Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => The Knowledge => Camping It Up => Topic started by: Oscar's dad on 17 August, 2018, 04:16:48 pm
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That nice chap LEE has just started a thread about motorhomes and campervans (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=109178.0) but we have a caravan and us yacf caravanners wouldn't want to be left out would we?
Last November we bought a 2014 Lunar Quasar 524 and absolutely love it! We use a SsangYong Korando 2.2l diesel AWD as a tow car:
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1779/29154948927_60d6e3a295_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/LqjJze)
So, let's chat! What have you got, where have you been, likes, dislikes? Etc, etc, etc...
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Seems to be missing a pub sign and some nice wood cladding.... :facepalm:
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Seems to be missing a pub sign and some nice wood cladding.... :facepalm:
Eff off >:( We don't want your sort on this thread ;D :-*
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I would really like an Eriba but cannot drum up much enthusiasm from t'other half.
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I would really like an Eriba but cannot drum up much enthusiasm from t'other half.
We were next to a tiny Eriba this time last week. Proper cute.
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We have a Lunar Clubman, 2012, with a Škoda Yeti for towing. We're coming to the end of our second season with it.
The Clubman has an island bed so I don't have to climb over MrsC to get to the loo during the night.
For a first caravan it'r probably a bit long, but I am getting better at towing it, although we have had some embarrassing moments.
We bought it primarily for weekends away with our re-enacment group. The hassle of using a tent when on a very primitive campsite became boring quite quickly (although we are using the tent next weekend--getting from Somerset to Sunderland on a bank holiday Saturday with a caravan in tow would just take far too long). We tried a trailer tent but that took ages to put up and down and was hard work. We should have gone for the 'van first off but it meant getting a new car as well.
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I would really like an Eriba but cannot drum up much enthusiasm from t'other half.
An Eriba is a caravan that appeals to me actually. They really suit the Sunny European lifestyle, where you spend most of the day outside and just need a bed and a BBQ.
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We have an Eriba with Dacia duster.
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What's a good towing car? Budget anything from £4k to £9k if it's right. Our seat Altea xl has a good engine but towing weight seems to limit the 4 berth caravans we can tow. I'm guessing a mondeo estate with a 2 litre diesel should be better.
Any advice?
Also what is a good secondhand caravan?
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My Eriba familia :thumbsup:
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1871/29273097847_8961099731_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/LALh8z)
Eriba. (https://flic.kr/p/LALh8z) by Luke Hayes (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60205142@N04/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1882/44209363311_70a7f4a44e_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2amCxtV)
Eriba. (https://flic.kr/p/2amCxtV) by Luke Hayes (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60205142@N04/), on Flickr
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What's a good towing car? Budget anything from £4k to £9k if it's right. Our seat Altea xl has a good engine but towing weight seems to limit the 4 berth caravans we can tow. I'm guessing a mondeo estate with a 2 litre diesel should be better.
Any advice?
Also what is a good secondhand caravan?
What makes a good tow car is largely down to it's kerbside weight, the heavier the better. The car also needs a sufficiently powerful engine but heavy cars normally have bigger engines. I have used an on-line service (not free but not expensive) call Towsafe. You input the car reg number and caravan details and it tells you whether the car and caravan are a good match. The Caravan and Motorhome Club recommend that the Maximum Technically Permissable Laden Mass (MTPLM) of the caravan is about 85% of your car's kerbside weight. It certainly should be more than the car's kerbside weight. Also look for a car with a decent nose weight limit which is the maximum weight which can be exerted on the car's tow hitch.
We tow with a SsangYong Korando which has a kerbside weight of 1797kg and a nose weight limit of 80kg. Our van's MTPLM is 1380kg so we are a good match (77%). The Korando was cheap to buy (c£22.5k new) is is a great tow car as its auto and AWD. But its unsophisticated and not the best driving experience when not towing. Nor it is particularly economical to run. But a more sophisticated car with the same towing capabilities would be at least £10k more to buy. I'm happy with the Korando as it was bought principally as a tow car.
