Hello Kimbra,
I see no-one else has seen your post other than Barboots so I'll welcome you into the forum. You'll get some more welcomes from other members too.
Mostly we are friendly & willing to share limited or experienced knowledge with those who ask (sometimes some of us get caught on "band wagons").

if you do a "Search" on mainly the techies tab, you'll find a stack of information - mainly in the last six months on the "Dreaded Weight Issue" where some of us have some dramas (including me).

Bear in mind what you can tow depends on what load you have in the car - NOT WHAT A CARAVAN SALESPERSON TELLS YOU! Check your Compliance plates, get the car weighed on a weigh bridge - either full or empty. Load = passengers + fuel + what else you carry + ball weight.

I'm sticking my neck out here but I think "your" van's 260Kg is a bit heavy. Is that loaded?
Can you advise a bit more about the van, were you'd like to go, etc? Three years ago we saw a similar car to yours on the Birdsville Track - they did two tyres on the southern section because they were of low profiles which did not agree with the stoney road.

The Scalies are interested in your Gross Vehicle Mass, the ATM of the van & with some vehicles, the Gross Combination Mass (total weight of the rig).

Hi Warren,

Thank you for your quick reply.

I'm not sure if it is fully loaded or not.

After what Steve has pointed out I need to contact the dealer and find out what the 260 kg ball weight is specifically referring to.

There is so much to learn and I will do what you have suggested and search some previous posts about weight, etc.

Kimbra wrote:

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Hi All,

First time poster...so please be kind!

My husband and I are looking at purchasing our first caravan.

I am getting my head around all the different weights you need to keep in mind in relation to your towing vehicle, etc.

We are towing with a 2013, AWD, Diesel, Ford Territory.  It has a 2.7 tonne tow limit with 270 kg tow ball weight limit.

One of the caravans we are looking at has a tare of 2160 kg, ATM of 2560 kg and ball of 260 kg.

My question is will the Territory do the job?  Also, is the 260 kg tow ball weight on the high side for a caravan with these weight specs?

Thanking you in advance for any assistance.

 

-- Edited by Kimbra on Wednesday 7th of February 2018 07:35:40 PM

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Kimbra,

The van you are looking at has an ATM of 2560kg and your towing capacity is 2700kg so you are ok there.

You only have 400kg of payload based on the tare provided and this will not include water or gas or any extras fitted (if any) after the van leaves the factory. You will need to manage this carefully.

Ball weight loaded should ideally be 10% of the laden van so I'm assuming the figure you were given would be that. Check that with the dealer.

Just remember actual ball weight is variable and needs to be regularly monitored.It will vary with van load positioning. At 260kg you are within the tugs rating of 270kg.

The only other rating you need to know is the GCM, which the measured weight of your combination must not legally exceed.  Your tug may have a GCM rating, if not you will be restricted by other ratings.

Whilst not a legal requirement, in the interest of safety, it is advisable that the tug weight exceeds the van weight. In other words your tug GVM ought to exceed van ATM by around 10%.

Hope this helps

Hi Monty,

That certainly helps to explain things a little clearer.

As I can't seem to find the gvm weight for the Ford Territory AWD diesel, 2013 can anyone help?  It isn't on the build plate and I can't seem to find it on the internet.

I know the GCM is 5250 kg.

Thank you

 

Kimbra wrote:

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Hi Bill,

If the brochure is showing the ball weight when empty would you suggest that we now look for a different caravan?  Obviously, when fully loaded the ball weight on the Territory is going to be even more.

I did think it was quite heavy given the ball weight on some other caravans we have looked at.  It is a 17ft6 caravan on a single axle.  Although is it sitting on a heavy duty frame.

 

-- Edited by Kimbra on Thursday 8th of February 2018 11:09:10 AM

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Contact the dealer/manufacturer and establish whether the 260 kgs is at tare weight or is the maximum allowed.

If it is the maximum allowed find out what it is at tare weight.

If the 260 kgs is at tare weight then that van isn't suitable for your tow vehicle in my opinion.

Kimbra wrote:

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Hi Monty,

That certainly helps to explain things a little clearer.

As I can't seem to find the gvm weight for the Ford Territory AWD diesel, 2013 can anyone help?  It isn't on the build plate and I can't seem to find it on the internet.

I know the GCM is 5250 kg.

Thank you

 Kimbra,

Ford Territory 2011/2017.

BTC...2700kg with Ford Towpack.

It is highly unlikely that your ball weight at tare would be 260kg for your van. The ball weight at tare is always stamped on the van compliance plate and is really a meaningless piece of information. The ball weight that matters is the measured ball weight of the loaded van which, in your case cannot legally exceed 270kg.

Kerb Weight......2097/2169kg depending on model

GCM......5250kg

No GVM quoted...contact Ford.

Without knowing the GVM it is difficult to figure the GCM but I think it will be ok. The GVM needs to be above 2690kg.

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Hi Monty,

Just for your information and in case anyone else asks the same question about the gvm of the AWD 2013 Diesel Territory, 5 seater (which we have) it is 2635 kg.  If you have the 7 seater it is 2720.

I think this pretty much will rule out us getting this particular van as I think the numbers are sailing a bit too close to the wind from a safety towing point of view.

-- Edited by Kimbra on Thursday 8th of February 2018 12:12:48 PM

-- Edited by Kimbra on Thursday 8th of February 2018 12:13:45 PM

Monty,

Thank you for all your help!  Much appreciated.

This link may help you get your head around things www.withoutahitch.com.au/caravan/ask-expert-navigate-tow-vehicle-limits/#

I have always found that the compliance plate is usually incorrect and tare weight is a fairy tale, your van will never be that weight again, it may never have been there anyway, while ball weight is a guestimate.

Ex Truckie so this weights thing is just second nature to me.