G'day youse lot - we bought a Koleos in 2019 because (a) I'm a nut for Renaults, and (b) it has one of the best towing specifications for an SUV. Apparently, the 2,000 kg maximum towing weight is only half the story. Recently we bought a boat, fibreglass half cabin, 18 foot, 140 hp outboard. The total weight of that unit (not weighed yet) should be under 1,500 kg, so I thought all was good - not, actually...
One of the major specifications for towing is the manufacturers stated maximum towball weight - this is basically what the weight of the trailer will push down onto the towball. The standard number is around 10 percent of the total weight of the load - so if your loaded trailer weighs 1,500 kg, the maximum towball weight "could" be 150 kg, but ONLY if the vehicle manufacturers towball specification will allow this.
Our lovely Koleos has a "legal" listed maximum towball limit of 75 kg. What that means is that we are not permitted to tow any trailer/caravan if the towball weight exceeds 75 kg. According to every trailer and towing expert I have spoken to, that is a ridiculously low towball weight limit. That 75 kg limit means that at the general average of towball weight being approximately 10 percent, using that equation the amount to be towed would be about 750 kg - that is a LONG way away from the stated maximum tow capacity of 2,000 kg. The 10 percent is an arbitrary figure and could be anywhere from 5% to 15%, but with the Koleos the figure is not even 4%.
Having stated all that, the towball weight can be adjusted by either (a) moving the load (boat, in this case) further back on the trailer, (b) modifying the trailers axle position, or (b) adding weight to the rear of the boat. None of these options fill me with any joy. And if all that is not enough, some of the 'experts' I have been talking to are of the opinion that a 75 kg towball weight on a load weighing 1,500 kg is way too low.
So, here I am, looking for advice from the froggy sages, who I am sure will have a lot to say about the above. Naturally the situation I find myself in will be open to more conjecture once the boat/trailer has been over the weighbridge, set to happen on 27/10/21.
Cheers,
BP
One of the major specifications for towing is the manufacturers stated maximum towball weight - this is basically what the weight of the trailer will push down onto the towball. The standard number is around 10 percent of the total weight of the load - so if your loaded trailer weighs 1,500 kg, the maximum towball weight "could" be 150 kg, but ONLY if the vehicle manufacturers towball specification will allow this.
Our lovely Koleos has a "legal" listed maximum towball limit of 75 kg. What that means is that we are not permitted to tow any trailer/caravan if the towball weight exceeds 75 kg. According to every trailer and towing expert I have spoken to, that is a ridiculously low towball weight limit. That 75 kg limit means that at the general average of towball weight being approximately 10 percent, using that equation the amount to be towed would be about 750 kg - that is a LONG way away from the stated maximum tow capacity of 2,000 kg. The 10 percent is an arbitrary figure and could be anywhere from 5% to 15%, but with the Koleos the figure is not even 4%.
Having stated all that, the towball weight can be adjusted by either (a) moving the load (boat, in this case) further back on the trailer, (b) modifying the trailers axle position, or (b) adding weight to the rear of the boat. None of these options fill me with any joy. And if all that is not enough, some of the 'experts' I have been talking to are of the opinion that a 75 kg towball weight on a load weighing 1,500 kg is way too low.
So, here I am, looking for advice from the froggy sages, who I am sure will have a lot to say about the above. Naturally the situation I find myself in will be open to more conjecture once the boat/trailer has been over the weighbridge, set to happen on 27/10/21.
Cheers,
BP