Caravan Model Help!

[F18RSC]

I am looking at getting a caravan, I have a suitable tow car with a 2100kg towing spec. However I have a post 97 license.

I have worked out I need a caravan under 1600kg MAM.

Ideally I would like a separate shower and a fixed bed. I don't like showers over toilet etc.

I have a budget of around £5k and age of unit doesn't matter.

It only for the two of us and maybe the dog!

Any idea on good models to look for?

Thanks.

[surveyor]

If you've got a 2,100 KG towing limit I'm guessing at a substantial car. That's very much not in your favour.

Most of the smaller fix beds - especially then tend to have a toilet / shower cubicle adjacent to the bed. Those that offer separate facilities either mid cabin or being the bed tend to be twin axles and would be too heavy.

However. If you do the test you can take advantage of the better value for money that twins represent and take advantage of the extra space.

[F18RSC]

I have just checked my V5 and the car states the following...

Mass in service is 1920
Max. Permissible Mass (Exc m/c) 2475

Technical Permissable maximum towable mass of the trailer

braked 1900
unbaked 750

Does that mean I can have a caravan with a MAM of 1025 or a MAM of 1580.

The car is a 3.0l TDI so will not struggle for power.

Thanks.

Rick.

[surveyor]

I believe that you are technically out of luck.

3,500 - mpm of car 2,475 means that you only have 1,025 for MTPLM/MAM

That's not a lot at all.

You either need a lighter car or to take your trailer test.

[Bobhon]

3500kg limit is the combined weight of the car and van whilst towing. So if you don't load the car up to its maximum weight then you can tow a heavier caravan and stay within the 3500kg limit.

I guess that you would have to get the car on a weighbridge loaded up to how you would intend to use it before you can see how heavy a van you can tow.

May be easier to take the higher licence to open up your options. Sounds as if your car could tow a huge van if you had the licence.

HTH

Bob

Edited by Bobhon on Monday 19th October 22:07

[F18RSC]

I am going to look into get a B+E license. There is a company nearby that offers a free 1 hour lesson. Test is £115 never know it might only cost £200!

[Rosscow]

F18RSC said:

I am going to look into get a B+E license. There is a company nearby that offers a free 1 hour lesson. Test is £115 never know it might only cost £200!

I'd budget for more like £500!

I did my test 2 years ago, cost me around £700 including the test fee (although I paid extra to use the instructors car as I didn't want to knacker my clutch )

[F18RSC]

Well initial problem solved!

Passed my B+E license this morning!

Now off to find someone who can fit a towbar to a Audi Avant. Ideally not for thousands of pounds!

[Rosscow]

F18RSC said:

Well initial problem solved!

Passed my B+E license this morning!

Now off to find someone who can fit a towbar to a Audi Avant. Ideally not for thousands of pounds!

Well done! How much did it cost to get through the test?

Go to a local independent for your tow bar.

I had an Audi OEM Westfalia detachable tow bar fitted to my Audi A6 Avant, complete with Audi OEM wiring loom, for under £600.

Turns out the guy I used actually fits the tow bars for my local Audi dealership anyway, and at the same price! Audi Tonbridge quoted me £1700.

[F18RSC]

Got a Quote for detachable for 489 however quite like the idea of a bumper guard plate. to have that I need a fixed flange. Oh choices.

Unsightly bumper all the time?

or

Unsightly bumper with tow ball removed with dent above when I have mis judged it????

[surveyor]

F18RSC said:

Got a Quote for detachable for 489 however quite like the idea of a bumper guard plate. to have that I need a fixed flange. Oh choices.

Unsightly bumper all the time?

or

Unsightly bumper with tow ball removed with dent above when I have mis judged it????

Bumpers are surprisingly reliant. THe tow head of most caravans also has a rubber cover.

[F18RSC]

Right so the money is slowly getting there, Now looking it seems as though the caravans with fixed beds on single axles seem to have the bathroom to the side, shower over the toilet.

There seems to be a huge lack of double axle caravans about!

Ideally, A double axle caravan with an island bed and separate shower cubicle.

Has anyone found if the fixed bed is much more comfortable then the usual cushion jigsaws?

Would appreciate your inputs as there are a lot more caravans about if I drop the fixed bed option.

[surveyor]

F18RSC said:

Right so the money is slowly getting there, Now looking it seems as though the caravans with fixed beds on single axles seem to have the bathroom to the side, shower over the toilet.

There seems to be a huge lack of double axle caravans about!

Ideally, A double axle caravan with an island bed and separate shower cubicle.

Has anyone found if the fixed bed is much more comfortable then the usual cushion jigsaws?

Would appreciate your inputs as there are a lot more caravans about if I drop the fixed bed option.

Unless you need bunks don't drop fixed bed. You will regret it. (we have bunks).

[F18RSC]

We don't have kids or ever plan to so we just need a caravan for the two of us. I had a small VW motorhome with a bathroom in the rear and four seats upfront with the swivel seat layout. Bed was comfortable wish, but that was 15 years ago!

We do a lot of motorsport so often are on sites with little-no facilities. We don't plan to use an awning either.

[Chicken Chaser]

Why do you want a double axle?

[F18RSC]

Allowable weight. It usually means the caravan can be a bit heavy and easier to load. Plus they are more stable. Layout we are after are more easier to come by.

[Bobhon]

We started out looking at a 2 berth, but rapidly moved onto a fixed bed. We have an Abbey Safari, fixed bed with the side toilet/shower layout. Suits the 2 of us and the 2 dogs a treat.

Big enough to carry what we want to take, enough storage space inside once you get there.

We don't use the shower as the sites we go on always have decent facilities.

I think that island beds were a fairly late design, so I don't know if you will find one in your budget?

Bob

[PRTVR]

New to caravaning myself, can't comment on caravans as I have only had my Swift Challenger 544 for 6 months,

but I would say get one with a motor mover, my car doesn't have a low range box and the few times I have parked it on a site
(just to prove to myself I could do it) it appeared very hard on the clutch and I will not be doing it again,
the motor mover is so easy to use, I also use it to slowly edge the caravan to the car, also to expand the tow hitch before I unhitch the caravan, reducing the chance of the tow hitch hitting the car.
I would say what ever caravan you get within a year you will find ideas in caravans that you like compared to what you have purchased, such is the life of caravaners.

[Andy Zarse]

F18RSC said:

I am looking at getting a caravan, I have a suitable tow car with a 2100kg towing spec. However I have a post 97 license.

I have worked out I need a caravan under 1600kg MAM.

Ideally I would like a separate shower and a fixed bed. I don't like showers over toilet etc.

I have a budget of around £5k and age of unit doesn't matter.

It only for the two of us and maybe the dog!

Any idea on good models to look for?

Thanks.

2100kg towing limit? Is it a Yeti?

Most decent twin axles are at or above 1650kg MTPLM so you will be getting close to an acceptable limit. We have a Bailey Pursuit 560/5 with a MTPLM of 1440kg, and a Yeti which has a legal towing limit of 2100kg. I personally wouldn't want to tow much over 1440kg, even though the Yeti is acknowledged as a fabulous tow car.

We looked at twin axle vans, and they are lovely, but they seem to be a terrible ball-ache in oh so many ways. The Pursuit is single axle but with a shipping length of 7.3 metres it barely half a meter shorter than most twins, so really I think we get the best of both worlds. So don't rule out singles.