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THE CARAVAN
The Masses defined below are in accordance with European Standards and will usually be given in a caravan’s Owner’s Manual. (alternative/previous names of terms are shown in italics)
Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass (MTPLM)
(Maximum Authorised Mass)
As stated by the caravan manufacturer on the caravan weight plate (usually mounted close to the entrance door) – the absolute maximum weight that the caravan must not exceed to be legal on the road. It includes allowances for the user payload – all fluids (water etc) and personal belongings that you may wish to carry (clothes, food etc).
Mass in Running Order (MRO)
(Ex works weight inclusive of the manufacturer'stolerances, Unladen Weight)
Mass of the caravan equipped to the manufaturer's standard specification stated on the caravan weight plate. Note: Dealer fitted items must be taken into concideration if it is a dealer special.
User Payload
(Caravan Allowable Payload)
Payload relates to the weights of all items carried in a caravan and is the allowance you have for:
• optional equipment
• essential habitation equipment, and
• personal effects
The total of the allowances represents the difference between the MTPLM and the MRO.
Optional equipment
Items made available by the manufacturer or dealer over and above the standard specification of the caravan, e.g. spare wheel, air conditioning, motor mover, awning etc.
Essential habitation equipment
Those items and fluids you require for the safe and proper functioning of the equipment for habitation as defined by the caravan manufacturer (e.g. gas cylinder, fresh water, hook up cable and leisure battery)
Personal effects
Those items which you choose to carry in a caravan and which are not included as essential habitation equipment or optional equipment. (e.g. clothes, crockery, cooking utensils, bedding, TV, radio, footwear. books, awning and food)
Actual laden weight
The actual weight of the caravan when you use it – including its optional equipment and the essential habitation equipment plus your personal effects. You need to know this weight because it will determine whether you are towing within the law and also within your caravan towing experience.
Here is a typical example of weights/masses in a caravan:
| KG | ||
| 935 | ||
| 75 | ||
| 50 | ||
| 100 | ||
| 225 | ||
| 1160 | ||
| 1300 | ||
| 140 | ||
Hitch limit
The maximum vertical static load that the towing coupling can bear, stamped on a plate on the coupling. See also the caravan drawbar limit, sometimes printed in the owner’s manual.
Hitch height
The height of the centre of the coupling hitch should lie in the range of 395mm and 465mm above ground level with the caravan level, front to back.
Noseweight
The downforce that the caravan’s coupling head imposes on a car’s towball, measured by a noseweight gauge – it should never be greater than the towbar/ball or hitch limit values, whichever is the lower.
THE CAR
The towing vehicle in this guide is assumed to be a car.
Mass of vehicle in running order (MRO)
(Kerbweight, kerbside weight)
The weight of the car as defined by the car manufacturer.
Normally, this includes: 90% full tank of fuel; an adequate supply of other liquids incidental to the vehicle’s propulsion; the driver but without any passengers; without any load, except tools and equipment with which the car is mormally provided; but without the towing bracket. You should add about 25kg for the towbag and ball.
Note: some definitions used by car manufacturers do not include the driver. If you do not know the MRO for your car, add about 100kg to the driverless kerbweight of the car to allow for the driver, towing bracket, ball and additional wiring.
Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM)
Weight of the car when fully laden with driver, passengers and luggage and imposed noseweight.
Note: In other documents this may also be referred to as the Maximum Permissible Weight (MPW) or Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
Maximum Permissible Towing Mass
The weight defined by the car manufacturer as the maximum that the car is to tow.
Gross Train Weight (GTW)
The maximum permitted conbined weight og the car and trailer as specified by the car manufacturer.
Towing load limit
The maximum trailer mass that the car can tow. Published by the car manufacturer.
Rowbar load limit
The maximum vertical static load that the towbar can support through the towball. Published by the towbar manufacturer and shown on a plate on the towbar.
Towball height
The height of the centre of the the towball should lie in the range of 350mm to 420mm above ground level when the car is laden. Some large cars may require a towball drop plate to achieve a height within this range. See your towbar fitter for advice.