putting the cart before the horse?

[mook]

I've been having a good look round at new and second hand caravans and I've been very impressed by thhe value for money.I don't have a suitable towcar- just a yaris 1.4 which would limit me I'm sure to the most ligtweight of caravans.I don't want to get a 4X4 because I don't fancy driving round in such a big vehicle ,I think a Passat ,automatic preferably ,would be about the largest size I'd like to drive.
Has anybody got any experience of this? Also is it better to get a towcar first and then look for a caravan or vice versa?

 

[Parksy]

Hi Mook
Decide on your overall budget and decide which layout will suit your needs best.
How many berths?
Do you want a fixed bed?
An end washroom?
Side dinette?
Have a good look around a few dealers forecourts, you are usually allowed to look inside both new and used caravans so take your time to decide what you want and what you don't need.
Do you need a full size cooker with oven and grill?
A microwave oven?
Large washroom, or do you intend to use on-site facilities?
TV aerial points and 230v sockets?
External BBQ point?
How much storage and what size wardrobe?

Make a checklist of the things that you want, find what make and model offers them in a caravan that you like the look of inside and out at a price that suits your budget and find out how heavy the caravan of your choice will be.
If you decide to purchase, haggle like mad to get a reduced price because if you don't ask you won't get and you're not out to make friends or gain the salepersons approval, so be firm and polite because you won't see the sales staff again after you've signed on the dotted line.
When you've knocked the price down a bit, try for extras such as an awning, leisure battery, Aquaroll and Wastemaster. Don't forget that the market is shrinking which gives serious buyers like yourself an advantage so make the salesperson work hard for that sale, don't show too much enthusiasm even if the caravan is fantastic and never be scared to stay silent so that the salesperson has to do the talking.
Have fun choosing your caravan which should be within the weight range of the type of car that you want.
Do the same sort of thing with your towcar purchase, get that price down by haggling!
Good Luck

 

[Tukums]

Only a suggestion.
The Sprite range of caravans are very good, lightweight and value for money. Also if you do not want a big 4x4, an estate 4x4 version is available with good load space, payload and it will get the caravan off a muddy field.
It's newer version has just won the 2013 Towcar Award. This has a mass in service of 1,495kg and tow limit of 1,600kg with a 2.0Tdi 138Bhp engine with Haldex traction and I get 33-35mpg towing.
Skoda Octavia Estate 4x4.

 

[RayS]

Parksy / Steve has given you a very comprehensive list but I would add one point. What sort of sites do you intend to use ? If mainly the larger sites (which have level pitches, hard roads etc) then a saloon car will generally be fine. If your preference is for the CL type site, farms etc. where you may have to tow over grass, uneven fields and sometimes slopes then this is where a 4x4 is very comforting. Some variants of common saloon and estate cares are available 4x4 without having to go to the full blown versions. There is even a Fiat Panda 4x4 but I have not explored it's towing capability. A few months ago one of the magazines featured an all new outfit for about £17000 featuring the small suzuki 4x4 with suitable caravan. So suggest a bit more in-depth research.

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

hi mook,
while I would echo the replies above especialy those of Parksy, it really does depend on what and when you intend to use the van for,
and while Ray's comments are valid I am one of those who have been caravanning over 40 years and never had a 4x4 and never been stuck either, to be honest caravanning is about choice and compromise. there will allways be a compromise somewhere, and choices are endless. best thing is to do loads of research beforehand. size, van layout, and weight will be the main conserns but the car you intend to tow with is also important.
because I work inc most weekends and b/holidays the van only gets used 3/4weeks a year, with this in mind it was more important to have a van that could be towed by the average smallish car as of course apart from towing to and from a site the car is used solo,
buying a big van that needed a large towcar was uneconomical for us besides when away the van is used only as a base, an awning doubles the size of the van, so a "40ft" van was a no brainer just for the 2 of us, but of course that was our choice others have different criteria, a so choose differently,
best advice I could give would be to look at as many vans as possible decide on one that suits look at the weight and then research the possible towcars to use ,taking into consideration where the van it is going to be stored, and how it will be used, work out the best towcar and how much it will cost to buy and run, if all the sums add up go for it!!! if not well thats where the compromise comes in.
hope this helps.

 

[johnandrew70]

I drive and pull with a Passat tdi 140bhp masses of power and very comfortable, i tow a Swift Challenger that is over 85% but still pulls like a train, i had a Nissan Xtrail before and i have to say the passat will run rings around it.
I work for a VW Skoda dealer and I do like the 2013 Octavia i just wish it was a tad heavier, ok so it has a legal towing limit of 1600kg but remember this is for experianced tow car drivers if you arent experianced then you looking at a caravan with an mtplm of 1160kg which could be fun if you need a decent size van.
I guess the caravan manufacturers need to face the facts that cars are getting lighter, the overall problem with that is the light caravans are made from balsa wood and will break

 

[mook]

Thanks for all the help.
Is there anywhere that has a listing of cars and their towing recommendations?

 

[johnandrew70]

you could try http://www.whattowcar.com/