Regarding what's a good caravan. A good van for you is one you can afford to buy, that you can tow safely with whichever car you have and has the right layout. The main layout choice is do you want a fixed double bed (there are at least 3 fixed double bed configurations), fixed single beds or a double bed you make up each night? We went for the latter option as it gives more living space during the day, handy if you use the van during the winter as we do and the weather is foul. That said we are now looking at fixed bed vans so might change the van before we go on an extended tour next year.
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We are new to caravanning this being the end of our second season.
My advice about choosing a ‘van would be to go to the biggest dealer you can find and have a look. There are loads of different configurations and it’s very personal as to which suits you.
Unlike Oscar’s Dad we definitely wanted a permanent double bed for instance.
As for the towing vehicle. MrsC did some online research, probably through the Camping and Caravanning club website, and the new cars which came out on top were the Octavia and the Qashqai
We ended up with the Yeti because we preferred the height and layout.
But they are all just heavy diesels.
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We went down the fixed twin beds route in our Adria Adora Seine. We started with a 2006 two berth to see if we liked it - our conclusion was that we enjoyed the weekends away but wanted proper beds.
The beds take up a bit of the length of the caravan but compared to the two berth, the luxury of not having to make up the bed at the front is worth towing something a bit longer. Like OD, we cheat with a motor mover these days. I am confident reversing trailers but longer vans are a lot of effort in the tight spaces you get at some sites and after a long journey towing, I just want to get pitched and open a cold one.
We bought a second hand VW Touareg for not a lot. Like all cars of that size, it is not an economical option (the VED is nearly £50 a month) but it tows the caravan and horsebox like a dream and we have no issues with kerbweight. The Caravan and Motorhome Club also has a vehicle matching service which seems quite nifty but it is surprising how big a car you need even if you creep up from 85% towards 100%. Basically, you are in Touareg, Discovery, Range Rover, Q7, Mercedes M Class etc range if you want to tow the bigger modern vans.
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...The Caravan and Motorhome Club also has a vehicle matching service which seems quite nifty but it is surprising how big a car you need even if you creep up from 85% towards 100%. Basically, you are in Touareg, Discovery, Range Rover, Q7, Mercedes M Class etc range if you want to tow the bigger modern vans.
Very true. The problem is that cars are getting lighter to make them more economical and caravans are getting heavier as we want all our home comforts like wet central heating, big fridges and microwaves etc. Therefore more people are having to tow with SUV / 4x4 type vehicles.
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I grew up with Summer holidays in a static caravan which my parents had until Dad passed away in 2011. Were it not for the site fees we would probably still have it.
Just occasionally I find myself looking wistfully at a 4 berth tourer before Mrs Torslanda - of the horned helmet and heavy metal breastplate - gives me a slap upside the head.
Trailer trash, the lot of yers . . .
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Trailer trash, the lot of yers . . .
Yep, guilty as charged :thumbsup:
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Both the C&CC and C&MC do caravan maneuvering courses. These are very much worth it.
The 85 % rule is a guideline, which is worth sticking to until you have built up experience.
We now are around 90% of kerb weight
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Regarding what's a good caravan. A good van for you is one you can afford to buy, that you can tow safely with whichever car you have and has the right layout. The main layout choice is do you want a fixed double bed (there are at least 3 fixed double bed configurations), fixed single beds or a double bed you make up each night? We went for the latter option as it gives more living space during the day, handy if you use the van during the winter as we do and the weather is foul. That said we are now looking at fixed bed vans so might change the van before we go on an extended tour next year.
Went to the NEC, fell in love, money changed hands...
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1964/44794961294_1ee9a2c5b8_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2bfnTmS)
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How long did it take the fire brigade to get you unstuck?
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How long did it take the fire brigade to get you unstuck?
I’m still there. I can’t tear myself away!
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/Father Dougal
You lot are worse than Hitler or one of those mad fellas
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Am I the only one thinking that OD's new caravan is actually blushing...?
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Am I the only one thinking that OD's new caravan is actually blushing...?
