If interested in going ahead with an order, it's likely the first question you'll ask yourself is - can my car tow a small caravan?
Generally small caravans have a MTPLM of around 750kg - although this can vary and it's important to check this for the model of small caravan you're considering purchasing.
MTPLM stands for Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass - which is the maximum weight that is deemed safe to load the caravan to, decided by the manufacturer. On all UK spec caravans, you can find the MTPLM on a metal plate by the door / entrance to the caravan.
MTPLM Plates
Another way to check your small caravan's towing capacity is to check your V5 document provided with your car - this will often state the 'braked' towing capacity.
How to find your car's braked towing capacity figure.
It's important to note that not all V5's will have this information shown (which may be the case with older cars), in this case you should look elsewhere such as online or in your car's owner's manual.
You can often find your towing allowances (stated in Kilograms) in the technical section of your car's manual. There is usually two figures quoted. The higher figure is the 'braked trailer' figure, which is what you need to refer to if your small caravan has brakes. The other lower value shown is for an 'un-braked' trailer' (a trailer which has no independent brakes) - refer to this if your manufacturer states that your small caravan has no brakes.
The figures shown must exceed the MTPLM of your small caravan - this confirms that your car is safe and capable of towing the small caravan of your choice.
Alternatively, you can contact your vehicle's main dealership - they can often assist you in expert knowledge in regards to your car's towing capabilities. Google is also extremely helpful and there are usually forums dedicated to specific models, makes and types of vehicles - with most answers to questions being readily available in some form or another, often deducible from online conversations.
If your car has a tow bar - this is usually a good sign, as it provides an indication that your car has been designed and produced with towing in mind.
If a car has a tow bar, it's most likely been designed to tow a caravan / trailer of a larger stature - compared to small caravans which are lightweight and easier to tow.
This is why so many owner's of small caravans compliment the overall towing experience when compared to the dread of towing huge trailers that weigh down the car and consume an exceedingly large amount of fuel in the process.
Other resources which can be used to check your car's towing capabilities can be found at the link below.
Online Car Checker - click here.
Please note we exert no control over the above website and no data has been complied or confirmed by ourselves, we therefore recommend that you double check and verify the results using one or more of the other methods that have been mentioned in the above article.
Gross Train Weight
If the above options aren't applicable to you - the vehicle's 'gross train weight' can be found listen on the VIN (vehicle identification number) plate. This can often be found inside the driver's door, or under the bonnet of the car. This figure must not be exceeded - the gross train weight is the weight of the fully-loaded vehicle combined with the fully-loaded small caravan. If you can't find your gross train weight listed on your VIN plate, you're likely unable to use your car for towing.
Please note:
You're able to tow most small caravans if your car has a towing allowance of 750kg or more. Make sure to always double check and adhere to the rules / regulations in regard to towing any small caravans with your existing vehicle. Always check the official .Gov.UK website for changes to regulations as other websites, including this blog post and others may be delayed in potential updates and changes.
Required License:
To tow a small caravan, you must have a full UK drivers license.
Required Towing Equipment:
If you've checked your vehicle's towing capabilities and everything's good to go - you'll need to arrange for towing electrics and a tow bar to be installed in order to tow a small caravan.
This is specialist work and will require a garage that has expert knowledge on installing tow bars and towing electrics.
In most cases, you will require a 13-pin Euro Socket and a standard 50mm diameter tow bar ball. The mentioned socket will accept 13-pin plugs which is often the standard electric set up for the towing lights, on-board battery and other appliances usually provided in a small caravan.
If it turns out you have twin electrics on your tow vehicle - don't worry! You can simply purchase an adapter to convert the leads. You can still tow with an adapter even if you only have 7-pin electrics on your tow vehicle - however it will only operate the driving lights and won't be able to power anything other utilities.
As per UK law, you're required to have an adequate view to the rear of your vehicle. Most small caravans are thin enough that the standard mirrors provided with your tow vehicle are usually suitable for providing a clear view to the entire rear of your small caravan. If you'd like a little bit more view - you can buy extension mirrors online that are compatible with most types of cars, and can be helpful for optimising your driving experience.
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