Saw someone with a Jeep Cherokee who tows a 3300kg van..... How? Braked it can tow 3500kgs.

200kgs load capacity left. What about all the add ons,  bullbar fuel 50 litres at 46kgs,water and all the rest of the stuff including I would assume Two adults. I would imagine two adults at 125 to 150kgs

On the Hume Highway last week heading to Albury and up a gentle rise.Passed by a twin axle van behind a late model Jeep Cherokee, probably doing 90/95. the caravan swaying around like a pendulum.

The whole towing weights thing needs to be looked at.

Just have to Look at the report by Clayton's Towing about their take on Caravan Crashes to see how bad it's getting.

https://claytonstowing.com.au/caravan-crashes/

Be very careful of what you add. It adds up extremely quickly and you have no capacity for critical items!

We don't have a tow bar which weigh a far bit themselves, bull bar, draw system, tool box, aerials, driving lights, winch, under body protection, roof platform (did have one, got rid of it to save weight), boat, outboard, or kayak, life vests, fishing equipment, UHF radio (looking at getting one), BBQ & cleaning equipment (boil only & buy fried food when in town). We only have a tiny fridge and small battery. Our wheels are small at 255/60 R18 30kg each.

Items added to our car:

145.000 People (one has to reduce a bit!) x2

12.000 Roof rack rails & 1 pair cross bars x1
_3.600 Second pair cross bars x1
_4.000 Solar panel & tyre bracket x1
30.000 Wheel second spare x1
_4.600 Fuel rack aluminium x1
36.000 Fuel tanks 10 litres x4
_3.000 Fuel rack aluminium small x1
_9.000 Fuel tanks 5 litres x2
_0.080 Fuel tank nozzle x2
15.200 Solar panels x1
12.000 Sand tracks x4
12.000 Awning x1

20.972 Water container 10 litre 0.486 x2
42.656 Water container 5 litre 0.332 x8
_3.414 Water container 1 litre 0.138 x3
_1.000 Thermos flask x1

_3.700 Fire extinguishers 1kg x2
_0.300 Hi vis vests x2
16.000 Compressor 4.5kg x3
_1.350 Air tank 4 litres x1
_0.636 Air dryer x1
_0.388 Pressure gauge x1
_0.084 Pressure gauge electronic x2
_0.132 Fitting x1
_0.556 Air hose 6 metre ARB orange x1
_0.426 Air hose 2 metre blue x1
_0.362 Air hose 1.5 metre blue x1
_0.264 Air hose 0.8 metre blue x1
_0.106 Air duster cleaner x1

_2.100 Jumper leads 175 anderson to clamp x1
_3.900 Jumper leads 300 amp continuous x1
29.000 Battery 26ah 8.35kg + brackets x3
_1.000 MPPT x1
_1.490 6awg 4m 50ah anderson x1
_0.954 8awg 4m 50ah anderson x1
_0.254 12awg 2.2m anderson x1
_0.342 12awg 2m 50/35 ah anderson x1
_0.282 12awg 35ah fridge lead 1
_0.112 Fridge power lead x1
_0.210 Fridge 240 volt lead x1
15.000 Fridge 28 litres inc. extra insulation x1
_0.100 12 volt lead 1m x3
_0.700 White towel to cover fridge x1

0.216 Window sun shade front x1
0.366 Window sun shade rest of windows x1
6.500 Mosquito enclosure x1
1.000 Ground sheet heavy x1
0.626 Ground sheet tent cover light x1
1.088 Tent poles telescopic 0.544 x2
1.900 Tent poles and pegs x2
1.600 Tent ropes & pegs (10 & 10)
0.684 Tent peg hammer x1
1.050 Sand flag x1
0.300 Window sun nets for mosquitoes x4

3.100 Helinox chairs x2
1.210 Stools x2
0.054 Blue & grey seat mats x2
1.054 Table top x1
1.178 Table legs x1
1.010 Metho stove & lighters etc
1.850 Metho 1 litre x2
0.700 Bucket with lid x1

