Twin Axel

[Tony_5080249]

Guys

i have just bought an Avondale Landranger. first ever van! well if your going to do it!

Have Truma mover fitted which amazing.

Question is what are sites like with vans over 8m. bit late to be asking questions after i have bought it but the general reaction so far has been blimey thats huge!

Nice to tow and with mover great fun!

Just looking for ANY adviec on bigguns!

any nice sites in North East that can take them as well would be good

cheers

Tony

 

[GrahamW]

Tony

I got a Landranger last year and love it to bits, have had no problems at all on sites, however I have found it a bit tight down some of the approach roads. They tend to be narrow in places, particularly around the Lake District which is only a 1 hour drive so handy for weekends. Struggled a bit in France this year, pitch size was fine but access was tight but you will be ok with mover fitted.

You might try Glororum Caravan park at Bamburgh its a nice site and good area.

 

[Steve L]

We have a twin axle Link 575. Had no problems booking pitches. Sometimes the site owners do have trouble judging size. I nearly had the owner fall into his own brook last time out. He was so intent in trying to get me to go onto a pitch that was tight for a 14 footer.

We had fun proving to him that it wouldn't fit and then eventually got the pitch we wanted.

They're very easy to tow and as Graham said things can get a little tight on approach roads but by taking your time you'll manage.

I guess by the size of van you tow with a 4x4 so grip won't be a problem. We use a front wheel drive estate car, so have to be a little thoughtfull and leave the drive wheels on firm ground when pitching to avoid getting stuck if the wet stuff comes out to play.

Levelling is no problem you just need to use two ramps on one side drive up and over the first then both wheels start their ascent up each ramp to get the van level across the axle. (easier in practice than to describe in words).

Enjoy your holidays.

 

[Tony_5080249]

Guys

Thanks for the feedback.

Looked at the lake district but having driven around a few times thought not for first time!!

Off to Rudding park in Harrogate this weekend to play!

Not much practice reversing yet so look forward to that. I used to drive canoe and windsurf tarilers so similar principle (thats what i tell myself)

I do drive it with a 4x4 so hope that will get me out of a lot of tight spots.

Graham what do you tow yours with?

Joined the CC as well so looking to get out and about with the family over the autum on some nice flat sites.

Steve do you have 4 ramps or just 2? get what you mean by the way

Thanks again guys

Tony

 

[GrahamW]

Tony

At the risk of starting off the 4x4 debate again, I tow with a Toyota Lancruiser Amazon Diesel, and its brilliant.

 

[mo hamilton]

H , first off RELAX, Our first van( elddis avante 630) was and still is a twin axle, so far (3years) we,ve never been turned away from a site , never got stuck , never not taken it down a narrow road , you just have to take your time and be a bit more aware of where the walls are . They are actually easier to manouver bacause they move slower , the only piece of advice is to get really good at reversing as even with a mover, you still have to do 3 point turns on the road sometimes . Mo

 

[Tony_5080249]

Mo Graham

Thanks guys for your vote of confidence.

I will have a play at reversing at the site tommorrow, see how i get on befor the need for the mover!!

CAnnot wait

tony

 

[Steve L]

Guys

Thanks for the feedback.

Looked at the lake district but having driven around a few times thought not for first time!!

Off to Rudding park in Harrogate this weekend to play!

Not much practice reversing yet so look forward to that. I used to drive canoe and windsurf tarilers so similar principle (thats what i tell myself)

I do drive it with a 4x4 so hope that will get me out of a lot of tight spots.

Graham what do you tow yours with?

Joined the CC as well so looking to get out and about with the family over the autum on some nice flat sites.

Steve do you have 4 ramps or just 2? get what you mean by the way

Thanks again guys

Tony

I actually have two sets of ramps. Only use two at a time though, on one side. Had to get a taller set once as the pitch was too far off level.

You'll find the reversing more sedate than shorter canoe trailers. The distance from the hitch to the axles is longer so you'll need more vehicle movement to achieve the turn of the van you require. As you say practice makes perfect.

