What is the 85% Rule for Caravans?

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To stay safe on the roads, we need to have a good understanding of the rules and laws – but where do you separate fact from fiction? In the case of the widespread 85% rule, there are always questions – ranging from ‘what is the 85% rule for caravans?’ to ‘why was it introduced’ and ‘is it actually law’.

In this article, we will explore all of these questions and get to the bottom of it. From what the 85% rule is and what it means to why you might want to think twice before treating it like law.

Want to learn more? Find out if it’s worth investing in a new caravan and why buying at Northam Farm is the right option for you.

When and Why Was the 85% ‘Rule’ Introduced?

The 85% rule was conceived decades ago due to safety reasons. This was before manufacturers added towing limits to the vehicles they produced, so it was a useful rule to help drivers stay safe on the roads and not overdo it with towing.

Since then, however, there have been so many technological advancements, and more and more legislation has been put in place. Now, manufacturers need to put a towing limit on the vehicles they make that tells drivers how much weight their particular car is legally allowed to tow.

In the years since this ‘rule’ was introduced, we have seen a massive improvement in stabiliser hitches, ATC, ABS, brake designs, suspension, and more. As a whole, towing has become a lot safer than it was in the 80s – but this is only the case if we follow the rules (which we will discuss near the end of the article).

The Importance of Towing Capacities

It goes without saying that towing can be dangerous when done wrong – and this means that there is a lot of importance placed on towing capabilities and limitations. To safely tow something, you need a vehicle that is powerful enough to handle the amount of towed weight and navigate roads and turns effectively.

Unfortunately, this is not always the easiest thing to work out, and this is a big reason for why the 85% rule initially came to be: safety.

The 85% rule dictates that the caravan in tow should not be more than 85% of the towing vehicle’s kerb weight – but what does this mean?

To start off, the kerb weight is a vehicle’s weight when it has a full tank of fuel and all of its standard equipment. This means that the weight of cargo, passengers, or any kind of optional equipment is included in the total calculation.

As a result, this rule says that the caravan you’re towing should not exceed 85% of the towing vehicle’s kerb weight. So, if your vehicle weighs around 2,500 kilograms, the caravan you’re towing should not exceed 2,125 kilograms.

It’s a simple rule, really – but is it correct, and is it actually worth paying attention to? Unfortunately, there are a number of issues with this rule, and a lot of misunderstandings around it.

One of the major issues? Kerb weight is not gross weight and doesn’t take into consideration any additional weights that are involved, like passengers and belongings. You can see why this is immediately troublesome, with several hundred additional kilograms being added into the mix when you have added weight in both the caravan and the car.

Is the 85% Rule Law?

The 85% rule is not law by any means, and it would be troublesome if it was so. Over recent years, more and more trailer manufacturers are questioning the validity of this rule, despite The Caravan & motorhome Club recommending it.

There are errors in interpretation of this rule or guideline – for example, people saying that this rule is applicable to anyone towing anything, but there are also genuine flaws to be aware of. When it comes to this ‘rule’, it’s only a guideline for people who are new to towing to use, and it is only for towing caravans because of their characteristics.

How This ‘Rule’ Can Land You in a Lot of Trouble

We mentioned that it would be troublesome if the 85% rule was actually law – but why is this? The simple truth is that every vehicle has a designated legal towing weight limit. Many car’s towing capacity is actually less than 85% of the vehicle’s kerb weight.

As a result, if these cars were to follow the 85% rule, they would be driving illegally by towing more than the legal limit that they are allowed to.

Since no one wants to land in trouble for towing more weight than their car can handle, the 85% rule can cause confusion, because my people will hear it and take it as fact.

Another widespread belief in the driving and caravan community is that 100% is a legal limit, too. However, this is not the case, either, and some vehicles have the strength and capabilities to tow heavier caravans – but we do not recommend this due to safety reasons.

So, What’s the Solution?

The best thing to do when it comes to vehicles and towing weights in general is to look at what the manufacturer says and the laws that apply. As we said, all manufacturers will include a towing limit or towing capabilities based on that particular vehicle, as we would do well to listen to what they say.

We also recommend using your common sense when it comes to towing. If something seems wrong, then it probably is, and you should have a think about it. In the case where you have never towed before, get help from people who know what they’re talking about – their years of experience will be invaluable.

Important Rules to Remember When Towing Anything

If you don’t know where to start when it comes to towing, there are some rules to live by. These will help you and others stay safe on the roads, and might give you something to think about.

Below are some of the key things that you always need to remember when you are towing something to help make it as safe as possible:

Having the right tyre pressure
Having the correct load distribution
Making sure the nose weight is right
Follow the legal speed limit
Use a stabiliser hitch (e.g. Winterhoff or AL-KO)
If fitted, use ATC
Drive responsibly (no speeding around corners, heavy breaking, and generally being unsafe)

All of these, no matter how insignificant they might seem, can have a huge impact on driving and towing, so take the time to go over them before you set off with your caravan.

Final Thoughts

At Northam Farm Caravan Sales, we tell you everything you need to know about caravans and answer your important questions, like if caravans need MOT, and how to keep your caravan safe and secure. We also walk you through the common pitfalls to avoid when financing your caravan and the pros and cons of buying used vs refurbished.

Learn more about our finance options, holiday homes, and useful information. If you want to get in touch about parts and servicing, pre-owned caravans, or new caravans, we would love to hear from you and help you out.

So, what is the 85% rule for caravans? This ‘rule’ dictates that the towing vehicle should not tow anything that weighs 85% or more of its kerb weight. To put this into numbers, it would mean that a 2,500kg car should not tow anything over 2,125kg – but this is not law, and can land you in a lot of trouble due to individual vehicle towing capabilities.