Tow My Caravan

[SirRogerFFS]

Hi every body I am asking this for a friend whos caravan is on

seasonal pitch near Banbuty Oxfordshire but would like to go to Devon in thier beloved van but neither of them want to tow that distance and I know somewhere i have read in the PCV people that will tow for you .

Any Ideas out there please.

Sir Roger

 

[TheSleuth]

SRFartFortS

How much are they paying?

No seriously, this sounds like a great idea, particularly if towers are ok to give a hand with basic positioning and setting up. Might allow some elders to go on enjoying tour vanning for much longer.

I'd be happy to offer my services once in a while to some voluntary group if there is no established commercial service. But the insurance etc and any costs would all have to be clearly set out in advance.

Have the CC thought of co-ordinating this caravan-pooling?

 

[Damian]

I hav eread about some companies which may do this, in the past, and I seem to remember that they quoted somethig like

 

[TheSleuth]

Damien

Quite agree there are a number of hazards and imponderables for an ad hoc or amateur group to face in offering and co-ordinating such assistance which probably means it's a non-starter.

But

 

[Gumbo]

Hi Malcolm

I to would be willing to offer my services for free

(to people who couldn't afford it ) say 150 miles from Aberdeen. It would need co-rdinating with legal issues etc.

We also mentioned on here a long time ago about Towing anyones Van back home should they have a medical emergency !!!

 

[SirRogerFFS]

Thanks everybody for you input on this one.

I have now learned it is a one way tow but to be quite honest I really think when it comes down to the cost there maybe enough bricks about to build a row of houses

Sir Roger

 

[Steve L]

I quite agree with all the concerns raised here regarding the roadworthyness assessment and the insurance implications for instance.

You would have to declare to your insurance company that you intend to use your car as a business vehicle to tow trailers which would encounter an additional premium. Futhermore, you would have to take out public liability insurance. This is not too costly at

 

[ShadySadie]

I don't know of any legitimate business that runs any car at 12p or 25p a mile.

Around 45p a mile for the first 200 miles in a week for private car use and that's without towing.

A courier company we were using last year charged about

 

[Steve L]

That was exactly my point Sadie.

My car costs me 12p per mile just to put fuel in, Mot, tax and insure it over a year of 22'000 miles driving solo. I'm just lucky that my 12 year old Laguna 2 litre petrol still does over 45Mpg solo and 30Mpg towing.

If you ran a tow firm as a proper business you would be looking at

 

[Gumbo]

I was thinking of doing this to help someone out, not as a business !!!

 

[Surfer]

There is a company near Gloucester that does this but does not tow foreign caravans. Can't remember their name at present but may be in the CC magazine.

 

[GeorgiePorgie]

Sir Roger,

there is a caravan towing company based in Sussex, I'm sure I saw their advert in the July issue of the CC mag

 

[RayS]

As a marker to price, ask a company which moves mobile/park homes how much they would charge to take it on a low loader. This would eliminate all the very justifiable concerns about whether the van is roadworthy etc.

Instinct says this will be very expensive but it might be a starting point.

 

[marlot]

Be careful to check insurance.

My car insurance only covers me to tow trailers owned by me. Was a pain when I wanted to hire a trailer recently.

 

[Dustydog]

Sir Roger

Does your friend have a tow bar fitted on his own car?

If so he could perhaps add someone to his own car insurance policy for a couple of days and thus his own car does the towing.

Whoever was could kind enough to volunteer could be given a train or coach ticket home?

Cheers

Dustydog

 

[Rioja]

Steve(in Leo) I am amazed and impressed that you get 30 mpg with your Laguna, especially as it's a petrol one.

My 7 yr old Passat diesel gives me 50-55mpg solo on a long run at about 60-70mph, towing 30mpg at 55-60mph.

And that's towing a lightweight Lunar.

 

[RayS]

The September issue of PCV has an advert from a company near Gloucester. www.tow-world.co.uk

This is not a reccomendation just a llink which may be worth a look.

 

[RayS]

The website seems to be playing up tonight so this may be a repeat.

there is an advertisment in september PCV www.tow-world.co.uk which may help you.

(Not a recommendation, but hopefully a useful link)

 

[Steve L]

Amazing isn't it Rioja. But correct it is. The car in question is also a 8 valve model. Driving style has a lot to do with it and that doesn't mean dawddling like a snail. Having driven lorries for a while, I have adopted their technique and avoid excesive down changing of gears and hard acceleration. Being alert and anticipating traffic flow realy does pay off and i reckon about 10% of fuel cosumed can be lost by not doing that alone. I also use a wind jammer aerofoil which again gives about 4-5Mpg better fuel consumptiion and also I can get 7 Mph better top end speed if needed.

Atb

Steve L.