Please help a close freind of mine as just bought a german made burnster t/a caravan 1990s is tow car his a 1.8 petrol xsara picasso i have told him this is not agood match as i towed it today in my new disco 4 and i could fell it on back so i hate to think what it would be like with the pic he wont register on this forum or any other i dont know why so i would like some ammo so to speak to give him but i may be wrong as i dont know much about the car or caravan all i know is that the car can tow 1300kgs n/w 80kgs the van is early 90s t/a 5 birth burnster please forgive my spelling thanks avery worried peter
accident waiting to happen?
- Thread starter landypete
- Start date
i am worried if he makes to hill as there will be 2 kids in car if he dont listen to me and if i can get advice of here its against the law i will inform the police myself
thanks
thanks
go to tow match on tow sure if its over 100% then you have a good bi t of ammo .The van is a twin axle you say the wieght is to be found out the petrol side may be a down side if the van is near the mark .
- Mar 14, 2005
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Hello Peter,
Without knowing the exact models and years all we can do is make some assumptions. However you do give us the car and its towing capacity, and the fact the Burstner is a TA strongly suggests the caravan maybe on the limit or bigger than the Picasso is capable of handling.
I have to assume you are a seasoned caravanner and sadly if your friend will not listen to you then he is unlikely to take heed of warnings from us.
It really only leaves you with your suggested course of action of telling the Police. I do not know how seriously they will respond, but with any luck they will keep your identity secret.
Best of luck.
Without knowing the exact models and years all we can do is make some assumptions. However you do give us the car and its towing capacity, and the fact the Burstner is a TA strongly suggests the caravan maybe on the limit or bigger than the Picasso is capable of handling.
I have to assume you are a seasoned caravanner and sadly if your friend will not listen to you then he is unlikely to take heed of warnings from us.
It really only leaves you with your suggested course of action of telling the Police. I do not know how seriously they will respond, but with any luck they will keep your identity secret.
Best of luck.
You may find that a much older van doesn't weigh as much as you think. Have a look on the plate and check out the weight - and the weight of the car before you take it any further.
Caravans have got a lot 'meatier' recently, but some of the older models aren't anything like as heavy as they look.
Caravans have got a lot 'meatier' recently, but some of the older models aren't anything like as heavy as they look.
HI i have looked for the weights on van and i cant find anything all i know its burnster 5 birth t/a lux bilt for uk as door on n/s i have told i will tell police if he uses it as he aint towed a van before only a trailer tent
- Mar 14, 2005
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Only the heaviest Continental caravans are twin axle because they avoid twins unless there is no alternative. Even though the caravan is older and ones of the 1990's aren't as heavy as those today, one can safely assume that a twin axle BÅrstner will be well over 1400kg and that's way over the legal limit for a Xsara Picasso.
with you lutz soon as i saw t/a its needs to be a larger van it also german so it points to the same idea you would not put a t/a on a van thats less than 1200kgs.
Hi
As you say landypete this is a accident waiting to happen , this caravan is far to heavy for his towcar, IT IS AN ILEAGAL MATCH. If he has an accident with this outfit and the police are involved they will throw the book at him to put it nicely. Esp if there are injuries. His car will never cope with the weight of the van. I do hope he does not use this outfit on the road .
Dougie...........
As you say landypete this is a accident waiting to happen , this caravan is far to heavy for his towcar, IT IS AN ILEAGAL MATCH. If he has an accident with this outfit and the police are involved they will throw the book at him to put it nicely. Esp if there are injuries. His car will never cope with the weight of the van. I do hope he does not use this outfit on the road .
Dougie...........
it is not only the police that are interested
I drive a Mercedes C Class 220CDI AMG I tow a Bailey GT60/620-6
No problem at all however when travelling from Austria to Slovenia two weeks ago I arrived at the Slovenian border the customs officer asked me to open the car door drivers side sl she could look at the plate.
Has I been over the tow limit they would have stopped me there and then.
So your friend should also note he may have problems if he tries to travel overseas.
John
I drive a Mercedes C Class 220CDI AMG I tow a Bailey GT60/620-6
No problem at all however when travelling from Austria to Slovenia two weeks ago I arrived at the Slovenian border the customs officer asked me to open the car door drivers side sl she could look at the plate.
Has I been over the tow limit they would have stopped me there and then.
So your friend should also note he may have problems if he tries to travel overseas.
John
Thankyou everyone i am going to take to the waybridge at work in morning ang get a print out of the weight and if its more than the 1300kgs his car can tow hopefully he will se sence but i know just by looking at it its going to be more as i said i towed it 50 miles yesterday with a disco 4 no stabilser van empty and i could deff tell it was there mt own van is 1000kgs and i cant feal it so its got to be a lot hevier plus he as exprince in towing a caravan trailer tents only i told not to buy it but it was like talking to brick wall
thanks again peter
thanks again peter
Just found one for sale which seems similar to the one you describe, ie a T/A burstner Lux 5 berth from the 90s, it is advertised with an unladen weight of 1600kg, so laden would be more, definitely need something much bigger than a xsara to tow it. Your thread title seems very appropriate.
HI took it to work and it weighed in at 1474 kgs told him not dare use it
thanks peter (akalandypete had re register?)
thanks peter (akalandypete had re register?)
- Mar 14, 2005
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Hi Pete,
Hats off to you and well done.
How many people would go to the lengths you have to help a friend and prevent them from making a big mistake. I hope he really appreciates the effort and time you have spent under the difficult circumstances you have explained.
Perhaps he will be more receptive to constructive discussions about caravanning in the future.
Hats off to you and well done.
How many people would go to the lengths you have to help a friend and prevent them from making a big mistake. I hope he really appreciates the effort and time you have spent under the difficult circumstances you have explained.
Perhaps he will be more receptive to constructive discussions about caravanning in the future.
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