Can you explain the confusing towing limits for my car?

According to the VIN plate on my 2013 Peugeot 5008, the GVW is 2250kg and the GTW is 2950kg. I have been told by a caravan salesman that this makes the legal towing limit 700kg.
This is at odds with information in the car handbook, which gives the GTW as 3250kg and 1300kg for a braked trailer. I wish to buy a caravan weighing 1147kg but if the police go by the information on the VIN plate, I will be in trouble. Why the discrepancy? Thanks.

Asked on 17 August 2020 by David Broadhead

Answered by Andrew Brady

The GVW is the maximum weight the car can legally be when fully loaded. Bear in mind that you're unlikely to drive the car fully loaded, so you can use that spare capacity to tow a trailer - provided the GTW doesn't exceed 2950kg. A 1147kg caravan is fairly small and should be well within the towing capacity of a diesel 5008. It's also within the 85% rule (which suggests that the trailer shouldn't exceed more than 85% of the car's kerb weight).

Tags: towing towing a caravan