5th Wheel Trailer / Caravan - Pros and Cons ?

[redgriff500]

gtdc said:

'Kin 'ell chap - that's a big 'un. in that case, I see your problem. You're just going to have to suffer a massive US pickup.

What's the limit for towing that with a European pickup?

Its a very grey area.

I believe the theory is you are towing 3200kg and 800kg is in the bed. Which means it has to be a 1 ton pick up.

[redgriff500]

Greg_D said:

so you have 5 tonnes and 115 hp

with a rippling 23bhp/ton, i'm not surprised you are struggling up hills

you do at least out muscle a 2cv (they make do with 16bhp/ton), but not by much

No mine has 109bhp its the non IC 4JG2 3.1

And laden I might have as much as 6 tons

Apparently it does have 255 lbs ft (doesn't feel like it)

I'm looking into increasing the power but I want to make sure I'm legal first otherwise I'll get a 6.5 diesel turbo yank.

Edited by redgriff500 on Monday 28th November 23:27

[redgriff500]

gtdc said:

Go for the yank. I shall enjoy it by proxy because I can't afford one.

If you look around they aren't expensive it's just I'd like a 6 seater, 4x4 and I need the long rear bed.

I've seen a few from £4k but my insurers (I have a blanket policy) won't cover me for yanks and I'd have to uprate it's plated weight as they are down plated when they are imported. Plus swap over the 5th wheel attachment and the electric brakes so I'll stick with the Isuzu if I can get enough out of it.

[redgriff500]

jbi said:

the american trucks are designed for this sort of thing...

would tow it at 100mph all day long up any hill (if it was legal)

They are but they are down plated to 3.5 ton on import.

My last one weighed 2.8 tons which means legally it can only carry 700kg including 6 passengers.

[redgriff500]

jbi said:

redgriff500 said:

jbi said:

the american trucks are designed for this sort of thing...

would tow it at 100mph all day long up any hill (if it was legal)

They are but they are down plated to 3.5 ton on import.

My last one weighed 2.8 tons which means legally it can only carry 700kg including 6 passengers.

that sounds utterly bizarre

What is the logic behind this?

Is this 3.5 ton limit simply down the whether or not you passed your test after 1997?

3.5 ton IIRC is the point where a PLG (passenger car) becomes a commercial vehicle. There are MOT and insurance implications hence as most buy Yank trucks for driving / posing rather than working most are down plated on import.

If you are found "overloading" them the fines can be severe - the fact they can take the weight is wholly irrelevent.

[redgriff500]

jbi said:

I see... thank you for the clarification

3.5 ton sounds extremely low considering you average range rover isn't that far off even before you add a caravan on the back.

The 3.5 ton is for the carried weight.

Towing weight (inc the vehicle) is Gross Train Weight.

My T4 van weighs 2 tons and GTW is 5 tons so I can either carry 1 and tow 2 or tow 3.

[redgriff500]

UPDATE:

Well I've been a bit busy and the weather's not been great but I finally went away for the weekend in it.

I went to Croft Farm Water Park - partly as I've been here before and it's a big site with easy access and no silly rules.

Trip was no problem nor was parking on site and it was lovely to stay in something with everything on board - we never visited the toilet / shower block.

As I looked around the site I saw quite a few Yank Motorhomes but only one 5th wheel unit.

I've turned up the fuel on the Isuzu which helped but it could do with more power for the hills but I was told to monitor EGT's which went up to 780 degrees so I don't think I can risk much more.

Just have to fit a roof rack to it for the canoe for the next trip.

[V8RX7]

What price range are you looking at ?

There are always a few on Ebay / AutoTrader

Be aware of the following:

Unlike a caravan they cut the corner
They are far heavier than the UK type
The larger ones look great in the USA but can't access many places over here.

I have a 28 ft one and a couple of feet less would have been handy on a few occasions (or a shorter tow vehicle)

[V8RX7]

Greg_D said:

Are 5th wheels allowed on most camp sites on account of the tow vehicle being 'a commercial type'

My understanding is that caravan sites are VERY twitchy about p1keys turning up (i'm in no way insinuating that 5th wheels are p1key, but the rules regarding tow vehicles are VERY strictly followed on most sites i've ever heard about)

I haven't been to many sites and I always call first, the only problem I've had is owners concerned that I might not fit in their pitches.

I have heard that the Caravan Club tend to be very sniffy hence I joined the Camping & Caravan Club who aren't (mostly to use their excellent breakdown deal with the RAC)