Ha, hadn’t spotted that! It isn’t actually our new caravan, it’s just the show model but the next best thing. Hopefully our van won’t be quite so bashful when we get it in January (hopefully, fingers crossed).
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We've had an Eriba Triton 430 for a good few years now. We love being able to go to small Certificated sites in areas we don't know and exploring by tandem.
We're lucky in that our choice of car 15 years ago is ideally suitable for towing and transporting the tandem inside.
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We've had an Eriba Triton 430 for a good few years now. We love being able to go to small Certificated sites in areas we don't know and exploring by tandem.
We're lucky in that our choice of car 15 years ago is ideally suitable for towing and transporting the tandem inside.
Yes we're getting into CLs and the like.
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And it ties up with BCQ as well.
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And it ties up with BCQ as well.
Excellent. We shall be taking our bike with us next year once the weather picks up.
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I peruse Ebay many times looking wistfully at motorhomes. But reality does eventually kick in. My wife has no intention of camping, caravanning or motor homing. We had a tourer when the kids were young but that was more about cheap holidays, though we all enjoyed it. I still want to have another go, but don't want to be the strange loner on the camp site.
I've done the maths and financially it doesn't make sense. Taking the cost of extra fuel, campsite fees, storage, gas, electric, maintenance etc. It is much easier and more economical to use B&Bs, Hostels etc for accommodation. So I assume for those that do partake it's not about the money.
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... So I assume for those that do partake it's not about the money.
For us caravanning isn't about the money! It's chuffin' expensive although I'm certain its possible to spend less money than we do. For us its about the freedom and mobile lifestyle, as far as we are concerned living in a caravan is much nicer than living in a house.
Next year we shall be doing some long term travelling in the UK then France, I suppose that's when a caravan does cost in as its clearly a lot less expensive than staying in hotels and the like.
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We had our first trip of the year in the caravan this weekend.
It was the boys first ever time out in it. He loved it, so we're already making plans for this year. :thumbsup:
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7915/46738153144_28d7168e88_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ed6fAC)
Eriba familia. (https://flic.kr/p/2ed6fAC) by Luke Hayes (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60205142@N04/), on Flickr
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Looks great! Where did you go?
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Looks lovely! :D
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Looks great! Where did you go?
Wing Hall. Near Oakham.
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Looks great! Where did you go?
Wing Hall. Near Oakham.
Ah yes, it’s nice there.
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Oh yes! I like breakfast in the cafe there.
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Our new van which we picked up in mid-January. It's a 2019 Swift Corniche 20/4, basically a dealer special (Wandahome South Cave Ltd) based on a Challenger 580. Tis a lovely piece of kit and we've used it loads already...
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7889/32521382737_59a84bfe05_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/RxNA4t)
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Easter shenanigans at a secret location.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47598941152_7218d30fb9_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2fwa1Tb)
Eriba, Easter 2019. (https://flic.kr/p/2fwa1Tb) by Luke Hayes (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60205142@N04/), on Flickr
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Ilam Hall? That van is so neat.
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We have just ordered a GoPod micro caravan. Mrs PC wants all the benefits of camping but doesn’t want to sleep under canvas so this is the solution, tiny caravan with a sizeable awning. Photos will follow once we are up and running.
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Off we go:
(http://nrtoone.com/allowhotlinking/IMG_5726.jpg)
She is small (+cute):
(http://nrtoone.com/allowhotlinking/IMG_5728.jpg)
Epernay municipal campsite:
(http://nrtoone.com/allowhotlinking/IMG_5749.jpg)
While Mrs PC was chilling at the campsite I was out riding:
(http://nrtoone.com/allowhotlinking/IMG_5743.JPG)
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Fantastic!!!
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Love those GoPod things. Looked inside them at various shows.
Amazing use of space, especially in summer, when you spend all day outside.
Are they practical for off-grid use? Heating? Cooking? ..etc
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Love those GoPod things. Looked inside them at various shows.
Amazing use of space, especially in summer, when you spend all day outside.
