

Model: Ranger

Year: 2021

Towing Capacity: Up to 3,500 kg

GCM: Up to 6,000 kg

Nissan Navara:

Make: Nissan

Model: Navara

Year: 2022

Towing Capacity: Up to 3,500 kg

GCM: Up to 6,000 kg

Nissan Patrol:

Make: Nissan

Model: Patrol

Year: 2022

Towing Capacity: Up to 3,500 kg

GCM: Up to 7,000 kg

Make: Isuzu

Model: D-Max

Year: 2022

Towing Capacity: Up to 3,500 kg (varies depending on variant and equipment)

GCM: Up to 6,950 kg (varies depending on variant and equipment)

*Please note that the towing capacity and GCM can vary based on the specific variant, engine type, transmission, and optional towing packages for each vehicle. It is always recommended to refer to the manufacturer’s specifications or consult with a reputable dealership for the most accurate and up-to-date information on towing capacities and GCMs for specific makes, models, and years of vehicles.

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