0.806 Sleeping mat blue Thermarest x1
1.110 Sleeping mat brown Thermarest x1
0.400 Sleeping mat 3/4 Thermarest x1
0.278 Sleeping mat grey foam x1
0.286 Sleeping mat blue foam x1
3.000 Sleeping bags x2

0.500 First aid x1
0.256 Tick freeze spray x1
0.300 Braun tooth brush 2xAA x2
2.000 Personal items
1.500 Toilet paper 10 rolls + 3 emergency

0.256 Camera Canon G9X + 2 add batteries x1
0.700 Paper maps Hema / Gregorys x10
3.000 Atlas x2
0.370 GPS + cable + bracket x1
0.200 Mobile x1
0.800 portable radio

0.256 Torch large USB 26650 x1
0.102 Torch medium USB 18650 x1
0.150 Torch head USB 16340 x2
0.032 Torch AAA x2
0.244 AA AAA battery charger
0.384 Clamp meter x1
1.086 Tool box tyre repair x1
0.366 Multi grips x1
0.192 Long nose pliers
0.268 Ratchet 3/8 inch x1
0.320 Wheel leveller x1
1.830 Jack plate x1
0.650 Tie down ratchet heavey duty x1
0.372 Tie down straps 2 metres x2
0.324 Tie down straps 1 metres x2
8.000 Tow ropes + shackles x2
1.368 3/4 inch tee handle x1
0.622 3/4 inch 21mm socket + extension x1
0.260 Builders glovers 2 sets x2
1.000 Boot carpet x1
3.000 Front rubber mats x2
0.238 Fuses box of 150 x150

0.300 12 volt dual outlet + extension x1
1.036 Spanners 6mm to 19mm (set)
0.578 Sockets 13mm - 21mm + extension (set)
0.434 Sockets small (set)
0.216 Screw driver set (set)
0.366 Air filter
0.300 Oil filter

15.000 Clothes for 2 people
_3.000 Shoes & sandals 2 people
15.000 Food - cans, dry & cold
15.000 Beer (reduce weight of first item!) (not enough beer!)

548kg      

-11.300 Rear seat bases & 3 head rests removed (we turn the car into 2 seats while away)

I know there are still a few thing missing and I am sure people could easily add many items to this list!

An old Boeing 747 is about 1% heavier with all the dirt in the nooks and crannies. So maybe factor in another 1% due to the environment we travel in. So lets say 30kg off you payload!

There are some top heavy cars out there!

hi John,

There is some great info in this pic....

Im currently building a lightweight caravan with full ensuite. Its in the reno section.

In relation to this topic, once registered it will have a projected tare of 600-630kg. Atm of 930kg and my car can tow 850kg.

Now, if people watch my car towing a 16' x 7' caravan along the road they might well believe my van weighs about 1600kg.

So, just saying, things arent always as they seem...

The Belmont Bear wrote:

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Dickodownunder wrote:

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Is it not more simple just to load your choice of vehicle and caravan / camper / whatever you are living in or under, and just go to a weigh bridge and weigh it.

---

My point exactly Dicko don't worry about the tables, the spreadsheets or whatever else you use to calculate your weights just load up and go to a weighbridge. If you're over take some things out if you're under you're good to go - how hard is it ? 

BB

---

Gday...

You are perfectly correct gentlemen - and but it does not help the purchaser when they are in the car/van yard making buying decisions.

The problem is that many purchasers of vans, and vehicles to tow those vans, are not aware that there are limitations on just what can be actually carried, added to the vehicle and/or towed - and the numbers quoted in those brochures, and nodded to by the eager salesperson, may not be achievable in the actual use the vehicle will be applied to.

Articles such as this, and some of the responses to this thread, are attempting to increase the awareness of the general travelling public that there is a REAL need to be fully aware of just what their vehicle is rated for, and whether that rated capacity is in fact able to be complied with once they begin 'fitting it out'.

It is not fully understood just how easy it is to exceed the rated Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) when adding the niceties, and necessities, in readiness for that big trip. 

Similarly, that applies to the van as well. Just because there are some numbers stamped on a compliance plate does not mean these are the be-all and end-all of the process. One needs to load the van and then follow your good advice and head to a weighbridge to confirm what the actual weight of the van will be and that is within the rated capacities stamped on that compliance plate.

