Towing

[JUE]

Hi all I'm new here.  Does anyone tow with their CH-R?  I am trying to identify what weight is allowed- online forums suggest an 85% rule of kerb weight (mass in service). Any thoughts and responses would be great 🙂 thanks

[Flatcoat]

Is the car type approved for towing? You need the VIN plate (often found in the door jamb) which should have 4 weights on it. One of those is the maxing train weight from which you deduct the max vehicle weight. It will also be on the V5. If the car isn’t type approved for towing then you cannot legally tow with it and no reputable company will fit a tow bar. You MUST NOT exceed the gross train weight OR maximum vehicle towing weight. The 85% is totally irrelevant and has absolutely no legal basis. You should also not exceed the cars maximum nose weight (weight on the tow bar from the towed item). 

[flash22]

725kg is the official tow weight for all models

https://media.toyota.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2021/03/1611335068210122MCHRTechSpec.pdf

75% rule 1000-1100kg but you're limited on nose weight

[Flatcoat]

What 75% rule? There is absolutely definitely no such thing. There is legal, and there is not legal and weight percentages do not have any part in legality. In this instance the legal maximum is as you quote 725kg assuming that is for the version and year of the OP’s car. 

[CassUK]

725 kg max for the C-HR - same as the old model 👍

[Haliotis]

15 hours ago, Flatcoat said:

What 75% rule? There is absolutely definitely no such thing. There is legal, and there is not legal and weight percentages do not have any part in legality. In this instance the legal maximum is as you quote 725kg assuming that is for the version and year of the OP’s car. 

The 85% rule is a recommended maximum of the actual permitted towing weight of the vehicle, and applies mainly for caravans. As an experienced, but now retired, caravanner, I started by using this advised rule (promoted by the Clubs), but moved up to towing at the full permitted weight when I had gained the necessary experience.

I would not think this 85% rule is needed for towing a 725kg DIY trailer.

[Flatcoat]

7 hours ago, Haliotis said:

The 85% rule is a recommended maximum of the actual permitted towing weight of the vehicle, and applies mainly for caravans. As an experienced, but now retired, caravanner, I started by using this advised rule (promoted by the Clubs), but moved up to towing at the full permitted weight when I had gained the necessary experience.

I would not think this 85% rule is needed for towing a 725kg DIY trailer.

IT IS NOT A RULE, repeat, IT IS NOT A RULE, no such rule exists and the clubs have no legal authority to make or impose any such ‘rule’, it is promoted only by clubs in the UK and no where else. It has absolutely no legal status and sur le continent, caravanners have no such recommendation and somehow the roads are not littered with the remains of crashed caravans. European caravanners would look at such advice while shaking their heads in disbelief. It is based on research from over 35 years ago that is so outdated it should come with a danger warning. Only what is legal (or not) matters and is relevant. Nothing else. The initial advice the OP refers to shows how dangerous is the ridiculous weight ratio recommendation they were given, rather than advising of the absolute essential necessity to first check what weight (and even if) the car is type approved to tow. 

[Cyker]

Jeez calm down, it's pretty clear from what's been said it's a 'rule-of-thumb' meant to help people inexperienced at towing to not get in over their heads by immediately towing something at their vehicle's maximum tow-weight, and not an actual law rule.

[philip42h]

16 minutes ago, Cyker said:

**** calm down, it's pretty clear from what's been said it's a 'rule-of-thumb' meant to help people inexperienced at towing to not get in over their heads by immediately towing something at their vehicle's maximum tow-weight, and not an actual law rule.

I don't do this towing stuff, so I don't care in the least, but to Adrian's point:

• The towing capacity of Julie's car is 725 kg - or so it states in the tech specs.
• 85% of the kerb weight of Julie's car is ~1,275 kg - approximate because the kerb weight is given as min/max.

If Julie were to follow the "85% rule" she would be in trouble. So, on this occasion, I'm with Adrian! 😉 

 

[Cyker]

I think there's been some confusion as I'm pretty sure the 85% rule is of the towing capacity, not 85% of the mass of the car!

Re-reading the first post it seems the OP has seen this on towing forums and misinterpreted it.

Haliotis was just explaining this but I don't think his post was read properly.

The maximum allowed towing for a vehicle is literally printed on the door plate and has already been stated by people here for that vehicle anyway so it's all a bit moot.

 

[forkingabout]

Just looked at my V5C & it's 725 KG 

[philip42h]

1 hour ago, Cyker said:

I think there's been some confusion as I'm pretty sure the 85% rule is of the towing capacity, not 85% of the mass of the car!

Re-reading the first post it seems the OP has seen this on towing forums ...

Indeed she has - the Interweb is absolutely littered with references to the rule on caravaning forums and the like. So much so that an AI powered Google query comes back with it as the definitive answer! Just one illustrative reference to what the RAC website has to say on the subject:

Quote

If the mass of the caravan is 85% or less of the car’s kerbweight, the car will tow it with ease.

Adrian is entirely correct and justified in his agitation! 😉

As already stated, the tow capacity of the mk 1 C-HR is 725 kg. And there's no reason at all why Julie shouldn't tow 100% of that.

[Flatcoat]

I get agitated because too many quote 85% as a rule which is simply not correct. The misuse of the 85% figure could have led to the OP towing illegally. That is dangerous and why I rant about the outdated advice. It comes from the days before anti lock brakes, traction control systems, stability control systems, anti snaking devices, and so on. And, as stated previously it is only the UK where caravanners and other get their collective knickers knotted and the smelling salts out when someone dares suggest towing at 86%. 

[Tango T5]

Has anybody got a photo of a MK1 C-HR with a towbar fitted, I'm tempted to get one fitted but would hope it doesn't show that much on the back end.

[Mark_P]

https://www.automotive-control.co.uk/toyota-c-hr-tow-bar/