Hi new here not got a caravan but my son as just got one and going to live in it all year around. I am sorry worried about this so thought I would join here I did offer him our garden to put it on but he does not want to do this so going to put it on a site which he as got on to for a bit .i no it’s ok this time of year but am sorry worried about when the winter comes.so to go on about this but just need some where to join to talk about this and maybe people who live in there van all year.the van is a Eccles ruby 2009 I nice looking caravan thank you for any help and listening .darren
Just saying
- Thread starter Pond01
- Start date
- Nov 11, 2009
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It’s a modern well insulated caravan with full facilities gas and electric heating. Caravanners tour all year and some have winter and summer seasonal pitches, there’s no reason your son will not be fine. What are your specific worries?
Hello thank you for your reply not sure really to be honest guess it is just something new .he as not got a car to tow it at mo and think he will need some think quite big to pull it the max weight of the van is 1595 when he needs to move it .i think my main concern is winter with water freezing up and so on
- Mar 17, 2007
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Hi Pond. There are a number of people who do full time touring. Have a look at Andrew Ditton’s Videos on You Tube. Don’t worry about winter, modern caravans are nice and toasty. We don’t live in ours full time, but have done winter touring in the snow. Many people really enjoy being out in their vans in the winter. You do need to think about external water supply, but it is possible to work around.
In terms of towing, your son will need to think about how much weight his licence will allow. If he passed his test after 1997, then he will not have B and E on his licence, (unless he has done the additional test) and is therefore limited to 3500 kg total weight for car and caravan.
It is natural to worry about your boy, but there are many positives to “van life” as it is called.
Keep posting any more questions that you have.
Mel
In terms of towing, your son will need to think about how much weight his licence will allow. If he passed his test after 1997, then he will not have B and E on his licence, (unless he has done the additional test) and is therefore limited to 3500 kg total weight for car and caravan.
It is natural to worry about your boy, but there are many positives to “van life” as it is called.
Keep posting any more questions that you have.
Mel
Hi Mel thank you feeling a bit better about it all now he passed his test after 97 so does that mean he can tow up to 3500 kg car and caravan and if he passes test he can go over 3500kg what sort of car would pull this type of van its 1595kg that’s full loaded thank you for all your help
- Nov 11, 2009
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If he’s only hit a B licence the restriction of 3500kg outfit weight is the sum of the Gross Vehicle Weight and caravan MTPLM. So even if the car and caravan were unladen the sum of GVW and MTPLM is what is governs the legality of the outfit and must not exceed 3500kg. . IE these are plated weights not actual ones.
Given the weight of his caravan I think it would almost be impossible to find a towcar that would have a GVW low enough to allow him to legally tow. His best bet would be to go for BE licence.
Given the weight of his caravan I think it would almost be impossible to find a towcar that would have a GVW low enough to allow him to legally tow. His best bet would be to go for BE licence.
Hi yes he is going to do that I can tow it what sort of car would be ok would have to be auto if poss I have a Suzuki jimny but no that won’t do it but I am happy to px that for another 4x4 as I need a 4x4 budget would be 10,000 pound I guess
- Nov 11, 2009
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Shogun, Sorento, Santa Fe, Xc90 and a number of larger cars such as V70, XX70, E class Galaxy etc. You really need to decide what your motoring and towing needs are then start to look at various options for a tow car.
- May 7, 2012
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Basically the tow car should have a kerb weight in excess of the MTPLM of the caravan and the bigger the difference the better. Make sure the car has the manufacturers towing weight at least that of the caravan but ignore figures that exceed the weight of the car. The two big clubs and the NCC have a suggested towing figure for beginners of no more than 85% of the cars kerb weight but this is not a legal requirement and certainly I would not worry about figures up to 90% these days.
Very few cars tow badly so basically I would get the weights right and you should be OK.
Given the good standard of caravan your son has opted for, the only potential problem in living in it could be water freezing outside in very cold weather. There are plenty of covers for this available from any dealer or on the net although in winter on the worst nights it might be wise to take the containers in when he goes to bed.
If anything should break down there are mobile engineers who he could call out to fix it without having to tow the caravan anywhere.
