Hi,
I'm still at the choosing stage.
The twin axle vans seem to have a lot more space are they more difficult to tow
I'm still at the choosing stage.
The twin axle vans seem to have a lot more space are they more difficult to tow
Twin axle van
- Thread starter restaurantgoose
- Start date
restaurantgoose said:
I changed to twin axle caravan in 2008 after nearly 24 years towing single axles, can't say I noticed any significant difference. The van is slightly longer so you need to make allownces for that when taking corners. But I would say no they are not more difficult to tow.
Hi restaurant goose,
I take it you've not towed a caravan at all before? I haven't towed a twin axle, we have a large single axle so I'm probably not the best to advise on this but I'll try anyway as there are more considerations than whether it is difficult to tow.
1) Hope you realise you need a pretty hefty car, probably 4x4 to haul most twin axles.
2) They are more difficult to push around manually when pitching up so you may need a mover, which are more expensive for a twin axle.
3) You may pay more for storage if you need it.
4) Some site cannot take large caravans, the pitches are just too small.
5) I've heard that some sites (particularly abroad) won't take twin axles to deter the travelling community.
6) I wouldn't have wanted to try one for my first caravan, but everyone is different.
Having said that there is no doubt you will get space and facilities difficult to find on a single axle, and they do provide a more stable tow, less likely to snake I believe.
I take it you've not towed a caravan at all before? I haven't towed a twin axle, we have a large single axle so I'm probably not the best to advise on this but I'll try anyway as there are more considerations than whether it is difficult to tow.
1) Hope you realise you need a pretty hefty car, probably 4x4 to haul most twin axles.
2) They are more difficult to push around manually when pitching up so you may need a mover, which are more expensive for a twin axle.
3) You may pay more for storage if you need it.
4) Some site cannot take large caravans, the pitches are just too small.
5) I've heard that some sites (particularly abroad) won't take twin axles to deter the travelling community.
6) I wouldn't have wanted to try one for my first caravan, but everyone is different.
Having said that there is no doubt you will get space and facilities difficult to find on a single axle, and they do provide a more stable tow, less likely to snake I believe.
I've just seen from the new members posts that you are a woman and dog team travelling alone. In that case I can't see any reason why you need to consider a twin axle, you would have plenty of room in something half the size.
Good luck with your search, ask lots of questions here, get some magazines and books as there's a lot to know before you pitch up at your first site.
Good luck with your search, ask lots of questions here, get some magazines and books as there's a lot to know before you pitch up at your first site.
We had a big twin axle (with a hefty tow car) and, take it from me, they are IMPOSSIBLE to move around manually. So, unless you have a motor mover fitted or are very experienced at reversing into spaces with a caravan, you will find it extremely difficult. And yes, some pitches on some sites will be out of bounds for you to use with a t/a - either the pitch may be too small, or the access to the pitch too narrow/tight. I'm not trying to put you off, but I notice you said in another post that you're a woman alone (apart from your dog, who I don't think will be a lot of help with the towing and pitching up! lol), so I would consider the manoeuvrability issues. That said, the t/a's do give a lot more space, we loved ours.
i have a twin and have no problem moving about i tight spaces, you just wind the jockey wheel up high so th front axle is just skimming the ground , this makes it easy to move by hand and in tight spaces.
mike
mike
Hi restaurantgoose,
Size for size a TA is no more difficult to tow or reverse than a SA caravan.
As others have said, TA's are far more difficult to manouver by hand, as one pair of wheels will always drag when you try to turn the caravan, you will find that either you need to be good at reversing the outfit or have a motor mover fitted.
Mike must be lucky as he finds his jockeywheel can lift the front pair of wheel off the ground. Perhapse he has a shorter than average TA van, but Most TA owners find the jockey wheel cannot completely lift the wheels, so they drag making hand manouvering difficult.
In the UK TA caravans do tend to be larger, but there are some quite big SA caravans, so do look around to see whats available.
TA vans tend to be more expensive, because of the cost of the second axle and the extra tyres, so if running costs are a concern, then lean towards a SA caravan.
Rounours do run about some sites refucing to accept TA vans, strangely no one that I can recall has actually posted about being refused entry on the basis of the number of axles, but there are definately some sites that do have restricted access on the basis of overall size, which would apply to TA and SA caravans. Its best to phone ahead to check for any access limitations.
Size for size a TA is no more difficult to tow or reverse than a SA caravan.
As others have said, TA's are far more difficult to manouver by hand, as one pair of wheels will always drag when you try to turn the caravan, you will find that either you need to be good at reversing the outfit or have a motor mover fitted.
Mike must be lucky as he finds his jockeywheel can lift the front pair of wheel off the ground. Perhapse he has a shorter than average TA van, but Most TA owners find the jockey wheel cannot completely lift the wheels, so they drag making hand manouvering difficult.
In the UK TA caravans do tend to be larger, but there are some quite big SA caravans, so do look around to see whats available.
TA vans tend to be more expensive, because of the cost of the second axle and the extra tyres, so if running costs are a concern, then lean towards a SA caravan.
