Car trailer with motorhome
Discussion
Hi guys/girls, my mrs and I have been looking for at buying a motorhome for a while now as we have a dog and find it harder every year to find a nice place to stay that will take him. We have found a motorhome we like capable of towing 1500kg. From what I can read on the internet I wouldn't want to use an a frame but a small trailer to carry an abarth 500, what I want to know is if it takes up little more space than an average family saloon will this be acceptable at campsites? I would imagine a caravan requires a space for the van and a car space adjacent so would most sites accept this for a camper and trailer? I would be happy to put the car on the trailer when on site so no extra space would be taken.
More seem to use a proper A frame (with brakes etc) in the UK, probably for the space saving when on site, some will say that they are not legal in some other countries, that is under the same legislation that prohibits there use here unless for recovery of a broken down vehicle. The difference is that once you have working brakes on the vehicle being towed, it becomes a trailer & is subject to the rules of trailers. The downside to this is that certainly in Spain the authorities don't un understand this so you will likely get stopped. Hth.
We looked at this and realised that to have a motorhome we also would need to tow a car, That would mean buying a Motorhome and trailer and a small enough car to tow.
Then looked at caravans (I hate being sat behind them). We do need a decent tow car but these are significantly cheaper then the motorhome and when on site much nicer then the small run around.
Bought the caravan in the end on the basis that I would always be towing with the motorhome anyway.
If you do go down the MH route look out for trailers that at least lift the front wheels off the ground, otherwise you can't reverse. Also look for 4 wheel trailers as these are easier to park on when you are onsite. More stable on road and can take a larger car (depending on your towing capacity.)
Hope some of that helps.
Then looked at caravans (I hate being sat behind them). We do need a decent tow car but these are significantly cheaper then the motorhome and when on site much nicer then the small run around.
Bought the caravan in the end on the basis that I would always be towing with the motorhome anyway.
If you do go down the MH route look out for trailers that at least lift the front wheels off the ground, otherwise you can't reverse. Also look for 4 wheel trailers as these are easier to park on when you are onsite. More stable on road and can take a larger car (depending on your towing capacity.)
Hope some of that helps.
There are companies who make small trailers for Vehicles like smart cars and Toyota iq for towing behind motor homes.
As others have said the A frame idea relies on a modified car and is subject to local laws
I too went down the caravan route, motor homes are never cheap. We did look when we outgrew the camper(which also served as a second vehicle) and decided the costs for something that will be used a dozen times a year couldn't be justified .
As others have said the A frame idea relies on a modified car and is subject to local laws
I too went down the caravan route, motor homes are never cheap. We did look when we outgrew the camper(which also served as a second vehicle) and decided the costs for something that will be used a dozen times a year couldn't be justified .
shovelheadrob said:
some will say that they are not legal in some other countries
bristolracer said:
As others have said the A frame idea relies on a modified car and is subject to local laws
Correct, but only for the locals. If the outfit is legal in its home state, then it is also legal in all other EU member states too. The A frame supplier provides a translation of the legislation in multiple EU languages to explain this in case you get pulled over (we never needed it, in four years of full time living in and touring Europe in our rig).EG, in France it is illegal, so a French registered motorhome cannot tow a car on an A frame in France, but a British registered motorhome can. This used to annoy the French motorhomers no end when we would arrive on-site with our Kontiki and Panda, as they would like to be able to do it too.
I was thinking about this post Brexit, and it may well be the case that towing a car behind a motorhome on an A frame will no longer be possible in France once we are out of the EU, as it is illegal in France and we will no longer have the exemption of the EU legislative reciprocity that currently allows it. Folks might have to use a trailer.
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