Best Car Caravan combo without B+E licence

[Blowfish]

I am currently considering a caravan and weighing up my options. What is the best/biggest caravan I could tow without B+E on my licence?

[chasingracecars]

This is very difficult. There are many caravans out there but ideally you need a caravan with a MTPLM less then 1100kg that means your car can weight around 2400kg to stay within your 3.5tonne limit.

This would work but is a current new model so probably out of budget...

http://www.elddis.co.uk/xplore/xplore-304/floorpla...

Finding a car with a weight of over 1500kg that can tow comfortably would then be your aim. Look at large estate cars and the online guides. You will probably find 4x4's put your over the combined 3.5tonne limit.

[Mansilla]

Best is difficult... I have B+E, so it doesn't matter, but I tow with a current Octavia, about 1950kg fully laden, and have an Adria Altea 502dk, plated at 1200kg, even though it's a proper 5 berth. But that's a 10 year old van. So it can be done, but the list of vans you can have which are sub 1300kg (about the most you can have on a B licence) is not massive, and if you are thinking of new it gets really difficult.

[Trabi601]

How about an Eriba?

I generally hate caravans, but often have a guilty look at the small Eribas.

[chasingracecars]

Use the website Caravan Finder, It allows you to search for Caravans by the MTPLM value.

Just looked and these.... are sensible sized for what you are after I think. Not sure on the fixed bed option as once the kids are in bed then where do you sit?

http://www.caravanfinder.co.uk/touring-caravans-fo...

That would make it easier to find a tow car.

I note in your profile you have an M3 beware performance cars although they sometimes can be made to fit a tow bar and electrics the drivetrain is not up to towing.

For example you can tow with most the A6 Audi range but not the RS6 or S6 Variants. I think it is the same with some of the Mercs.

[bristolracer]

Trabi601 said:

How about an Eriba?

I generally hate caravans, but often have a guilty look at the small Eribas.

We have an Eriba most models weigh about 850 to 950 kg so not as light as you may think for a small caravan.
They are constructed using a steel frame and they don't skimp on materials. ( made by Hymer )

They are also expensive.

[Blowfish]

Thank you for all the advice guys. Think I am going to go for my B+E licence so I can get something decent.

[Lynch91]

chasingracecars said:

I note in your profile you have an M3 beware performance cars although they sometimes can be made to fit a tow bar and electrics the drivetrain is not up to towing.

For example you can tow with most the A6 Audi range but not the RS6 or S6 Variants. I think it is the same with some of the Mercs.

I though that with the RS6 etc the reason they can't tow is just because they aren't type approved for towing, nothing to do with the powertrain?

Anyway you can tow with an F10 M5 OP if you do need to change cars!

[richtea78]

I was told it's that the drive trains can often get too hot on the RS6 if they were used for towing

[pim]

bristolracer said:

Trabi601 said:

How about an Eriba?

I generally hate caravans, but often have a guilty look at the small Eribas.

We have an Eriba most models weigh about 850 to 950 kg so not as light as you may think for a small caravan.
They are constructed using a steel frame and they don't skimp on materials. ( made by Hymer )

They are also expensive.

They look so well made and nice Eriba caravans.

I can't make up my mind to buy a small caravan for me and my wife.

We are both in our late sixties and she has a disability.We have the room to park a small caravan in our drive.

[chasingracecars]

I wouldn't necessarily say a small caravan is right for you. You will probably want one with a fixed bed. Making the bed is not always easy when you are old and getting a mover fitted makes no real difference with the size. Obviously you would need a decent size car depending on what you choose.

Your license would allow you to tow upto 7.5 Tonne (I think) unless of course you only passed your test recently!

[R0G]

4x4 + caravan on a B licence

DUSTER ESTATE 1.5 dCi 110 Ambiance 5dr 4X4 = https://www.carleasingmadesimple.com...-estate/662...
Gross vehicle weight 1875 kg
Max towing weight - braked 1500 kg
Unladen weight 1325 kg

Leaves plenty for Caravan MTPLM

[david mcc]

I'm fairly close to the limit with an XC90 and an older Bailey Ranger although I've never been stopped to check weights and I've been towing regularly for 10 years.

On paper I'm about 200kgs under.

[chasingracecars]

It's percentage isn't it they say 85% I am at 87% Audi A6 and swift challenger and it ok but would like a heavier vehicle ideally.

I would rather not have to power out when the caravan skips. (60mph max BTW) Belgian roads are dreadful!

[bristolracer]

pim said:

bristolracer said:

Trabi601 said:

How about an Eriba?

I generally hate caravans, but often have a guilty look at the small Eribas.

We have an Eriba most models weigh about 850 to 950 kg so not as light as you may think for a small caravan.
They are constructed using a steel frame and they don't skimp on materials. ( made by Hymer )

They are also expensive.

They look so well made and nice Eriba caravans.

I can't make up my mind to buy a small caravan for me and my wife.

We are both in our late sixties and she has a disability.We have the room to park a small caravan in our drive.

As already pointed out you may find putting the bed up in the Eriba a bother,they are very cosy. Our toilet compartment is very very small certainly not suitable for a disabled person. A larger van may be better for you. A conventional 2 berth will have a lot more space but can still be quite small.
We store ours at a storage facility which costs about £200 a year, so you could go bigger if you have limited space. Also means the local scrotes won't know you are away when the van is gone.
If you can get a mover, if your wife is unable to assist you moving it you will find it essential.

[R0G]

chasingracecars said:

It's percentage isn't it they say 85% I am at 87% Audi A6 and swift challenger and it ok but would like a heavier vehicle ideally.

I would rather not have to power out when the caravan skips. (60mph max BTW) Belgian roads are dreadful!

The CC use the 85% figure as between the vehicle kerb weight (empty) and the caravan MTPLM weight (full) but the reality 85% is between actual car weight and actual caravan weight at the time of towing
The CC cannot use actual weights so use the only fixed weights they have available

[JeffreyLebowski]

What age, size and budget have you got for the caravan and car? Your question is a bit 'how long is a piece of string' without this info
I don't have my B+E and have what I consider to be pretty reasonable car/caravan combo - 2006 330d (max gross weight ~2150kg) and a 2012 Lunar Quasar 464 (mtplm ~1250kg) which is a 4 berth (dinette at each end - the smaller one turns into a bunk) with plenty of spec and a useable separate shower cubicle. We'd like a bigger van, but this was the biggest we could fit on our drive, and as I'm only 100kg below the limit, it doesn't leave much leeway before I'd need to take the test.

david mcc said:

I'm fairly close to the limit with an XC90 and an older Bailey Ranger although I've never been stopped to check weights and I've been towing regularly for 10 years.

On paper I'm about 200kgs under.

Not wanting to be 'that guy'(!), but what is the mtplm of your Bailey? I'm surprised there is one small enough that would have the 750kg mtplm to legally go behind an XC90 (I'm assuming the gross weight of these must be 2750kg+ ?)

Edited by JeffreyLebowski on Wednesday 18th January 12:49