Rounours do run about some sites refucing to accept TA vans, strangely no one that I can recall has actually posted about being refused entry on the basis of the number of axles, but there are definately some sites that do have restricted access on the basis of overall size, which would apply to TA and SA caravans. Its best to phone ahead to check for any access limitations.
it doesnt lift it clear from the ground just enough so the drag does not make that much different, 24ft
mike
mike
we have a twin axel but we are 4 people with a dog. if i was single with a dog i would have a single axel with a fixed bed side or end washroom cos they make both now new and even on a single axel i would still have a motor mover for the sake of £600 you wouldnt be able to really move it on your own.
jo
jo
I agree. A big single axle, say of 1800kg or more, is almost as impossible to manoeuvre by hand as a twin.
We have a large twin axle and love it and a motor mover which my husband very rarely uses he finds it easier to reverse onto pitches and just uses the motor mover for going straight forward or backwards it is very difficult to go round corners.
With regards to sites refusing twin axles abroad we have never been refused admittance yet over 4 years of travelling there. There has always been large pitches for us. We love the size but do have a very good Kia Sorento XS to tow with. The only problem is if you do have a puncture it is a hassle changing the wheel.
With regards to sites refusing twin axles abroad we have never been refused admittance yet over 4 years of travelling there. There has always been large pitches for us. We love the size but do have a very good Kia Sorento XS to tow with. The only problem is if you do have a puncture it is a hassle changing the wheel.
I tow a 26ft t/a and actually find it more stable than prev single axle vans, as for manuevering the van , yes of the car it is very dificult to shift , but I find reversing the twin on the car a lot easier than a single, also as i am towing alone i have a mover fitted for the few occasions that I am unable to manouver with the car.
As to the point that someone made that because there is only you and your dog you dont need such a big van , get what suits you best. I caravan on my own and love the space in side my twin axle, no way do I want to downgrade to a smaller van.
As to the point that someone made that because there is only you and your dog you dont need such a big van , get what suits you best. I caravan on my own and love the space in side my twin axle, no way do I want to downgrade to a smaller van.
It's also no good saying "Get what suits you" when someone asks for help. The point is they don't know what suits them if they have never caravanned before and buying a twin axle might be a costly mistake.
Ststing buying what suits you means , within your limitations and requirements. Not within what others feel 1 person requires in dimensions. As I said I am a solo towerr therfore shoud I have a small s/a van ?
Hi DeltIC,
You make a statement that you find it easier to reverse your TA caravan compared to a SA. The most likely cause for your observation is down to the distance between the hitch and the centre of turn (CoT) for the caravan. The greater the distance, the slower the caravan reacts so you have a little more time to correct your direction. For the SA it will be centre of the axle, where as for the TA it is most likely the rear most axle, though it can be anywhere between the two axles depending on how the caravan is loaded.
Another factor is that most people who move up to a TA usually go for a bigger caravan any way, so again the hitch to CoT will be greater than you have previous experienced.
Suffice to say that if you have a TA and an SA with the same CoT you would not find any significant difference between the two.
You make a statement that you find it easier to reverse your TA caravan compared to a SA. The most likely cause for your observation is down to the distance between the hitch and the centre of turn (CoT) for the caravan. The greater the distance, the slower the caravan reacts so you have a little more time to correct your direction. For the SA it will be centre of the axle, where as for the TA it is most likely the rear most axle, though it can be anywhere between the two axles depending on how the caravan is loaded.
Another factor is that most people who move up to a TA usually go for a bigger caravan any way, so again the hitch to CoT will be greater than you have previous experienced.
Suffice to say that if you have a TA and an SA with the same CoT you would not find any significant difference between the two.
Prof John L said:
With respect Prof John L,the utmost respect:-the simple basic law of the 'Physics of Friction' would dictate that 4wheels would need far more effort to sweep a curve(of right-angle corner proportions on a regular single carriageway road) than 2wheels would need.A single axle van is an easy Jack-Knife against a Twin Axle.After all a commonly heard exclamation with a Single Axle Van is it "Turned to Quickly" and conversely with a Twin Axle Van it is a lot more effort and slower to react,listen to the tyres scrubbing but it is more controllable/predictable.With some of the modern Single Axle Vans only 18"/20" shorter(overall) than their Twin Axle Stable-mates ;I'm sure at a well attended rally this could be put to bed,provided the two vans in question could be manoeuvred by the same car & driver.After all we would not want the more skilled Demo Man playing with the Twin Axle would we?,and skewing the outcome.
Hi Deltlc,
I have no need to have a test, as I have already done it, having had to manoeuvre many different caravans, and trailers in my time, I have no hesitation in sticking to conclusions.
Ask any articulated HGV driver abut the response of different lengths of trailer when reversing, and you will I am certain find they confirm the longer the trailer the easier it is t position and control it.
Whilst it is certainly true there is more friction involved when turning a TA compared to an SA, but the degree of resistance is still very small compared to the grunt that a tow car can provide.
It is in fact just as easy to jack knife a TA as an SA when reversing.
