Whats your view 8ft wide caravans

[Force9]

We visited out local dealership this weekend got lured into a Lunar Quasar 686 (dealer version) loved the layout and space but unsure about a 8ft wide van and twin axle 8 meter long!

I have been towing for years with a Bailey Peg Ancona 2 and am happy with the 7.2m length and 2.24m wide van but alot of money to spend to find out wake up dreading towing a 8ft wide van. Generally due to family we use large sites can only think of a few sites in Cornwall in the past with narrow roads upto the site which maybe an issue.

Anybody have with experience with a 8ft wide van

Lunar caravan looked nice but in some areas Bailey seem better even dealer pointed out it is not bonded construction and warranty repairs can take time they have a Bailey Turin grande due in soon so will wait to see that

 

[Mel]

I really like the look of the Bailey Grande with the G shaped lounge. But it would be for our seasonal pitch, not regular towing. If you like watching the antics of Caravan vloggers on you tube, check out Here we tow. They tow an 8ft Adria.
Mel

 

[CustardAvenger]

On the one hand, they are only 7" wider than my 7'5" caravan... on the other I have questioned how a 8' wide caravan would fare on the roads I have towed on... the approach roads to some sites are pretty narrow.

 

[Dodger524]

I have no qualms about towing an 8' wide caravan, but would question whether the best use is yet being made of the extra internal space by the designers. Those I have looked at retain the narrow beds of earlier designs and simply benefit from a wider central walkway.

 

[Ironduke2018]

Me and the Mrs looked at this. Sue is dead good at hitting the nail on the head when I get that, 'Spending Money', twinkle in my eye. I was reminded of the number of times I spent ~~~****#### and ~~}}{{{!!"££££ at the moon as we have taken the last miles to out chosen camp sites. In particular, the day we had our wing mirror bashed off buy a motor-home as we were leaving site. What a squeeze. And so on and so forth. Limp and dejected, Mrs maneuvered me away from the 8ft wide vans on the swift stand and pointed me at something she thought I could handle better. Ah yes........married life!

 

[SamandRose]

I agree with Dodger524 that the manufacturer's don't seem sufficiently bothered to create an interior layout that makes the best use of the extra width. Most seem to fit the same fixed beds - which are too narrow - as those in their smaller tourers and simply have wider walkways or bigger cupboards. Which you can't load to the full before towing because the payload is too small.

Otherwise, I can understand the appeal if you have a seasonal pitch. But the added difficulty of towing it to some sites and reduced room to manouvre in our storage yard mean that it just wouldn't be worth it for us.

 

[Craigyoung]

On the one hand, they are only 7" wider than my 7'5" caravan... on the other I have questioned how a 8' wide caravan would fare on the roads I have towed on... the approach roads to some sites are pretty narrow.

With us having the same spec as CA has , whats a few inches here or there it isn't much difference , if your on a small road , own the road ; I'm used to driving a 9 foot wide bus so I'm used to lane pinching ( now & again ! )

 

[Lappy]

I've had an 8ft wide van for over six years and have only had a few issues. One was on the Gower, when I met an HGV whilst on a narrow stretch of road. As with most HGV drivers, he allowed me to dictate the field of play and we managed to get through unscathed.

My new van is 8ft wide, with a shipping length of 8.2mtrs and I will still use CL's if the owners assure me the access is wide enough.

Most LGV's are the same width and therefore if they fit through I do not see a problem. I never use roads that are not suitable for HGV's due to the length of the combined outfit.

Regards,

 

[Raywood]

Personally we are not in the market for one as our standard width model will do us. I do not see a problem as long as you check out access before traveling as a few sites might be difficult.
I would agree that Lunar can be slow on parts but judging by posts on the web Bailey are not exactly any better. The whole industry is rubbish on that one.
The Lunar is not bonded and has a standard wooden frame which is old fashioned but anyone can do the job, but work on the Bailey often needs specialist workshops, and not even all their dealers can do the work, which can mean long trips or even back to Bailey so overall you just have to take your chances with whatever you feel suits you best.

 

[Thingy]

Most LGV's are the same width and therefore if they fit through I do not see a problem.

Allowing for the fact of training and the fact that we were doing it all the time. I go cold at thinking of some of the performances I have seen with caravanners, and I dread to think how some would shape with an 8 footer.

I would however like one myself and it will come into consdieration next time around.

 

[Raywood]

With extra width also comes extra weight, look at the new Pegasus Grande range. Looking for one not a problem for us, as there are virtually none the car would tow.

 

[JezzerB]

We have just bought one going from a Bailey Pegasus Verona to a Bucaneer Cruiser-new car to tow the weight was bought last weekand we are waiting for the Buc to arrive at the dealer-not worried about the width at all-only a few inches extra either side and really just need to use the mirrors and leave a little more space from the kerb on left turns--but our whole outfit will be pretty long-we use a lot of CL sites-we always use Google maps to check access as well as the site website info if available and as long as access roads are ok worst case scenario we can always unhtich and motor move it if site access gate is that tight-usually they're not though!

 

[MichaelE]

Only a few inches either side , which is fine only motorways and large A roads, issues on the smaller a roads, next time on site look down the sides of 8 ft vans and see the marks from the hedgerows?
I followed a Disco towing an 8ft van around the Bridport area in the summer and he took the full road width his side and was hedge trimming the other, van was quite scratched.

 

[Craigyoung]

Just washed our van yesterday for the weekend and noticed that on the top of side awning rail i have a few black scrape marks and I can only think it was going down the country lanes on the way down to Dover cl site a few months ago so will have to get the wax out and get them off tomorrow morning and thats with 7'5' !