I am totally new to caravans, so bear with me....

I am looking at getting a new Eriba 540 silver.

In the brochure it states that the payload is 320kg and the maximum permissible laden mass is 1300kg

So does that mean that the actual caravan empty weighs 980kg ?

My Renault megane iii has a towing capacity of 1300kg - how strict must I be not to go over this?

and finally is it different on the continent as I've noticed quite small cars pulling quite big caravans.

Many thanks in advance for your replies.

Roger is right, you need something that has a bit of reserve to call on when needed.. I use to have a Suzuki Jimny which I am still a big fan of, when it was paired up with my Puck it was great.However like most Eriba owners I wanted to upgrade to something bigger and I bought a Familia 320, what tow car said the Jimny should be ok but may struggle a little on hills.
On the flat it was fine, however on a steep hill the whattow car was a bit modest with its statement, the first big hill I came to it was like furiously stirring a bowl of porridge to get the right gear The suzuki was only a year old but I had to trade it in for a Dacia Duster 1.5 dci which pulls the Familia with ease.
The recommendation is the caravan weighing 85% of the car, 100% ratio is only advised for seasoned caravaners, in your case 85% of 1300kg = 1105kg caravan. Have a look at some of the videos on this link and also this car and caravan outfit matched.
http://www.towcar.info/

New to Towing videos

I was looking at a duster but the specs stated that the maximum payload was 1200kg and my megane is 1300kg

I also checked the new Hymer pdf brochure, and it states that the Eriba 420 is 1300kg max...they must have tweaked it.

Sorry...the 540 not the 420...it's been a long day.

These are the new specs....

http://eriba.com/en/models/caravans/erib...l?singleview=50

Also...if you click on the new 2016 specification link by automotive leisure is seems to say the same unless I'm reading it wrongly.

http://www.automotiveleisure.co.uk/Neweriba.html

Hello Doctor to be honest I wouuld'nt tow with anything that breaks the 85% rule. In posts above where there is talk about hills they say you need power! That is very true, however I'd be just as concerned if not more so as a self confessed newbie to the downhill stretches, as this is where something that weighs as much as the car can and will get you into trouble.

It's not just abroad or very far away from quite a few of us that hills become a towing problem, locally we have Crickley hill, there is the long uphill / downhill near the Avonmouth bridge, Haldon hill near Exeter, and on the approach to Barnstaple you have a series of gradients. On most of these and quite regularly on motorways at the start of a downhill, you will see the sign "Towing vehicles slow down" this is because, if you are unfortunate enough to have a tail end sway start, speed will make it more serious, in a case where the towed vehicle is the same weight or close to the weight of the towing vehicle, the towed vehicle can become the "primary" source of momentum and it becomes "the tail wagging the dog"

So in essence you need a towing vehicle with enough power to pull your intended purchase, and if it were me that falls within the 85% figure.

I'm not saying that you can't tow with something the is over the 85% figure, just that it is recommended for a reason. It is a very serious decision and one I wish you all the best with, it might also be worth looking into insurance for a towing vehicle that is closer to 100% of that of the towed vehicle.

The 15% is a safety measure and it's there for reasons we don't all necessarily know or will learn in a lifetime of towing.

I've said enough and it's just my twopennyworth

Thank you Agger!

I think I'll be getting the diesel Dacia Duster after reading your advice that is rated at 1500kg

Blimey....at the end of the day...I wanted something in the budget market as I'll still be in the NHS for the next 3 years..and will be forking out £35,000 for the car and eriba for 4 weeks holiday a year abroad....I'm not sure if that is sensible....the NEC show will make up my mind next week.

Last one...I must be driving you mad with this....

I've been on towcar.info and they state :

"The Renault Megane III - 1.5 dCi and the Eriba Touring Troll 540 with a laden weight of 1191 kg is a fairly good match" (at 81%)

So if I stick everything in the car instead of the van while touring...can I get away with it for the next 18 months until I change the car?

I will provide free psychotherapy (I'm in Mental Health) to anyone I drive bananas with this when meeting on-site, if I haven't killed myself towing :-)

I used to buy new . Would never do again as you lose so much money

If you can buy new, why not, most if not all of our decisions are emotional not rational, hence why would you buy an Eriba Touring, new or preloved? If your current car can legally tow the Eriba then, load up the van with your kit and take it to a public weighbridge you then remove all the guessing, weigh the car, van and then you know where you stand. Go on the Caravan club towing course and then practice towing. With a 360kg payload on the eriba you have lots of wriggle room. Whilst you are looking, what is the noseweight limit for your Megane, if it's less than 50kg this may be your greater concern?