Calomax Posted July 21, 2006 Share Posted July 21, 2006 Looking to replace our old folding caravan while on holiday in France, we spotted a gem of an Esterel Top-Profil amongst the dross at around our budget. Although it's an Esterel it is a rigid caravan not a folder or pop-top. The A frame plate has 3 weights, one being the noseweight of 75kg. The other 2 both say 790kg, one is the PTAC but I can't remember the other and the van is stored in France so I can't have a look. I don't know what they mean but can't be the unladen & maximum weights. A similar caravan for sale on a Dutch website gives weights of 690kg & 950kg, which I assume to be the unladen & maximum weights. Can anyone help me sort this out please. Thanks :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted July 21, 2006 Share Posted July 21, 2006 I'm fairly sure you'll find one is the maximum axle load, and the other the MTPLM, or max permissible laden weight. This merely confirms that the noseweight is part of, and not in addition to, the MTPLM.For both to be the same is logical since, under numerous conditions (for example accelleration, ascending hills, travelling at speed) the noseweight reduces, and the corresponding load transfers to the axle. Noseweight is a static measure, remember, whereas when towing the noseweight becomes a dynamic load which fluctuates continually. It is possible, under extreme conditions (fortunately usually transient!) for noseweight to become negative, when the van is, in effect, trying to lift the back of the towcar. Under these conditions you would, if fully laden, technically overload the axle bacause the uplift on the car is converted into a load on the caravan axle. However, that is what the design factors of safety on the towbar and caravan axle are intended to absorb.The plate is only concerned with legal maxima. Unladen weight is not a legal maximum and will vary, if for example, fixed accessories are added. Thus, it is not shown on the plate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted July 22, 2006 Share Posted July 22, 2006 PTAC is the French acronym for a vehicle's maximum permissible laden weight (in this case 790kg). Brian's theory that the other identical figure relates to the caravan's maximum permissible axle-load makes perfect sense. (Presumably, for a tandem-axle caravan there would a pair of axle-load figures.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calomax Posted July 25, 2006 Author Share Posted July 25, 2006 Thanks guys, that has sorted that out for me. Cheers Keith :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calomax Posted July 27, 2006 Author Share Posted July 27, 2006 Also found most of the rest of the data on www.towsafe.co.uk :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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