Apologies if this is repetitive .
The Police ( accompanied by men in white coats ) were showing a keen interest in caravans/trailers on the M5 a couple of years ago .
Apparently it was part of a survey into the condition of the outfits concerned .
and the effect ( if any ) that caravans had on overall
Motorway traffic speeds .( none as it turned out - which will pig Mr Clarkson Off)
I am led to beleive that the police go on manufacturers figures / weight ratings .
Cutting to the chase - according to my Citroen handbook
Synergie - all models
Gross Trailer weight ( with brakes ) 1300Kg
Trailer nose weight 60Kg
IMHO the % rule for nose weight is another Euro - Politician red herring .
its where you place the load inside the van' that counts. e.g nothing of any weight rearmost.
Plates on towbars indicate the max loading of THAT particular Towbar ,
not the vehicle it's attatched to.
In 30 + years of caravanning I have only ever owned one van' that left the factory with its noseweight as specified ! They were all MUCH Higher than specified ! including the so called lightweight van's
Though not strictly legal , I run at 65Kg noseweight + whatever (dynamic) load the spring - leaf type stabiliser applies which dimishes with speed ( caravan lift)
I too agree that underslung spare carriers are rubbish .
If struggling with high noseweight ? put the spare in the tow vehicle or over the axle inside the van' , though I would never - ever place a gas cyld in a car - UXB.
Using
a lightweight gas bottles makes a significant difference .
By sheer coincidence our current Van's max possible gross weight ' matches the Synergies max tow weight .(1300Kg)
in practice we are well under it ( 1175Kg) laden ( caravan)
A local weighbridge is a useful tool
* Our overall journey times ( towing in daytime) due to modern traffic , are much the same as when I towed with a Vauxhall Viva ( Max legal speed 50 m.p.h in those days )
Moving - on , my 1.9 TD syn' will keep up with and pass trucks etc ( not on hills ) , due in no small part to its low gearing , 60 m.p.h is just where the max torque is .its no sprinter off the mark though - as if that matters.
Easily the most stable towcar ever owned
, including a 1970's V8 Rangy' which never saw double figures when towing at 60
( less than 10 m.p.g) you could get a few gallons for a quid then........
We now tow through the night , not in the heat / traffic of the day.