Show us your gear (tents to motorhomes)
Discussion
I have a 7.4m long and 2.3m wide motorhome with a 7.1m long and 2.3m wide trailer so am like most articulated lorries (14.5m long and 2.3m wide). As an aside, the maximum length of any unassisted vehicle is 16.5m long and 2.55m wide. Weight wise I am 5t for the MH and usually 2t for the trailer, but this has had a LR Disco on the back so was probably at 8t GTW.
They key is to take your time and plan. Don’t be afraid to go slow and make decisions in slow time. Turning right? Be sure it is the right turn before blundering in to a narrow road with no turning places etc. This is why sometimes you get behind lorries who seem to be dawdling. They are just making sure they are going the right way. Narrow passage, just give way and wait. Turning right on to a trunk road (and when towing I have a 0-60 in the 10’s of seconds)? Your time will come or turn left and go all the way around the next roundabout.
I have taken it all throughout England and Wales to tracks mostly, as well as to Spa in Belgium. Same rules apply, take your time. I find petrol stations the hardest as the filler is on the left and can't reach around plus you are not with the lorries so must be spatially aware. Sometimes you end up waiting for a pump which you know will be easier to get out of and usually tight stations like Tescos are out of the question. Again, all about planning and patience.
Same with reversing. Plan, check and if in doubt start again. Ironically the further away the wheels are from the pivot point the easier it is. Hence why articulated lorries are dead easy and tiny halfords trailers are impossible. Vans of your size and the tri axel trailer I have are about half way in-between.
The more you use it the more normal it will be come. Then you tow something small and are surprised at how easy they are! Finally, the LR Disco you are using is by far the best tow vehicle I have ever used, I can’t recommend them enough.
They key is to take your time and plan. Don’t be afraid to go slow and make decisions in slow time. Turning right? Be sure it is the right turn before blundering in to a narrow road with no turning places etc. This is why sometimes you get behind lorries who seem to be dawdling. They are just making sure they are going the right way. Narrow passage, just give way and wait. Turning right on to a trunk road (and when towing I have a 0-60 in the 10’s of seconds)? Your time will come or turn left and go all the way around the next roundabout.
I have taken it all throughout England and Wales to tracks mostly, as well as to Spa in Belgium. Same rules apply, take your time. I find petrol stations the hardest as the filler is on the left and can't reach around plus you are not with the lorries so must be spatially aware. Sometimes you end up waiting for a pump which you know will be easier to get out of and usually tight stations like Tescos are out of the question. Again, all about planning and patience.
Same with reversing. Plan, check and if in doubt start again. Ironically the further away the wheels are from the pivot point the easier it is. Hence why articulated lorries are dead easy and tiny halfords trailers are impossible. Vans of your size and the tri axel trailer I have are about half way in-between.
The more you use it the more normal it will be come. Then you tow something small and are surprised at how easy they are! Finally, the LR Disco you are using is by far the best tow vehicle I have ever used, I can’t recommend them enough.
Thurbs said:
Lots of reassuring stuff!
Thanks Thurbs, I have had the odd moment wondering whether I was certifiably mad - but a spot of madness is perhaps never a bad thing. 
The kids think it's the best thing ever, and I hope it will be a great family adventure - starting to plan summer festivals and looking forward to things like the Silverstone Classic.
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/kLMNJl3P.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/UPQ07yvR" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/UPQ07yvR.jpg)
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And the 'van that has succeeded the Icarus, with daughter hanging out of it (who is now desperately trying to get her husband to spring for one). A 2011 Elddis Explore 452 dealer special (Raymond James Caravans). One owner and immaculate, and bought last week for £5700 (just spotted one online, a year older, for nearly £9k so I assume I did OK there). Came with all the kit including a Kampa Rally Pro 260 awning.
Chuffed, but nervous.
Motor mover being fitted tomorrow, so that ups the cost a little.
And finally, my old Khyam Igloo (bought in about 1985). Fantastic bit of kit for the weekend trips, and will be used in August on a trip to the Black Mountains.
The strange humpback addition is a Coleman porch which we bought for the Icarus, to keep the rain off the doorway, but never used as it never rained enough to bother (even last weekend in Snowdonia, strangely enough). Just thought I'd see if I could adapt it to the Igloo to make a bit of outdoor covered space, and it seems to work quite well, even if it looks a bit, er, odd. The other bit is a Mountain Equipment cheapie beach shelter which suffices for a bit of cookery/storage etc.
It'll be snug with the two of us and Bryn the mutt...
Haven’t had chance to go this year due to the arrival of a little one but this was from last year.
We ended up arriving later than planned so most of the tent-putting-up was conducted with only a pair of LED headlights for assistance...
Easwell Farm in Woolacombe is quite lovely though, with a rather nice pool.
Edited by Jbeale96 on Thursday 2nd August 22:12
hyphen said:
I want one.
LeadFarmer - Do campsites allow something that big? Do they charge more? On smaller sites. does everyone hate you for taking up half the site.
One of the extensions is used for storing bikes etc...
And the other for sleeping..
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