Are they practical for off-grid use? Heating? Cooking? ..etc
Should be, solar panel keeps leisure battery topped up, gas heating and hob cooking but microwave needs hook up.
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Can we have some interior photos please???
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Can we have some interior photos please???
I’ll need to dig out my fisheye lens for those! :)
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I've just been checking the nose weight of our recently purchased caravan
Max for our car is 100Kg
My measurement was 98Kg, using bathroom scales method. However this was done on our drive, which has a very slight slope (the tow hitch being at the lower end) rather than the level ground recommended. I have no idea how much difference this would make & if so whether the resulting reading would be higher or lower than I would get on level ground?
We're having a motor mover fitted tomorrow so I will be able to re-check it then and as it's very close to the maximum I will aim to get the weight a bit lower.
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I've just been checking the nose weight of our recently purchased caravan
Max for our car is 100Kg
My measurement was 98Kg, using bathroom scales method. However this was done on our drive, which has a very slight slope (the tow hitch being at the lower end) rather than the level ground recommended. I have no idea how much difference this would make & if so whether the resulting reading would be higher or lower than I would get on level ground?
We're having a motor mover fitted tomorrow so I will be able to re-check it then and as it's very close to the maximum I will aim to get the weight a bit lower.
So here’s what I know about nose weights...
You want a decent nose weight as weight too far back in the van can make it snake. 100kg is probably the max for your van’s hitch so you don’t want to be over 100kg. As you’ve obviously worked out it’s best to measure nose weight on level ground. Rather than use the bathroom scales and get into trouble when I broke them I bought a Milenco nose weight gauge which are reputed to be very good.
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So here’s what I know about nose weights...
You want a decent nose weight as weight too far back in the van can make it snake. 100kg is probably the max for your van’s hitch so you don’t want to be over 100kg. As you’ve obviously worked out it’s best to measure nose weight on level ground. Rather than use the bathroom scales and get into trouble when I broke them I bought a Milenco nose weight gauge which are reputed to be very good.
Thanks for the info.
Having dug a little deeper, 100Kg is the maximum nose weight for our car, and 80Kg is the ideal to aim for.
I think now that measuring on a slope will give a different (false?) reading if it brings weight that would have been over or to one side of the axle to the other side. So an anvil stored in a top cupboard above the axle would be forward of the axle if the caravan was on a 45 deg sloped drive, giving a higher nose weight than if it was on level ground. If I've got this right, the slight "water run off" slope of our drive probably doesn't make a big difference. I also don't plan on taking our anvil with us on holiday, although of course something like a microwave would produce a similar effect.
I've now had another look at all the odds and ends the previous owner had stowed in the caravans front storage locker & by moving the toilet chemical bottles to the bathoom (midships), then the hook up lead and awning tent pegs to the rear under bed locker I've achieved the 80Kg target I'm looking for. I'll need to recheck after the Motor Movers have been fitted and we've packed for going away but I'm now more confident I can get it in the 80-90Kg range.
It was decided we needed new scales after our bathroom was refitted, so I hung onto the old set which has proved handy. Even so I have just had a look at the Milenco guage, it looks very nice & I'm tempted. There are some budget ones available from other companies but it looks like they have a smaller weight range than the Milenco.
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Hello - I've just found my way to yacf through PBP and have decided to hang around.
We have camped and caravanned forever, it's a lifestyle as much as anything else. We have a really old caravan a 1991 swift danette. The chassis is galvanised and is surprisingly fresh and rust-free, but the inside is slowly disintegrating. We've just been to France for 3 weeks and on return decided to give up on it. I also had an issue that the bikes were on the roof of the car, which is okay going to a cycling event, but I didn't like it for 3 weeks.
So we've just sold the car, bought a van, a long wheelbase renault trafic crewcab, with room to keep the bikes in the back. We're getting a towbar fitted on Tuesday and we're currently looking on Ebay and Gumtree for a newer caravan. It's a good time to buy, with more people wanting to get rid of their van before winter.
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Welcome!
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We've bought a new caravan. We went a bit overboard and bought a Bailey 2010 Pegasus 624. This is a large twin-axle 4 berth van with a fixed bed. We picked it up on Friday and spent one night on a campsite in torrential rain. Very happy so far.
