What does towing capacity mean?
Most cars have a maximum weight that they can tow safely and legally.
The first thing to do is make sure that what you wish to tow doesn’t exceed the trailer's own maximum authorised mass or the car's maximum towing capacity; both figures should be easy to find in the drivers manual.
There are usually two maximum towing weights that will be specified: a braked trailer weight and an unbraked one. It’s important to note that if the trailer weight is more than 750kg or over half the car’s kerb weight (this is the weight of the car without people or luggage inside and should be listed in the manual), the trailer must be fitted with brakes.
The second important thing to point out is the maximum capacity will also include the weight of the trailer/caravan/horesbox itself, so you’ll need to add that into the equation when thinking about how much weight you can transport.
You can buy towing scales which will measure the total weight for you and it’s equally important to ensure the load is spread evenly to avoid overloading a particular tyre.
I want to tow a caravan for the next family holiday
The weight of caravans can vary but generally speaking a car that can tow 2,000kg and above will do the job. Examples include the Mitsubishi Outlander, BMW 5 Series Touring and Kia Sportage.
For larger twin-axle caravans, larger 4x4s or pick-ups will be up for the task. Examples of these include the Land Rover Discovery (3,500kg braked towing weight), Volvo XC90 (2,700kg) and Ford Ranger (3,350kg).
Remember to factor in your luggage into the total weight. If you’re planning on transporting six full suitcases with a couple of kitchen sinks then it may push you over the maximum towing capacity for your car.
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