Hello, we last had a Sprite Alpine about 1960, travelled all over the country with our two young children for about 8 years . In those days'thought nothing of fitting towbars electrics, over coming water (not damp) coming through the front fixed window.Years went by doing the package holiday thing ,by then children become adults. we then bought a VW Camper van , Hymer 52, Hymer 544, Bessacar E645, Hymer E520,Bessacar E450.By now my Wife is not able to walk around like she use to with the motorcaravans.So we bought last January 06 a 2001 Coachman 460/2 from a well known dealer .We had also changed our car for a Nissan X Trail 2.5 petrol auto whose gross weight for towing is 1350klg and the coachman also was 1350 klg.We had a Powertouch mover fitted and Tyron bands.Having got home with the outfit with no bother i then had to use the mover.I simply could not turn the spanner to lock the drive, rung Powertouch they said would send a fitter round next week.Ldies you will love this ,my wife said let the tyres down which i did, hey presto it worked.cuttin a long story short the dealer had over inflated the tyres by 17psi.I was not surprised when i checked the so called pdi that several items had not been done. However the xTrail lasted 6 months ,lovely motor 18-20mpg.Bought Skoda 2.0hp dsg gearbox, now getting 25-30mpg towing and 40+ solo. Weights, after our first trip i had the outfit weighed, we had 1400klg instead of 3500klg.Of coarse it was the extra's we had fitted plus wheel clamp,Alco lock and others . we now have to weigh every thing put into the van as although the car say's it can pull 1400 klg it really is 1321klg. Even with the 1400klg being towed i did not feel any problems.Fridge draughts , our fridge is open at the back so letting a gale through above the door and into the bed locker.Coachman say it has been passed and the dealer well!!.Summing up we done 4000 miles in the caravan and it is much easier for my Wife being nearer to the places which the camper could not get to.Myself i am not impressed but will have to go with the flow.
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