What can a Proton Jumbuck tow?

[jellybean]

Hi everyone. Thankyou for accepting me to your forum

I've been looking around the net for a small caravan/camper. Then I discovered weights and measures have to be adhered to.......(You can tell I'm a newby at this caravaning mallarky.) I've checked my car manual and it only has information about the car being towed, not the car towing a trailer.
I found this on the net ......"The towing capacity of the 2009 Proton Jumbuck supports up to 1000kg. This is a braked figure, while the maximum load for any vehicle without using trailer brakes is 750kg."

But I don't understand what that means when looking for a caravan. GVT,ATM, something about a ball weight, payload whatsit!....AAAHHHHHH!!!! I just want to buy a cheap small caravan.

Would anyone have any suggestions please?. I saw a list on the net of what a Proton could tow but they are all in the brand new catagory. I'm not a rich woman. W hat about older versions of Jayco? Milliards?

Please help. 

[linpet]

Tare = weight of empty caravan. ATM = Maximum total weight of caravan fully loaded allowable including water, food and everything in the van, off hitch (off car). Ball Weight = the downward weight measured underneath the towball with a scale (this can vary depending how you load the caravan, more load to front of van will increase ball weight, and more to rear will decrease, so you have to load van evenly and correctly or you can create an unstable van on the road). GTM = Weight of van minus tow ball weight, on hitch (on car, as the car takes the ball weight). GVM = Maximum weight of car when fully loaded (this includes people, luggage, bullbars and accessories and caravan ball weight, but NOT the caravan). GCM = combined weight of car and caravan and full load maximum allowable. Braked towing capacity means you need to have a trailer/caravan with brakes and total - the brakes can be over-ride or hydraulic without needing anything else on car, but if the brakes are electric you will need to have an electronic brake controller installed in your vehicle to be able to tow. Electric brakes are better, but then you have to consider the added expense of fitting the controller, and price will vary car to car. Unbraked means you can only tow if caravan fully loaded weights less than 750kg, if that is what your manual says. The 1000kg allowable usually refers to the GTM (Caravan fully loaded less ball weight), but you are better to leave more leeway so you don't accidentally overload, as they are doing spot checks more often these days. It is a good idea to take any van you buy to a weight bridge when you have fully loaded it so you know you are not overloaded, or you could void insurance if you overload. So, the take home here is you need to look for a very small light caravan with brakes that has enough load capacity for your stuff you want to take. Remember TARE on the plate does not always represent what the actual weight of the van empty is as over years people add things to vans, so many are a lot heavier than stated, so with weight being very critical for you, it would be advisable to get any van weighed at a bridge before you buy, just get the water tanks and gas filled (if water tank is 60lt that = 60kg), so that will tell you how much extra capacity you have to put food, clothes, dishes, etc in it and still be legal. It is amazing how much everything adds up in weight when you load a van, so I personally would allow around 200kg for load, so a van around 800kg TARE when you buy with full water and gas. Hope this helps.

[jellybean]

Thank you very much Linpet. Yes, that makes sense and a great help. Trusting what sellers say I believe will be the big issue. Thanks again