Is there a limit in Length of Car and Caravan

[peter_374572290]

I am lokking to purcahse a Avondale Rialto(used), I have a Mitsubishi Warrior L200 truck that I will use to tow it.

My concern is the overall length of caravan and Truck, the caravan is 25 ft plus the length of the truck. I am more than capable of towing it, just concerned on the legality on length. Also were can I fin if my Truck is capable of towing it. Dont fancy paying the £15 to towsafe!!! are there any other sites to check if my truck will pull an Avondale Rialto?

Thanks

 

[Damian]

The maximum body length of a caravan which can be towed by a vehicle with a GVW below 3500kg is 7 mtrs.

Body length does NOT include the A frame and hitch.

Also, using a commercial vehicle to tow a van can cause severe damage to the van, the use of a Dixon Bate shock link is advised

 

[Lutz]

Surprising as it may seem, if the towcar has a maximum allowable weight under 3500kg (which will apply in the case of your L200) there is no limit to the combined total length, only a limit to the length of trailer (caravan). The latter must not exceed 7m, excluding the length of the drawbar and coupling.

 

[peter_374572290]

Dixon bate shock link???

What is this? Is it to do with the height of towball hitch on the towing vehicle???

My towbar is 44cm from ground to the top of the ball. Is this an acceptable height?

Thanks

 

[Damian]

The standard height of a tow ball on the car when it is fully laden is between 350 and 420mm, measured to centre of ball. The standard height of the coupling of the also fully laden caravan when it is standing level is between 385 and 455mm.

Those are the figures you need to work to.#

A Dixon Bate Shock Link is a unit which is fitted to the vehicle which includes the towball and is sprung to reduce the vibration transmitted to the van when towig with a commercial vehicle to reduce the damaging shocks to the van by the harder than normal suspension of a commercial.

 

[peter_374572290]

damian

Thanks for the reply , very helpful.

Just done some searching on the Dixon Link, so can see what its all about now. If my height to top of ball is 440mm then I should be well within the permissible limits then??

As far as the Dixon link is concerned, its there just to protect the caravan from the up/down shock, transmitted through the tow bar?

The caravan we are after is 8 year old, so not really a huge investment, compared to new.

Thanks

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Peter,

A few years ago now I was part of team that did some work on the vibrations induced in caravans, (to check for the longevity of a product often used in caravans)

The MIRA test facilities were used, and the result that occurred was that the most destructive vibrations, were not up and down, but front to back.

The up and down motion of a caravan is largely the result of the compliance of the suspension and tyres, giving large amplitude motions with relatively low accelerations in the axis. By comparison, the front to back motion is low amplitude with much higher accelerations. Peaks of 8G were often found, and this was using a saloon car.

Commercial type vehicles usually have much harder suspension, and this will lead to greater longitudinal vibration being transmitted through the hitch to the caravan.

Dixon bate concept is to introduce some more compliance in the coupling and thus reduce the more destructive accelerations.

I do not recommend ant third party web site or service for matching outfits, simply because you have no confirmation of the accuracy of the information they use to make the assessments, and in some cases it is known that some wrong information has been used which has resulted in accurate advice to users.

You vehicle hand book should give you all the information you require with regard to loads and weights. If you do not have a hand book, either contact your dealer, or the manufacturer.

.

 

[aimee_374529234]

Hi Peter,

We tow a Coachman Laser with a Mitsubishi Warrier L200 and it does look a very long outfit but we have had no problems and the caravan is 26'2.

We checked with the dealer and the brother in law who's in the traffic police and both comfirmed that it was OK.

Happy holidays

Aimee

 

[wends64]

It's also worth checking if you have breakdown cover, what the recoverable length of combined tow vehicle and caravan is. I tow an Avondale Dart 6 berth with a Chrysler grand voyager and the combined length exceeds the maximum that standard recovery companies will pick up (AA RAC etc), I only found out about the maximum length when talking to another caravanner on a site, checked mine and found I wasn't covered, luckily have never had to use, but i am now with Green flag through caravan club just in case. Total length of my unit is just over 12 metres/just under 40'.

Don't forget the 85% weight match guide and remember that when towing with a diesel vehicle it's the torque that you need to check. Mitsubushi should be able to tell you the answers to that.

Good luck with the caravanning

Wendy