Let Us Help You Figure Out How To Weigh a Caravan
Before setting off into the wild blue yonder with your caravan, it’s important to ensure it doesn’t exceed the gross limits when connected to your vehicle. We give you peace of mind when it comes to knowing best how to weigh a caravan. Your vehicle and caravan will be ready to hit the road, adhering to the weight limits so you can relax and focus on the holiday ahead.
It is essential to have caravans weighed like any other vehicle per safe driving stipulations. It is also important for the performance and efficiency of your car, like fuel consumption and air-conditioning.
Caravans are built with a specific weight in mind, but the total weight can be significantly higher when loaded fully and hitched to your vehicle. It is important to note that adding extras like bicycles, gas bottles, and other essential items adds to the overall weight.
Common Terms for Caravan Weights
Weighing your caravan is freighted with its own terminology. Here are some common terms:
- Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM): When fully laden but not hitched to your car.
- Gross Combination Mass (GCM): Caravan and vehicle weight combined.
- Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM): The car’s total weight doing the towing when fully loaded.
- Gross Trailer Mass (GTM): How much your caravan weighs when loaded but unhitched.
- Mass in Running Order (MIRO): The mass of your caravan according to the manufacturer’s specifications. It will vary according to the model.
- Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass (MTPLM) or Maximum Gross Weight (MGW): The heaviest load possible for your touring caravan. Ignoring this could damage the floor, axles and tyres and impact safe towing adversely.
- Nose Weight: The total weight that a caravan can exert on your car’s tow ball.
