connect towing caravan

[transit_tractor]

looking for a connect t220 or t230 for commuting and occasional caravan towing the caravan is 1060kg and both logbooks say maximum braked towing 1200kg as the van will carry very little weight gross van weight 2000kg would i be legal

[paul2012]

Unfortunatly no, you can't tow a caravan with a connect

Combined weight exceeds the Gross Train Weight (GTW) Combined gross weight of connect + Trailer/caravan ! (GTW weight is found on vin sticker - N/S B post on connects)

See here for specs on connects



Aslo Trailer towing laws have changed since January this year they now go by the plated Gross weights.

Max trailer weight you can tow is 750kg

I Don't go by the Max towing capacity stated on the towbar, as this is just EC Tyre approval

[g-man]

viewtopic.php?f=54&t=129368&p=1070884#p1070876

[(ROG)]

If you have a towing capacity of 1200 (the post above suggests otherwise) and the actual weight of both connect and caravan when weighed together do not exceed the GTW then towing a caravan which actually weighs 1060 will be legal on weight laws

What is the GTW of your connect ?

This will also be ok with a B+E licence

If only got a B licence then The GVW of the connect added to the MPTLM of the caravan must not be more than 3500 kgs and the MPTLM of the caravan must not be more than the connect kerbweight

GTW does NOT mean the max of the total MAMs (GVW+MPTLM)
GTW means the ACTUAL total weight of the lot when weighed together

[g-man]

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j& ... EgUjH9k_fQ

[(ROG)]

Aslo Trailer towing laws have changed since January this year they now go by the plated Gross weights.

Do not know where you got that from but its incorrect

The changes on 19/01/2013 =
No changes in any of the weight laws
No changes to B licence towing
Those who pass BOTH B & B+E after that date are limited to trailers with a max plated MAM of 3500 kgs which means it will not affect any driver towing an over-run braked trailer

[(ROG)]

http://fordtransit.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=129368&p=1070884#p1070876

Great find

That also states a max towing capacity of 800 so would like to see the paperwork which the OP states 1200 !!

Legally the towing capacity has no direct law governing it but exceeding it could be deemed unsafe by a court and the insurer could try to use that as an excuse not to pay out if needed

Only plated weights are directly governed in law

using this moodel TRANSIT CONNECT 230 LWB High Roof Van TDCi 110ps .....
Gross Train Weight 3140
Gross vehicle weight 2340 kg
Max towing weight - braked 800 kg
Unladen weight 1466 kg
.... we could legally do this
Load connect to actual weight of 2080
Load caravan to actual weight of 1060
That gives a legal GTW of 3140 but ecxeeds the non legal towing capacity of 800 by 260
If the caravan has a MPTLM of not more than 1160 then this would be legal for B licence towing

[LeeH]

My v5 states I can tow 1200 braked IIRC.

[chrisp]

I work for EMG Motor Group (Ford)

According to the manufacturers specifications the towing limits on all transit connects is 800kg Max

GTW = Gross Train Weight - MAM of vehicle + trailer & must not be exceeded by law

[paul2012]

I agree on the max towing limit of 800kg.

As I stated previously when towing a trailer or caravan, VOSA go on the MAM weights & NOT on the actual weight when towing its - irrelevant if unloaded or loaded or wether you have a cat B, B+E or C+E, C1, C1+E
(As they say you could be going somewhere to load it up)

Lets say, a Connect T200 was unloaded & you were towing a empty trailer which has a MAM weight of 1000kg (Max weight loaded)

Pic of connect T200 vin plate/sticker


Now the weigth of the connect is 2035kg (MAM) & trailer is 1060kg (MAM) - Total MAM is 3095kg, Connect GTW is 2835kg This means you are 260kg over the GTW & illegal
Connects MAM is 2035kg & GTW is 2835kg, MAX towing limit is 800kg (2835kg - 2035kg = 800kg)

Another member on here got caught out by it- read here

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=44117

I can tow upto 12 ton (yes I have held my licence since 1995) I don't think my connect is capable of pulling a 5 ton trailer but then again it would be illegal to do so

[(ROG)]

I work for EMG Motor Group (Ford)

GTW = Gross Train Weight - MAM of vehicle + trailer & must not be exceeded by law

If you mean the GVW added to the trailer plated MAM must not be more than the GTW then you are incorrect in law

GTW refers to the actual weight of the combination when placed together on a weighbridge

This will be legal 100%
Vehicle GTW = 6000
Vehicle GVW 3500 but actually weighing 3000
Trailer MAM 3500 but actually weighing 3000

The total of the MAMs add up to 7000 but the GTW of 6000 has not been exceeded - nor has any plated MAM weight

[(ROG)]

Now the weigth of the connect is 2035kg (MAM) & trailer is 1060kg (MAM) - Total MAM is 3095kg, Connect GTW is 2835kg This means you are 260kg over the GTW & illegal

INCORRECT AGAIN unless the actual weight of the combination is over 2835

May I suggest all those saying this check the law and especially the definition of GTW

[transit_tractor]

lookin at either t220 swb or t230 lwb with gtw of 3040kg and 3140kg van would have only camping gear in when towing and be approx 1900kg with caravan max weight of 1060kg when caravan was last weighed fully loaded was 1000kg
either way the gtw would be under 3000kg is this legal

[(ROG)]

Another member on here got caught out by it- read here

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=44117

The cops were wrong and its a good job they did not try to do him for it because they would have looked right numpties

Actually I do not see what the charge would actually be ....... no charge covers it !!

[(ROG)]

lookin at either t220 swb or t230 lwb with gtw of 3040kg and 3140kg van would have only camping gear in when towing and be approx 1900kg with caravan max weight of 1060kg when caravan was last weighed fully loaded was 1000kg
either way the gtw would be under 3000kg is this legal

YES

If no vehicle GVW or trailer MAM weight is exceeded and the total actual weights of both vehicle and trailer together (GTW) are not exceeded then its legal

If the manufacturer recommmended towing capacity is exceeded then that in itself is not illegal but could deem the combination unstable or could put undue wear on the design capacity of the rear axle/components etc which would come under C&U regs but that would need to be confirmed in a court