Best place to store gear when towing?

[jennifer_374227268]

Hi, Sorry if this has been answered before, We are heading of soon for 2 week holiday in caravan we have only ever been away for weekends so do not take much with us, we have not even had to take awning as our caravan is 25' (we tow with 4x4)and there is enough room for us all on short holidays, but for this trip out we will need to take everything, what i would like to know is where is the best place to put the awning/poles, large outside table/chairs and all the other heavier bits. Car or caravan is my question, (our weight ratio is 93% so we are over the 85% and i worry abit about putting to much in the caravan)

Any help would be much appreciated.

Many regards Keith & Jenny

 

[Clive-Cardiff]

How many adults and children in the car?

 

[Cockovan]

Hi, My persoanl preference, with a similar set up to yourselves is to put as much in the tow car asw possible, for many reasons: it gives clear access to the van for lunch stop etc. it keeps the weight in the tow car thus not increasing you ratio and in our vehicle it seems to soften the ride slightly as well.

 

[jennifer_374227268]

Hi Clive, 2 adults, 3 children

 

[Jeff-Pontypridd]

I try to put as much weight as possible in the car - preferably not overhanging the rear wheels. When that done, rest of heavy items on caravan floor above the axles.

Clothes are surprisingly heavy, too - we pack them in bags and try to put in the car.

 

[jennifer_374227268]

Thanks all, Good to know what other people do its always better to ask the question than regret it later.

Many regards Keith & Jenny

 

[Jimbob1]

Jennifer,

Make sure that the nose weight is correct and always put heavy gear over the caravans axle.Jim.

 

[jennifer_374227268]

Jim, the car says 112kg noseweight not sure of caravan its a twin axle sterling trekker, do we keep to the 112kg or below.

 

[Cockovan]

Keep it as close to 112Kg without going over.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Jennifer

Nose weight is a feature where there are two limits that must be satisfied, although your car may have nose weight limit of 112Kg, you caravan will also have a limit you will have to check with your caravan information, but typically the upper limit for caravan chassis is only 100Kg, so you must keep the nose load under both limits. This is a legal requirement..

 

[chrisn7]

Jennifer

There are actually 3 noseweight limits to check out: the towcars from the handbook, the caravans from the handbook, and the towbars from the plate attached to it. Then go with lowest of the 3 and you will be legal

 

[Tapestry]

Hi

We are like you 2 adults, 3 kids. We have towed at 85%, 93% and now about 81%. To us it doesn't matter the ratio, we still pack the same. You just have to be a bit more careful if over 85%.

Nose weight is very important.

The awning, poles and groundsheet goes in the back of the car. The picnic table and chairs goes in the back of the car. A picnic for the ( long) journey goes in the back of the car, as do some travel bags with clothes and travel blankets (fleece blankets). A change of clothes for the kids and T shirts for us go in a separate travel bag which is easily accessible just in case somebody is ill on route.Tissues, plastics bags, fresh wipes etc, are readily accessible. We have a first aid kit readily accessible in both car and caravan.

On long journeys I put some basic food in the caravan fridge (its near the axile of our caravan) and the low cupboard in the caravan near the axile. Our spare wheel is under the caravan in our current caravan, near the axile., in our previous caravan it was carried on the axile in the caravan. We put anything heavy over the axile of the caravan eg kids scooters, wind breaks, awning pegs etc. We travel with food for 2 days to cover the first 48 hours arrival on site.

Waterproof coats for kids and us need to be easily accessible. We also have fleeces readily available. They tend to travel in the car.

We aim not to have very much near the kids feet when travelling, they each have a small rucksack with their own things for the journey, eg books, games, activity kits etc. Our kids are very good at travelling. On long journeys, coming home, we do use an in car DVD player with a DVD the kids have not seen.

Kids toys/ gear can weigh a great deal more than we as adults think. I use folding crates to carry the kids toys, these can be placed over the caravan axile, also useful for storage in the awning. We are quite strict on this, as were my parents when I caravaned as a child. We, as adults like to read books, its surprising how much they weigh, we aim to put them near the caravan axile.

Hope this helps.

Annette