HELP NEEDED

[Parksy]

Before this topic spins off into a confusing to newbies debate about licence categories let's ask the question.

Fran, when did the driver of the towing vehicle pass their driving test?

If the tow car driver passed the driving test before 1st January 1997 then the licence will be ok.

Click Here for more information about driving licences and towing.

 

[RogerL]

Again you dont know the circumstances, no where in the post have they said they have a B only licence.
Your advice is correct if that was the case, but you dont know if it is.So you are presuming?

I don't want to turn this into a bickering match but I didn't presume - I gave both circumstances.

 

[Surfer]

hi i am new to caravaning and have just brought a bailey senator oklahoma 2003 lenght 23'10"
miro 1222kgs mtplm 1491kgs and was looking into buying a
ford mondeo diesel estate 2.0l tdci titanium x year 08 and was really needing assurance that this car would be ok for towing and was wondering if you could help with my quiery many thanks

No issue with that car and towing!

 

[frantastic]

getting very confusing.... i am ok i have looked on my licence, me and my husband will both be taking a towing course shortly , we have two teenagers so we needed the extra space, im off to read the rest of the replys thanks for your help xx

 

[JonnyG]

Yea , i think all the technical stuff is somewhat confusing a very simple question. can a 08 tdci mondeo pull the caravan in question.

No, it's not that simple - the OP is a beginner to caravanning and may not have a B+E licence so other factors are involved as well.
[/quote but it appears it was that simple.....LOL...

 

[emmerson]

Whether the OP has the requisite licence or not, he/she does not have any experience, therefore the van is too big! As for needing the space, when my children were small, we had to make do with a 12ft Sprite, and coped quite well, until the kids didn't want to holiday with us any more.

 

[MichaelE]

I disagree i dont think the van is too big for a beginner? Loaded correctly and the correct towing vehicle what difference does it make?
Horses for courses, cars are much better equipped for towing these days, ABS, ESP and anti sway has made towing a lot easier.
I think them both taking towing courses is a very good idea.
What is the difference in towing a well matched lighter outfit to a well matched heavier outfit?
I started off with a large 4 berth van as it would have been a total waste of money to buy smaller. My car was well matched.
It would be interesting to see what other people started out with?

 

[RogerL]

It would be interesting to see what other people started out with?

An 84% outfit - 956kg Ford Escort towing a 650kg net, 800kg gross Ace Globetrotter.

 

[emmerson]

A huge car: Citroen DS19 Safari. They don't come much bigger! Very first van was an Eccles Moonstone, soon replaced by the aforementioned Sprite Alpine.No idea what the ratio was, I don't think anyone bothered too much in 1968! I do know, though, that the first time I took it out it terrified me for the first few miles!

 

[xtrailman]

We started with two small children with a 12' Monza, with awning.
Then progressed to a 13' ? swift corvette, followed by a 15' internal Swift challenger 440/4.
The latter towed with a 2L primera.

 

[JonnyG]

Whether the OP has the requisite licence or not, he/she does not have any experience, therefore the van is too big! As for needing the space, when my children were small, we had to make do with a 12ft Sprite, and coped quite well, until the kids didn't want to holiday with us any more.

emmerson,how do you know its too big? supprised to see you assuming things. what if the husband is an hgv class one driver?
Who has never owned a caravan,would he too lack the eperience to tow such a set up?
I had a ci ecelles elan towed it twice did about 80 miles all in before moving up to my burstner. It was never been a problem for me.if i followed some of the advice given here,exactly when would i have gained the experience to move up to a bigger van? and when has experience been proof of ability?. If somebody is a rubbish driver,then all the so called experience in the world.will only make him a
experienced rubbish driver........Give me ability first then i will take the experience,and not the other way around..

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Fran,

I am pleased that you both find your licences are pre 1997, there is no legal problem towing your caravan. I am also please you are both taking a towing course, I am sure it will equip you to tow with greater confidence.

You have to observe the maximum weight limits set by the manufacturers, but provided you within those then good towing needs keeping both the car and the caravan in good condition, sensible loading and careful driving.

Whilst many organisations will tell that the caravan maximum possible weight should be no more than 85% of the kerbweight of the car, there is no legal basis for that and few percent over is unlikely to be an issue, BUT the principle of keeping the trailer as light as possible is sensible.

 

[Parksy]

getting very confusing.... i am ok i have looked on my licence, me and my husband will both be taking a towing course shortly , we have two teenagers so we needed the extra space, im off to read the rest of the replies thanks for your help xx

I think that Fran has received as much useful information as we can provide with regard to her original query and the same old arguments about the 85% recommendation will merely add to her confusion, so we'll leave it at that unless she asks for more on the subject of relative weight ratios thanks.