novice

[michael_374319824]

hi, we are interested in buying a caravan, but are absolute beginners to the game.

our car is an astra i.8 design, and we only want a small van as we are both novices when it comes to towing.

can anybody point us in the right direction with hints or tips to help us out

any replies will be gratefully received.

 

[ed_374319823]

Have you considered the Bailey range of vans? They tend to be light to tow. Bailey rangers would be ideal. Have MTPLMs of around 1240kg so would be ideal. Is your car petrol or diesel ? & what is max tow weight ?

 

[ed_374319823]

Have you considered the Bailey range of vans? They tend to be light to tow. Bailey rangers would be ideal. Have MTPLMs of around 1240kg so would be ideal. Is your car petrol or diesel ? & what is max tow weight ?

Also you need to know the kerweight of your car...

 

[michael_374319824]

thanks ed, my car's petrol, what is mtplm (sorry, but i said i was a complete novice).

i'll have to look up the max tow weight.

i thought all i had to do was buy a small caravan.

by the way, i was only thinking about second hand, so i,ll see if there are any bailey rangers on ebay.

thanks again

 

[will2]

Hello michael

My advise would e get someone with towing experiance and get them to take you out and give you advise,thats what i did, or I think the caravan cllub do towing classes.

Good luck Will

 

[Lutz]

The first thing you must do is to have a look in the owner's handbook of your car what the maximum permissible towload for your car is. (It's probably 1300kg). That is the absolute legal maximum axle load (not total weight) that the caravan may have. The second thing is to check the approximate kerbweight (for your Astra this will be somewhere around 1250kg - it doesn't have to be that accurate). For a novice, there is a general recommendation that the total weight of the caravan should not exceed 85% of the kerbweight, so 85% of 1250 or 1062kg would be a rough guideline figure. This would mean that you shouldn't be looking at caravans with an MTPLM (maximum technically permissible mass) of more than about 1050 to 1100kg and you mustn't tow one that weighs more than 1250kg plus the noseweight on the towball (usually 75kg for a car like the Astra), i.e. an MTPLM of 1325kg.

Some cars have a lower legal limit than the 85% weight ratio guideline figure so you need to know both.

Once you've done this little bit of maths you can go hunting around for a caravan within those limits that takes your liking. If all the above figures are correct (once again, check them in the book) then we are talking about 1050 to 1100kg as a sensible maximum for you and your Astra.

 

[Lutz]

The first thing you must do is to have a look in the owner's handbook of your car what the maximum permissible towload for your car is. (It's probably 1300kg). That is the absolute legal maximum axle load (not total weight) that the caravan may have. The second thing is to check the approximate kerbweight (for your Astra this will be somewhere around 1250kg - it doesn't have to be that accurate). For a novice, there is a general recommendation that the total weight of the caravan should not exceed 85% of the kerbweight, so 85% of 1250 or 1062kg would be a rough guideline figure. This would mean that you shouldn't be looking at caravans with an MTPLM (maximum technically permissible mass) of more than about 1050 to 1100kg and you mustn't tow one that weighs more than 1250kg plus the noseweight on the towball (usually 75kg for a car like the Astra), i.e. an MTPLM of 1325kg.

Some cars have a lower legal limit than the 85% weight ratio guideline figure so you need to know both.

Once you've done this little bit of maths you can go hunting around for a caravan within those limits that takes your liking. If all the above figures are correct (once again, check them in the book) then we are talking about 1050 to 1100kg as a sensible maximum for you and your Astra.

Sorry, got the legal maximum wrong. It would be 1300 plus 75kg, ie. 1375 not 1325kg. However, as one wouldn't advise going over 1100 anyway, this would only be of acedemic interest.

 

[RayS]

Beg borrow or steal a Caravan Club UK site guide (yes, i know this may sound a bit premature) and read all the stuff on weights and towing - it's as concise a summary as you can get although we "experts" can always pick holes in some of it.

Look at the "beginners" section on this website too.

Not too sure about buying on ebay as a beginner. The problem with not-new vans may well be the demon damp - see various other postings in the other forums. best would be to find a friend who is an experienced caravanner and have a few "pint and chat" sessions. If no friends who fit this, just try approaching someone with a CC badge on their car or similar - we're a very friendly lot and (usually) happy to give advice - including the things we got wrong to save you going that way.

Both the major clubs have local sections and I'm sure you would find some assistance if you tracked yours down.