How to Load and Weigh Your Car and Caravan for Safe Towing

Towing a caravan safely is about more than just hitching up and hitting the road. Overloading or incorrectly distributing weight can affect stability, fuel efficiency, and most importantly, safety. In this guide, we’ll explain how to properly load and weigh your car and caravan to stay within legal limits and ensure a smooth journey.

1. Understanding Weight Limits

Before you start loading, it’s essential to understand the weight limits that apply to your car and caravan. Here are the key terms:

✅ MTPLM (Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass) – The maximum weight your caravan can safely be when fully loaded. This is set by the manufacturer.

✅ MIRO (Mass in Running Order) – The caravan’s weight as supplied by the manufacturer, including standard equipment but excluding additional luggage, passengers, and personal items.

✅ Nose Weight – The downward force the caravan’s hitch applies to your car’s towball. It must stay within the car and towbar’s limits (typically between 5% and 7% of the caravan's total weight).

✅ Maximum Tow Capacity – The highest weight your car can tow safely. Check your vehicle handbook for this.

✅ Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) – The total weight your car can legally carry, including passengers and luggage.

✅ Gross Train Weight (GTW) – The combined weight of your fully loaded car and caravan. This must not exceed your vehicle’s legal limit.

2. How to Weigh Your Car and Caravan

Weighing Your Caravan

1. Use a Public Weighbridge – Take your caravan to a weighbridge to check its actual weight against the MTPLM.

2. Weigh it Fully Loaded – Load all your gear, water, gas bottles, and essentials before weighing.

3. Check Individual Wheel Weights – If possible, weigh each axle separately to avoid overloading.

Weighing Your Car

1. Weigh your car empty – Start with an unladen weight to establish a baseline.

2. Add passengers, luggage & fuel – Weigh again to check you remain within the GVW.

3. Weigh your car with the caravan attached – This helps check GTW compliance.

3. How to Load Your Caravan Safely

🔹 General Guidelines

• Keep heavy items low and near the axle to maintain stability.

• Distribute weight evenly side to side to prevent swaying.

• Avoid placing too much weight at the rear, as this can cause snaking.

• Secure all loose items to prevent movement while towing.

🔹 Ideal Weight Distribution

📌 Front (Near Hitch) – Lighter items like bedding, clothes, and kitchenware.

📌 Middle (Near Axle) – Heavier items such as awnings, batteries, and non-perishable food.

📌 Rear – Light but bulky items like folding chairs and duvets.

🔹 Checking Nose Weight

1. Use a Nose Weight Gauge – These are inexpensive and provide an accurate reading.

2. Adjust if necessary – Shift heavier items closer to the axle to balance the weight.

3. Stay within Limits – Your nose weight should match the car and towbar's safe limits.

4. Safety Checks Before You Set Off

✅ Double-check your weight limits using a weighbridge if needed.

✅ Ensure tyre pressures on both car and caravan are at recommended levels.

✅ Test your lights to confirm brake lights, indicators, and reverse lights are working.

✅ Check your breakaway cable – This is a legal requirement for caravans over 750kg. ✅ Confirm mirrors provide a clear view – Towing mirrors are legally required if your caravan is wider than your car.

Final Thoughts

Loading your caravan correctly and staying within weight limits is crucial for a safe and enjoyable trip. By following these guidelines, you’ll reduce the risk of instability, improve fuel efficiency, and stay within legal requirements.

Need the right accessories for safe towing? Browse our range of towing mirrors, nose weight gauges, and caravan levellers at IDS Camping and Leisure!

🚐💨 Happy and safe travels!