Continental Caravans

[Benji]

Hello

My Wife and I have just returned from a six week caravan trip to the continent. We had a great time however I have to pass on the following observations

Most of the contintal caravans we saw had roof racks fitted, one van even had the awning up there.

Again most of the caravans we saw had cycle racks fitted to the back of the van. On our way back to Zeebrugge we followed a caravan doing 100 Km/Hr with two bikes fitted to the back, the van was as straight as a die even with this weight on the back.

Also we saw many large vans being pulled with relatively small cars 85% rule!!!!!! Several times we were overtaken by continental vans doing ove 120 km/hr and there was no swing from the van.

I guess what I am trying to say, why are we being advised to keep heavy items low down in the caravan, fit nothing to the back of the van( Cycles) and make sure you follow the 85% rule.

Very interesting observations, are we doing things the right way or being too conservative.

Russell

 

[JTQ]

I would expect that the van builder puts the axle further back and has a longer "A" frame than is the UK style.

 

[Rod_5041370]

And shock absorbers as standard, plus thicker roofs that can be walked on, plus re-inforced rear walls with fixing points for cycle racks.

 

[RayS]

I suspect we are being a bit too careful or conservative.

I spend most Springs in Spain and meet numersous European caravanners - some retired engineers and teachers and generally careful people. Their outfits rarely confirm with our "rules" and yet they seem to have no troubles with instability or other towing problems. One outfit, for example was an 8m long twin axle unit pulled with a Kia Carens. This from Denmark where it seems the towing vehicle weight has to be displayed on the side of the vehicle - in this case 2026kg. From makers figure, this must be the MAW not kerb weight of this car, and gave it a margin (although not very big) over the MAW of the caravan. Numerous other examples from Holland.

You may have seen other threads from which I gather higher towing spped limits are allowed in Germany providing the van MAW does not exceed the rated kerb weight of the car, and i understand that in France the main requirement ofr towing to motorway speed limits is that the van tyres should be suitably speed rated and the overall train weight limit not exceeded.

Others will know the detail better than I do, but you have only to look at adverts for continental caravans to see, for example, large Burstner vans being "towed" by Mercedes C class which cannot give our 75% ratio.