 

[Tim2]

Hi Tony

We too have a Landranger (a 1997 5900L). It was our second van and we have not had any problems finding sites. In 4 years I can only recall a couple of CL types sites that have refused twin axles. Last year we towed it over 2000 miles across 6 European countries and never had one refusal or supplementary charge.

One tight forward turns make sure you swing wide enough.

The length can be a bit problematic when maneouvring onto smaller pitches but we've improved with practice. It does seem to take a long time to respond to the steering wheel sometimes - probably due to the greater friction from the "scrub" effect of 2 sets of wheels. On straight reversing it is more stable than our previous single-axle and does not tend to weave from side to side so much.

We tow with a 4x4 Vauxhall Monterey (3.2L V4) and so we have no problems with power and can keep up a steady 60 mph on the motorway. The extra weight does make for higher fuel consumption but we have countered this by having the car converted to run on LPG.

I do find the extra length makes it more susceptible to high winds and the slipstream of hgv but I use a straightliner stabliser and swear by this - it actually pushes the 'van back into a straight line using a hydraulic system if it starts to wander.

I do level the van by using two Jumbo Fiamma ramps, and if necessary some stout lengths of planking. I too use the method already mentioned of driving over the first ramp, take it slowly however, as if taken too fast it can "fly-up"

Happy twin-axle caravanning. Enjoy that extra space.

Regards

Tim

 

[Tina3]

Tony

At the risk of starting off the 4x4 debate again, I tow with a Toyota Lancruiser Amazon Diesel, and its brilliant.

you lucky thing,lovely car !

 

[petelee]

Hi Tony

We too have a Landranger (a 1997 5900L). It was our second van and we have not had any problems finding sites. In 4 years I can only recall a couple of CL types sites that have refused twin axles. Last year we towed it over 2000 miles across 6 European countries and never had one refusal or supplementary charge.

One tight forward turns make sure you swing wide enough.

The length can be a bit problematic when maneouvring onto smaller pitches but we've improved with practice. It does seem to take a long time to respond to the steering wheel sometimes - probably due to the greater friction from the "scrub" effect of 2 sets of wheels. On straight reversing it is more stable than our previous single-axle and does not tend to weave from side to side so much.

We tow with a 4x4 Vauxhall Monterey (3.2L V4) and so we have no problems with power and can keep up a steady 60 mph on the motorway. The extra weight does make for higher fuel consumption but we have countered this by having the car converted to run on LPG.

I do find the extra length makes it more susceptible to high winds and the slipstream of hgv but I use a straightliner stabliser and swear by this - it actually pushes the 'van back into a straight line using a hydraulic system if it starts to wander.

I do level the van by using two Jumbo Fiamma ramps, and if necessary some stout lengths of planking. I too use the method already mentioned of driving over the first ramp, take it slowly however, as if taken too fast it can "fly-up"

Happy twin-axle caravanning. Enjoy that extra space.

Regards

Tim

hi

we just got a twin axle as our first van and off to the peak district this w/end looking forward to it but still getting familiar with all the fixtures and fittings not done too much reversing but getting there

 

[PaulCopaul]

Guys

Thanks for the feedback.

Looked at the lake district but having driven around a few times thought not for first time!!

Off to Rudding park in Harrogate this weekend to play!

Not much practice reversing yet so look forward to that. I used to drive canoe and windsurf tarilers so similar principle (thats what i tell myself)

I do drive it with a 4x4 so hope that will get me out of a lot of tight spots.

Graham what do you tow yours with?

Joined the CC as well so looking to get out and about with the family over the autum on some nice flat sites.

Steve do you have 4 ramps or just 2? get what you mean by the way

Thanks again guys

Tony

Hi Tony on the subject of reversing its easy if you remember the golden rules 1)take your time 2)make sure your caravan mirrors are set along the side of the van 3)when reversing "think if you dont want it turn towards it" 4)dont get embarrased about people watching,you will be doing it yourself soon.