Very few cars tow badly so basically I would get the weights right and you should be OK.
Given the good standard of caravan your son has opted for, the only potential problem in living in it could be water freezing outside in very cold weather. There are plenty of covers for this available from any dealer or on the net although in winter on the worst nights it might be wise to take the containers in when he goes to bed.
If anything should break down there are mobile engineers who he could call out to fix it without having to tow the caravan anywhere.
- Mar 14, 2005
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I broadly agree with Raywood's comment, but I's never suggest simply getting the weight ratio right is any guarantee of a safe tow. It just one factor of several.
I don't want to frighten you, and what follows is not difficult but it some surprises novices when they perhaps see something they hadn't previously considered.
Before you set off:-
Both the car and caravan should be in good mechanical condition, especially the suspension, brakes and tyres
Tyre pressures should be correctly adjusted for towing (see your manufactures manual)
The way the caravan is loaded is important and should be trimmed to to give an appropriate nose load
And when under way
Driving habits, Probably the biggest factor is speed, which is under the drivers control, along with allowing for the outfits size and weight. and the time it takes to complete manoeuvres compared to a solo car.
I don't want to frighten you, and what follows is not difficult but it some surprises novices when they perhaps see something they hadn't previously considered.
Before you set off:-
Both the car and caravan should be in good mechanical condition, especially the suspension, brakes and tyres
Tyre pressures should be correctly adjusted for towing (see your manufactures manual)
The way the caravan is loaded is important and should be trimmed to to give an appropriate nose load
And when under way
Driving habits, Probably the biggest factor is speed, which is under the drivers control, along with allowing for the outfits size and weight. and the time it takes to complete manoeuvres compared to a solo car.
Hi thank u for your advice well quick update van sited and he very happy it came with a air awning and that’s all up and everything working only one problem and think we broke it but not sure how is the cassette waste for the toilet there is like a shutter that u can open and close when the cassette is in place was working but we pulled the cassette out and bit dropped inside it now it won’t close when we reinstalled the cassette any help with that would be great thank you all
- Nov 11, 2009
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Pond01 said:
Lots of videos on YouTube on how to service repair access the Thetford cassette. Also Thetfords own website has very good support information too. The closure blade has to be firmly closed to allow the cassette to be removed. Good luck.
- Sep 29, 2016
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Thanks for reply’s I will look at waste tank on Saturday other problem is how do you release the hand brake there is no button to press on it thank you
- Oct 12, 2013
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Pond01 said:
Ours hasn't got a button on either you just give a good push down to release and pull up to put it on....
Hi thank you will try Saturday when I see my son can’t see how it releases with out a button though
Oh ok thank you sorry one more question the site says he needs insurance done a few quotes but not sure if I should do market value or new for old also see it does not cover you if you are towing your van. So who would pay if you have an accident.it also says contents value is that your own personal items and also says equipment value what is that many thanks Darren
- Mar 17, 2007
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Someone will give you a better answer than this ; but as I understand it, your caravan insurance should cover damage to the caravan when it is being towed: your car insurance covers damage to the car and liability for damage to other road users. You will need to let your car insurance know that you have fitted a tow bar as it counts as a modification. New for old is up to you, basically you have to weigh up if the additional premium is worth while, in the event that the caravan is written off and you only get current value for it as aopposed to a new replacement. Personal contents are stuff like clothes and pots and pans whereas equipment is stuff like motor movers. Check on your cover where awnings are counted; sometimes equipment, sometimes separately.
There is a lot of variance out there in price as well as cover, so you do need to check the small print.
Mel
There is a lot of variance out there in price as well as cover, so you do need to check the small print.
Mel
- Oct 12, 2013
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Ours is insured through these but there's loads .....
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.adrianflux.co.uk/&ved=2ahUKEwjS7f_skpzjAhUztHEKHeksDH8QFjAAegQIBRAD&usg=AOvVaw06tWlRwizfEvJPSLng-tZQ
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.adrianflux.co.uk/&ved=2ahUKEwjS7f_skpzjAhUztHEKHeksDH8QFjAAegQIBRAD&usg=AOvVaw06tWlRwizfEvJPSLng-tZQ
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