Who is the manufacturer of Sterling Europa caravans

[Pfay]

I want to fit a bike carrier to a Sterling Europa 390 2005. Any advice appreciated.

 

[Dustydog]

Most older caravans until very recent years were not designed to carry bicycles on the rear panels.
It may be possible if you can identify where the main rear support timbers are. But then you need to know if they are able to support the loads you have in mind. I doubt Swift, who now own the Sterling brand will endorse your proposal.

You also need to consider the effect of a heavy bracket and bicycles will have on your pay load.
This is not something I would consider in view of you caravans age and all the technical aspects involved.
You may be better off and safer using car roof mounted bicycle bars subject to the car makers weight limits.

 

[Beehpee]

When we used to take our grandkids bikes, not toddlers I mean almost teenagers so decent size we used to put them inside the van with plenty of padding either side so couldn’t damage anything and meant we put more in the car

BP

 

[PTA]

In direct answer to your question, Swift manufactured Sterling 'vans. They were a varient of Swift models with different colour schemes and finishes. They were discontinued as a brand about 3 years ago.

I'm sure Swift would be able to answer your query.

 

[Raywood]

Yes it is basically a Swift with a different interior. Anything that fits the equivalent Swift model will fit that.
If fitting a bike rack do be aware of the downside. The rear is the worst possible place to add weight from a stability point of view, too much there can cause instability and the back to sway more than it should, so only lightweight bikes should be carried. It will affect your nose weight and this needs to be checked and possibly adjusted to allow for this and it will eat into your load allowance, so make sure this is adequate.

 

[otherclive]

I support Dustys view that on the caravan of that age there will be no manufacturer points installed. Trying to find the structural members and figuring out how to attach to them W ould be fraught with difficulty. Putting through bracing is an option but again needs to be understood how and where to brace. Mounting bikes at the back isn’t the best approach by any means. Put them inside or even better on the car.

 

[Pfay]

Many thanks for all the feedback, very much appreciated. I am going to look at fitting a carrier onto the A frame there seems to be a number of options for this however the A frame is very short and the Break lever is pulled a long way into the A frame . I'm aware of the nose weight issue but hope to solve this by balancing the weight with a filled water barrel in the toilet area which will give me 40kg in the rear leaving me with 65 to 75 kg on the ball. I had thought about fitting a bracket to the under chassis at the rear allowing me to attach a bike carrier to the under chassis with load distributed evenly and onto the chassis of the van. I am woundering if the nose weight is controlled at 60 to 75kg by proper loading of the van what is the issue with swaying ?

 

[Beachball]

When we took our son bike and his friend we put a bike rack on the car roof , or in the caravan but at the end of the day it your choice .

 

[Dustydog]

“I am woundering if the nose weight is controlled at 60 to 75kg by proper loading of the van what is the issue with swaying ?”

Have you towed much previously?
Looking at a slightly later Europa model the payload allowance is 174kgs. I may have misunderstood but are you considering carrying a 40 kg barrel of water at the back and on one side?
Is there any reason why you don’t want to carry the bikes on the car ?

 

[Beachball]

“I am woundering if the nose weight is controlled at 60 to 75kg by proper loading of the van what is the issue with swaying ?”

Have you towed much previously?
Looking at a slightly later Europa model the payload allowance is 174kgs. I may have misunderstood but are you considering carrying a 40 kg barrel of water at the back and on one side?
Is there any reason why you don’t want to carry the bikes on the car ?

Hi Dusty i am in agreement with you i thought it was a mis- print carrying a 40 kg barrel of water in the toilet compartment

 

[otherclive]

Even with the correct nose weight I think putting 40 kg water barrel at the back is really tempting fate. You don’t say where your other payload would go in the caravan. What’s the problem with either putting bikes on the car roof or in the van over the center?