It needs to be continually highlighted that the vehicle's stated maximum braked towing capacity does not, in itself, mean what it seems to indicate. What the vehicle's genuine carrying capacity is (usable payload) needs to be understood when applied to the use intended by the vehicle's purchaser.

There are many permutations and calculations that need to be considered before the vehicle's suitability, or indeed its ability, is truly known about its capability of towing a 'heavy' van.

Often, unfortunately, it is only after the vehicle and van have been purchased that the real situation is known - and that is when your advice to head to a weighbridge to confirm the loading outcome is pertinent. A purchaser of vehicle is not able to take it to a weighbridge with all the added kit and fully loaded for the journey while still in the showroom chatting to the eager salesperson. Hence, purchasers need to be educated in looking, and listening, past the smooth words of that eager salesperson and the glossy brochure.

When, and it is only time, authorities begin actually performing random weighing exercises for vehicle/vans as they do for other heavy vehicles, it will not be an acceptable excuse when the GVM has been exceeded to say ".....but I thought it was OK according to the owner's manual - or the compliance plate".

Cheers - safe and happy travelling - John

Dickodownunder wrote:

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Is it not more simple just to load your choice of vehicle and caravan / camper / whatever you are living in or under, and just go to a weigh bridge and weigh it.

---

There are a few advantages of the spreadsheet approach. It took less than a day so it was really not that much effort, kitchen & bathroom scales at the ready. You will end up with a list of every item which could be useful for an insurance claim.

But more so simply going through every item you will probably find a dozen or three items that are simply not needed which you probably had the intention of chucking out but never getting around to it. A spring clean out by default!

Having the numbers in black and white in front of you puts the situation into perspective. Even though I have been careful avoiding packing too much, I was shocked by the numbers and will be doing some culling!

Found 2 more items looking at the photo. Fly swat (0.026) and fan (0.526) were not on my list but they are staying!

Yuglamron wrote:

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In reply to the response What speed was I doing. Actually doing about 75kph.

 

Reason I came up on a slow moving B Double tanker and I slowed to his speed.

There were aprox. thirty or so cars and faster vehicles most of whom were moving to the outer lane to overtake us.

It was a clearly marked 110kph limit and if I had just pulled out to overtake it would not have been safe. I came up behind the truck doing between 95 and 100kph slowing slightly because of the incline. There were no safe gaps for me to pull out so I drove to the conditions and slowed to the speed of the vehicle in front.

When it was clear for me to overtake I did so.

---

A lot of misinformation about obstruction due to slow driving,,,, ignorance is bliss. You were totally legal Yuglamron,,,, see road rules below; I QUOTE

1) A driver must not unreasonably obstruct the path of another

driver or a pedestrian.

Offence provision.

Note Driver includes a person in control of a vehicle see the

definition of drive in the dictionary.

(2) For this rule, a driver does not unreasonably obstruct the

path of another driver or a pedestrian only because:

(a) the driver is stopped in traffic; or

(b) the driver is driving more slowly than other vehicles

(unless the driver is driving abnormally slowly in the

circumstances).

Example of a driver driving abnormally slowly

A driver driving at a speed of 20 kilometres per hour on a length of road

to which a speed-limit of 80 kilometres per hour applies when there is

no reason for the driver to drive at that speed on the length of road.

Baz421,

I see that the road rules you quoted are from the NSW traffic regulations including the example that is given. I totally agree with you that Yuglamon was doing nothing wrong and in this case wouldn't have had a problem. If he had been travelling at 75kph in a 110kph zone and traffic was building up behind him then an over zealous highway patrol officer could interpret the rule a little differently. When terms such as "unreasonably obstruct" &  "abnormally slowly in the circumstances" are used what exactly does that mean my view of what's unreasonably obstructing, driving abnormally slowly or even the circumstances that warrant it may be completely different to the next persons. In the example given doing 20kph in an 80kph zone for no real reason was deemed as being unreasonable - so what then is considered to be reasonable - 30,40,50, 60 or does the police officer get to make that call based on how good a day he is having ?

BB

Make that 3 Dicko sorry but I had to respond.