I am sure I read somewhere that it is now legal to tow the wider caravan with a vehicle less than the 3.5 tonne GVW,can anyone confirm this?
2.50 mtr caravans
- Thread starter Allen774
- Start date
Does anyone know of any plans to build U.K. vans to this width?
Also, why when changing the legal width 'to conform to eu regs.' didn't they look at the maximum length at the same time. I understand that most of the impetus for change was VAT related but it seems to me that an ideal opportunity was lost to look at the whole of the regulations. I would have thought that the CC could have got involved, or at least asked it's members whether there was a need for change.
Also, why when changing the legal width 'to conform to eu regs.' didn't they look at the maximum length at the same time. I understand that most of the impetus for change was VAT related but it seems to me that an ideal opportunity was lost to look at the whole of the regulations. I would have thought that the CC could have got involved, or at least asked it's members whether there was a need for change.
Frankly, having had experience of 2.5m wide caravans, if they are going to be used a lot for touring, they can be more of a curse than a blessing. Only if they are going to be used as semi-statics to be towed primarily on wide roads, are they much joy.
Yes it is legal now to tow a 2.5Mtr wide caravan with a private tax class car or 4X4.
But and it's a BIG BUT !!
One thing might get in the way once you have negotiated those narrow lanes etc.
The size of a hardstanding pitch.
Although I tow the old standard width caravan I have a 3Mtr deep awning, I have encountered pitches not able to accomodate my outfit.
It seems that the site owners or wardens don't keep pace with todays caravanning and forget to adjust pitch sizes accordingly. The of coarse you run up against the old cherry of which to put on the grass. Your barrels or the excess awning depth. I've had two wardens on the same site decide both senario's are ok, but not at the same time which caused some friction as the current warden seemed to think it was my choice to ruin 18" of his grass, where in fact it was the predicessor who made that choice. Nothing like getting off on the wrong foot before even unhitching!!
So not only do you have to think about the towing of larger units, you do have to consider pitching and of coarse the stigma attatched to the wider Hobby and LMC caravans.
People do automatically have pre-concieved ideas about those who don't fit the box of conventionalism.
I get people ignoring me once they find out that I caravan full time. I put it down to green gills because I enjoy my hobby in my Abbey more than they can because the 9-5 job get's in the way. But you just try moving every 6 weeks often hundreds of miles between farms building sheds. It ain't no picnic that's for sure.
So there could be good reasons not to expand your caravan too soon, unless you only pitch on the green stuff.
Oh BTW, just remember a lot of field gates are only 3Mtrs wide.
But and it's a BIG BUT !!
One thing might get in the way once you have negotiated those narrow lanes etc.
The size of a hardstanding pitch.
Although I tow the old standard width caravan I have a 3Mtr deep awning, I have encountered pitches not able to accomodate my outfit.
It seems that the site owners or wardens don't keep pace with todays caravanning and forget to adjust pitch sizes accordingly. The of coarse you run up against the old cherry of which to put on the grass. Your barrels or the excess awning depth. I've had two wardens on the same site decide both senario's are ok, but not at the same time which caused some friction as the current warden seemed to think it was my choice to ruin 18" of his grass, where in fact it was the predicessor who made that choice. Nothing like getting off on the wrong foot before even unhitching!!
So not only do you have to think about the towing of larger units, you do have to consider pitching and of coarse the stigma attatched to the wider Hobby and LMC caravans.
People do automatically have pre-concieved ideas about those who don't fit the box of conventionalism.
I get people ignoring me once they find out that I caravan full time. I put it down to green gills because I enjoy my hobby in my Abbey more than they can because the 9-5 job get's in the way. But you just try moving every 6 weeks often hundreds of miles between farms building sheds. It ain't no picnic that's for sure.
So there could be good reasons not to expand your caravan too soon, unless you only pitch on the green stuff.
Oh BTW, just remember a lot of field gates are only 3Mtrs wide.
I have had two TEC Weltbummlers T/A in the past towed by Kia sedonas,I have had no trouble at all on the roads,I did like the extra room,the wider bed and the bigger tables and to be able to pass each other moving about in the van.The slightly wider wheelbase was very stable and I never had a problem at all.We toured all over england and europe I would certainly consider another one.
