B Licence caravanners

Author
Discussion

Chicken Chaser

Original Poster:

7,744 posts

223 months

Monday 17th July 2017
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Anyone on here towing a family caravan on just a B Licence? I'm looking to sell my camper and buy a car and caravan but with a 3500kg limit on the Gross Train Weight, it means I'm having to look at vans under 1350kg and most i've seen are about 1400-1450kg. Looking for something under 10 years old with a double dinette ideally. I've seen a couple of Bailey Orions which seem to be fairly lightweight but they're probably just out of budget.

chasingracecars

1,696 posts

96 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
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It's possible but the limitations and finding the right pair at sensible prices is limiting. Budget £1000 for the B+E and gain experience of towing and a license before shopping for car and caravan combos.

JeffreyLebowski

452 posts

206 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
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What's your budget?

I'm only on a B license and I tow a 2012 Lunar Quasar 464 (mtplm ~ 1250kg) with a 2006 330d (gross weight 2140kg, so can tow up to 1360kg). The van has a single dinette at the back (converts to bunks), and a centre kitchen and washroom (with separate shower).
I'd like a bigger van ideally, so spent a bit of time investigating, and found that the biggest family van combo I could tow was a Lunar Quasar 546 or 586 (24 footers with fixed bunks for the kids) coupled to a ~2010 Skoda Octavia VRS. The VRS has a usefully low gross weight compared to its kerb weight (2000kg and 1500kg from memory), and Lunars tend to come out lighter with like-for-like spec and size from other manufacturers.
It just goes to show, however, how utterly dumb and ill-conceived the law is that I'd be changing my car for a lighter and less powerful car (and hence a less-safe match) in order to tow a larger van.

In the end, I've pretty much decided to go and take the test, as long-term it will just be too restricting, especially as I fancy a twin-axle!

Rosscow

8,723 posts

162 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
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As above, take the test.

I did mine for around £700 5 years ago and hopped straight into our 3.0TDi A6 Avant towing a 1800kg twin axle. Haven't looked back!

Also, twin axles are a lot nicer to tow and easier to load and get a good balance with. Go for it!

chasingracecars

1,696 posts

96 months

Tuesday 18th July 2017
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Your Caravan should not weigh 90% of the gross weight of your car either. Ideally under 80%.

R0G

4,984 posts

154 months

Wednesday 19th July 2017
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chasingracecars said:
Your Caravan should not weigh 90% of the gross weight of your car either. Ideally under 80%.
It is recommended that the actual weight of the caravan should not be more than 85% of the actual weight of the towing vehicle at the time of towing it

CC use a formula which is a worse case scenario where the car is empty and the caravan is fully loaded but in reality that is impractical

youngricharduk

235 posts

84 months

Wednesday 19th July 2017
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I just like you spent an eternity looking for the perfect car+van combo to keep me under the 3500KG GTW. In the end I just decided to have a go at the test I had a 5 hour block practice mainly at the reverse part with an instructor and took the test using his combination, all in it cost about £300 including the £115 cost for the test, luckily I passed first time and now tow a Swift twin wheeler caravan with a VW Touareg. I know it's easy for me to say but rather then trying everything to avoid it I really do recommend just getting it done, otherwise it will constantly be it the back of your mind if your thinking of upgrading car or caravan in the future.

Chicken Chaser

Original Poster:

7,744 posts

223 months

Wednesday 19th July 2017
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Completely agree that the law is ill thought out. I know it prevents people towing large combinations but when the difference for a car caravan combo could be something as little as 100kg difference, you can see people using a poor match just to keep the weight under limit, causing greater danger.

I've not ruled out the test, but thought I might be able to do it. I was looking for and end bathroom but with a rear bedroom too, as seen on a few vans where the fixed bed is a bunk instead but it really does limit choice!