 

[Pfay]

I surpose it comes down to age I'm not feeling agile enough to lift 2 electric bike onto the roof of the car . I have towed caravans and boats for the last 30 years and never had any problems with weight distribution, nose weight etc. I'm just running through the technical difficulties as managing bikes into and out of the van also presents it's own difficulties as it's a small 2 berth, so outside on the front or back seem the best options. ?

 

[Raywood]

There is no way I would consider carrying 40 kg container of water at the back. This can move inside the container which could make the caravan very unstable, even if putting that weight at the back was safe but it is simply not safe. Fitting a frame on the A frame may work but you need to know the car's tow ball limit and the limit for the hitch. You will need to check the cars limit but almost certainly the hitch will be 100 kg. You need to know the nose weight weight at the hitch and you can then see if you have the possibility of using an A frame fitting.
You do not say what sort of bikes they are or how many or their weight so it is difficult to go further but the roof of the car is the best place if that is possible. Swift have normally built mounting points into the rear of their caravans and I think you will have them. Possibly an enquiry with the local dealers will enable you to find this out. I did look up the brochure but could not find anything to help.

 

[Dustydog]

Ray
He says he has two electric bikes. I imagine they will be pretty heavy!
Maybe he could take off the wheels and batteries, put them in the car and the rest of the bike frames inside the caravan🤔🤔

 

[otherclive]

There is no way I would consider carrying 40 kg container of water at the back. This can move inside the container which could make the caravan very unstable, even if putting that weight at the back was safe but it is simply not safe. Fitting a frame on the A frame may work but you need to know the car's tow ball limit and the limit for the hitch. You will need to check the cars limit but almost certainly the hitch will be 100 kg. You need to know the nose weight weight at the hitch and you can then see if you have the possibility of using an A frame fitting.
You do not say what sort of bikes they are or how many or their weight so it is difficult to go further but the roof of the car is the best place if that is possible. Swift have normally built mounting points into the rear of their caravans and I think you will have them. Possibly an enquiry with the local dealers will enable you to find this out. I did look up the brochure but could not find anything to help.

40 kg of water in filled containers at the back of the caravan is definitely a bad idea. They are in an ill advised position and if not restrained would make matters worse. However the “ slosh” or free surface effect is zero if the containers are filled Even if they were only partly filled the free surface effect is negligible. Whereas 2 inch of free surface water in a carriers hangar deck will put its superstructure vertically below its keel. That’s what free surface effect can do. 👎

They are electric bikes and the caravan is 2005 so does it have Swift installed mounting points?

 

[Dustydog]

Maybe one of these mounted on the rear of the towing car??

 

[otherclive]

Now if you really want to carry water and experience ‘slosh effect “ 😷

 

[Dustydog]

No damp there👍👍👍👍

 

[Raywood]

I would suggest you fill up on site, but what they will say when you empty when leaving might be interesting.

 

[Robert_374373903]

 

[Robert_374373903]

Taking about chains, this was what we got one December in the pyrenes , the snow plough in front of me was going to fast for me until we got further where he had to stop for a jack knifed lorry

 

[Beachball]

I surpose it comes down to age I'm not feeling agile enough to lift 2 electric bike onto the roof of the car . I have towed caravans and boats for the last 30 years and never had any problems with weight distribution, nose weight etc. I'm just running through the technical difficulties as managing bikes into and out of the van also presents it's own difficulties as it's a small 2 berth, so outside on the front or back seem the best options. ?

You are thinking of one of these Fiamma Carry Bike XL A Pro 200 Caravan bicycle carrier that fits on your A- Frame to each your own

 

[xtrailman]

I carry 40kg on my bike rack fitted to the swift factory fitted rack, you do need to front load to get a good noseweight.

 

[otherclive]

I carry 40kg on my bike rack fitted to the swift factory fitted rack, you do need to front load to get a good noseweight.

But your caravan has Swift installed strong points at the rear. I doubt a 2005 caravan will have them.

 

[Beachball]

Now if you really want to carry water and experience ‘slosh effect “ 😷

View attachment 1177

Interesting concept but not one i will be trying ..