Single axle vs twin axle

[Stephen_5078422]

Hi we're looking to buy our first touring caravan with a budget of about 5k. We're after a 5 birth with a bedroom for the kids (probably with sliding doors).

I'm seeing a few within our budget with twin axles - what are the advantages/disadvantages of these over single axle.

thanks

Paul

 

[Lutz]

Twin axles tend to be a little less twitchy when towing but without a motor mover they are a pig to manoeuvre by hand on site. For that reason I personally prefer single axles.

 

[chris_5068897]

Personally, I feel safer with a twin axle. As Lutz says, they are considered to be more stable, and if you should suffer a blow out, at least you hopefully still have a wheel on the affected side. On poor roads some additional pitching may be felt

They are slightly more difficult to level, since you have 2 wheels to deal with on the low side of a sloping site. Certain twins, such as my Bessacarr, have shock absorbers fitted (or the chassis is already prepared for a retrofit). Again these add to stability and our van never bounces around as so many singles seem to.

If you value your back, forget moving a twin by hand-use the car-unless you have at least 4 people to help!

Finally, twins may give higher payloads and consequent MTPLM, necessitating meaty towcars

 

[Paulhic]

i had bessacar twin axle [1991]mtplm 1300kgs and needed the car to place van onto pitches, now have a brooklyn 490-5[2001] same weight can do it by hand if need be

 

[john18]

Just got my first twin axle (Bailey Louisiana) and delighted with it.

Motor mover is not so effective turning it but wouldn't be without it. Leveling up is made easy with a soft touch mover.

I'll be staying with my twin axles from now on.

 

[Lutz]

A couple of points perhaps worth mentioning with a twin axle are:

1. You need to replace 4 tyres instead of only 2 when they've reached the end of their useful life after 5 or 6 years. That's extra cost.

2. The second axle is dead weight which effectively either reduces your payload or increases the unladen weight.

 

[354]

depends on what tow car you have, as twin axles are heavier you tend to need a large vehicle to tow them, remember the 85% rule.

 

[john18]

I tow with a Kia Sorento so mines about 80% match. Those extra 2 wheels do make it much steadier.

 

[Lutz]

depends on what tow car you have, as twin axles are heavier you tend to need a large vehicle to tow them, remember the 85% rule.

It's not a rule but only a recommendation.