But by all means arrange a comparison test
I have no need to have a test, as I have already done it, having had to manoeuvre many different caravans, and trailers in my time, I have no hesitation in sticking to conclusions.
Ask any articulated HGV driver abut the response of different lengths of trailer when reversing, and you will I am certain find they confirm the longer the trailer the easier it is t position and control it.
Whilst it is certainly true there is more friction involved when turning a TA compared to an SA, but the degree of resistance is still very small compared to the grunt that a tow car can provide.
It is in fact just as easy to jack knife a TA as an SA when reversing.
But by all means arrange a comparison test
I fully endorse John L's statements. The fact that the resistance to turning of a twin axle is higher than that of a single axle does not make it less likely to jack knife when reversing. The towcar's engine may need to provide a few horsepower more to overcome this resistance, but this is not going to be noticeable by the driver unless the car is hopelessly underpowered in the first place. A large single axle is going to be just as easy to reverse.
One often comes across topics in this forum differentiating single and twin axles when a differentiation of size is really what is meant. Most of the arguments put forward apply equally to single axled caravans of the same size as twins. This is becoming more and more obvious as some really large single axled ones (over 26' and already up to 2000kg) are appearing on the market.
One often comes across topics in this forum differentiating single and twin axles when a differentiation of size is really what is meant. Most of the arguments put forward apply equally to single axled caravans of the same size as twins. This is becoming more and more obvious as some really large single axled ones (over 26' and already up to 2000kg) are appearing on the market.
Hi restaurantgoose
What car do you intend to use as the tow vehicle?
Unlike some European manufacturers no one in the UK makes a large SA hence the reason we went for a TA.
Don't think for one minute you can load a TA to the gunnels. Nose weight and payload are just as important as on a SA.
I agree too a mover on a TA is absolutely essential.
What car do you intend to use as the tow vehicle?
Unlike some European manufacturers no one in the UK makes a large SA hence the reason we went for a TA.
Don't think for one minute you can load a TA to the gunnels. Nose weight and payload are just as important as on a SA.
I agree too a mover on a TA is absolutely essential.
Parksy
Moderator
Dustydog said:
I'd agree with DD that care must be taken when loading any caravan regardless of it's size and number of axles. A twin axle caravan is no more difficult to tow than any other caravan and reversing is easier for the reasons that Prof John L stated provided that small steering inputs are used.
We've owned our Abbey t/a for three years and don't have a motor mover fitted but we could never manhandle the caravan around so unless you are competent at reversing and maneouvering budget for a motor mover.
Ownership of a t/a caravan necessitates a towing vehicle capable of towing the caravan safely and legally so this means higher fuel and running costs.
We love our Abbey 620 and the space that it affords us but I have to say that if a n/s fixed bed model with an adequately sized end washroom had been available at the time we'd have bought it rather than the t/a version.
High Proffessor John L
I am a bit confused, I didnt disagree with your post nor did I sugest taking any test.
Regards handling of a twin axle I can only answer with my own experience of both twins and singles. When well loaded the twin axlebehaves far better on the road than the singles I have had, and reversing I find it a lot easier with the twin.
No wish to arrange comparative tests.
I am a bit confused, I didnt disagree with your post nor did I sugest taking any test.
Regards handling of a twin axle I can only answer with my own experience of both twins and singles. When well loaded the twin axlebehaves far better on the road than the singles I have had, and reversing I find it a lot easier with the twin.
No wish to arrange comparative tests.
The reason why your experience of twins behaving better than single axles is because they are generally larger. However, if you compare size for size you will find that there is almost no noticeable difference. You've got to compare apples with apples and not smaller singles with larger twins.
Parksy said:-
We've owned our Abbey t/a for three years and don't have a motor mover fitted but we could never manhandle the caravan around so unless you are competent at reversing and maneouvering budget for a motor mover.
How do you manage when you need to pitch in front ways? eg on a beach or loch side?
I concluded this May that a mover on a TA is absolutely essential. I couldn't have done without it.
I think manufacturers should offer them at discounted rates as an extra rather than give me the rubbish tvs made in PRC.
We've owned our Abbey t/a for three years and don't have a motor mover fitted but we could never manhandle the caravan around so unless you are competent at reversing and maneouvering budget for a motor mover.
How do you manage when you need to pitch in front ways? eg on a beach or loch side?
I concluded this May that a mover on a TA is absolutely essential. I couldn't have done without it.
I think manufacturers should offer them at discounted rates as an extra rather than give me the rubbish tvs made in PRC.
Hi Lutz
Having towed the parents 1992 Delta t/a which I believe was 21ft and a 2001 Lexon EB also 21ft I can make a direct comparison and the handling of the twin was better with very little tail wagging when passed by coaches and far better for reversing.
Large apples compared to large apples.
Having towed the parents 1992 Delta t/a which I believe was 21ft and a 2001 Lexon EB also 21ft I can make a direct comparison and the handling of the twin was better with very little tail wagging when passed by coaches and far better for reversing.
Large apples compared to large apples.
OK, I can't comment on specifics, but 21' is not particularly large, neither for a single nor for a twin. A 26', whether single or twin, will always handle better.
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