If the vans 2.5m and the field gate is 3m whats the problem ? May be a bit tight but if your any kind of driver?
Hi Lutz.Despite your comments on the 2.5mtr van issue,I wonder if you could find some details on one Stunning Looking caravan,the Tabbert Paganini 655 (Island Bed). I have pulled up a few snippets of info,but I would like to know what the usual technical bits are. The MiRO,The MTPLM,The shipping length,The internal length,and the overall width are.
Any help that you can offer would be gratefully appreciated.
It was our intention to take our Elddis Crusader SuperSirocco to the Costa Blanca and put it on to a sight (long term),this may be another option. To seek one out, perhaps through the small adds or Flea Bay or even the continental versions of the UK Auto Trader/Caravan Trader magazines.
Any help that you can offer would be gratefully appreciated.
It was our intention to take our Elddis Crusader SuperSirocco to the Costa Blanca and put it on to a sight (long term),this may be another option. To seek one out, perhaps through the small adds or Flea Bay or even the continental versions of the UK Auto Trader/Caravan Trader magazines.
Hi fg.50k what/which. I have it from a reliable source that it is 45,600 Euro's, which today is £39,608.16p Sterling.
A Vanmaster Occasion TBEW (twin axle) is £31,951.00,or the IB (Island Bed) is £31,500.00,as they do not have a dealer network that I believe is the OTR price.
It is my view having seen the Vanmaster product, and from inside the factory before they moved to new premises after the restructure that this is the only British Product that comes near to it,on Price & Build.Albeit, that it is not an 8ft van.
A Vanmaster Occasion TBEW (twin axle) is £31,951.00,or the IB (Island Bed) is £31,500.00,as they do not have a dealer network that I believe is the OTR price.
It is my view having seen the Vanmaster product, and from inside the factory before they moved to new premises after the restructure that this is the only British Product that comes near to it,on Price & Build.Albeit, that it is not an 8ft van.
they can get them from a inporter at alcobury air field in huntingdon he imports tabberts lmc ect ect not sure of the company name but have viewed a few up there.
TheTravellingRooster said:
Here are the technical details you asked for, as taken from the following Tabbert website:
http://www.tabbert.de/modelle/paganini/grundrisse/paganini-655-df.html
MIRO: 1960kg
MTPLM: 2200kg
Shipping length: 9.06m
Internal length: 6.66m
Overall width: 2.5m
Hi Lutz. Thank you very much indeed for your quick response and information. This is definitely BIG 4x4 territory here. It is just a little more than I would entertain on the back of my Volvo T5 Auto !. Even if it is believed, as some that say here in England, that the continentals don't bother to much about towing laws, I would need towing mirrors extended out on Brush Stales to see the rear corners. This is some piece of kit.
Believe me, the powers-that-be can and do enforce the law regarding maximum permissible towloads quite regularly. It's just that a 85% recommendation is unknown on the Continent.
Seems strange that West Caravans are relatively secretive about the caravans that they sell being Dethleffs. They don't only build monsters like the Megaron (11.5m, 3500kg MTPLM built to special order only) or the Caraliner (9.1m, 2800kg MTPLM) but also ones of relatively modest size like the 545V that I own. The 545V is their largest 2.3m wide model.
Yes, but dealer specials are only variants of existing models with special option packages although they basically remain under the name of the caravan manufacturer. But here, West Caravans seem to be trying to cover up the the fact that the caravans are actually Dethleffs - maybe because they are grey imports.Allen774 said:
Hi Lutz,
At the bottom of their advert on the first page they state;Quality German caravans made by Dethleffs and refitted to English Standards,
I went to their site a couple of years ago,and the quality and the build of these vans were outstanding,But they did not have the model I wanted in stock.
Also most of their customers were travellers and showman,
At the bottom of their advert on the first page they state;Quality German caravans made by Dethleffs and refitted to English Standards,
I went to their site a couple of years ago,and the quality and the build of these vans were outstanding,But they did not have the model I wanted in stock.
Also most of their customers were travellers and showman,
Facebook
Twitter