Anyone passing their test on or after 1 Jan 1997 is restricted to a combined MAM of 3500kgs or less, and the trailer MAM must be less than the kerbweight of the towing vehicle.
There are of course car towing limits, and loading, noseweight and tyre pressures are all big factors in stability.
A caravan is a very different beast to a flat trailer of the same weight; they are vulnerable to headwinds, sidewinds, draughts from passing lorries; stability can be greatly reduced if the car's rear suspension (including the tyre component) is overly compliant, perhaps due to wear, ineffective dampers, overloading or low tyre pressures.
They are especially vulnerable downhill it seems too. There's no doubt in my mind that too many drivers take stability for granted, especially if they have a large car or 4x4.
I suspect low tyre pressures (car and caravan) of being the biggest single factor in instability but I can't prove it - I have however experienced the difference in stability at different pressures, and I know how careless many drivers are with pressures.
As Stu says, speed is also a big factor - it is well know (Bath University research) that there unstable speed can be 60mph or even lower depending on the combination.
Last edited by: Manatee on Sat 10 Jul 10 at 23:58
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Caravans 
Caravans 