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We've bought a new caravan. We went a bit overboard and bought a Bailey 2010 Pegasus 624. This is a large twin-axle 4 berth van with a fixed bed. We picked it up on Friday and spent one night on a campsite in torrential rain. Very happy so far.
Fantastic!!! Got any photos?
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Not really - it was pouring rain, so I didn't do much. I've a slightly out of focus phone photo of the two dogs!
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.15752-9/74307523_1134659596738217_1890508332976832512_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_oc=AQmNrYG06AGE-4vm-ksGkIfcX6-7nCVwRt6t4J6PdM-kdk4p-dtFCM2arxRzENADW-c&_nc_ht=scontent-lht6-1.xx&oh=cdcd2359aaef4804de837cb74ae7b252&oe=5E250A3B)
If that works.
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They look comfy!
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I’ve acquired another Eriba!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50575326147_89cda89a05_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2k4aLrR)
Eriba puck L. (https://flic.kr/p/2k4aLrR) by Luke Hayes (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60205142@N04/), on Flickr
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That looks excellent! What prompted the change?
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That looks excellent! What prompted the change?
It wasn’t a planned change. We came across the new one at a bargain price and decided to give it a try.
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Not sure why I didn't post this before but we went to the Lambourn area BCQ hunting for a couple of days in September and had to do a bit of creative levelling on the site. We were on the limit of 4 stacking discs and full extention on the front legs. We needed a ramp on the jockey wheel to get enough lift. Getting down was a multi stage operation.
Nice campsite though and a wonderful view.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50576800196_f77f519980_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2k4ijCu)Creative levelling (https://flic.kr/p/2k4ijCu) by Russell Wiles (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156615223@N02/), on Flickr
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That looks excellent! What prompted the change?
It wasn’t a planned change. We came across the new one at a bargain price and decided to give it a try.
That’s caravans for you! And other things like bikes to be fair. I hope you have lots of fun in it.
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Not sure why I didn't post this before but we went to the Lambourn area BCQ hunting for a couple of days in September and had to do a bit of creative levelling on the site. We were on the limit of 4 stacking discs and full extention on the front legs
Nicely done!
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Only 7 months since buying it, we’ve finally managed to get out in the new Eriba! :thumbsup:
This was a couple of weeks ago at the recently open camping in the forest site at Sherwood pines. 2 nights here by myself before picking up the family and going to Wing hall for 4 nights.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51237883328_c07035096c_h.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m4HxBw)
Eriba Puck L. (https://flic.kr/p/2m4HxBw) by Luke Hayes (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60205142@N04/), on Flickr
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We joined the ranks of caravanners last year, this was my first attempt at parking by reversing, I was soooooo chuffed
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMm0y1SjqC4/YMH7lFMdl-I/AAAAAAADaq0/0khlPbUGhf4VzBX34SUtDwDnaEFG6_rpgCPcBGAsYHg/s1024/IMG_20200808_125645.jpg)
Been out a couple of times this year in may, and we're off to Cornwall in a few weeks.
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We joined the ranks of caravanners last year, this was my first attempt at parking by reversing, I was soooooo chuffed
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMm0y1SjqC4/YMH7lFMdl-I/AAAAAAADaq0/0khlPbUGhf4VzBX34SUtDwDnaEFG6_rpgCPcBGAsYHg/s1024/IMG_20200808_125645.jpg)
Been out a couple of times this year in may, and we're off to Cornwall in a few weeks.
Nice parking but I'd be playing with the motor mover like playing with a giant R/C car.
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Nice parking but I'd be playing with the motor mover like playing with a giant R/C car.
This was exactly my take on the late lamented jogler's radio-controlled caravan. (I had no idea that caravan movers were a thing until I saw it in action.)
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I'm very tempted to get a motor mover for my micro-caravan, not because it's difficult to manoeuvre at campsites but to make it easier to get it back onto my drive when we get home! ;D
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Everyone needs a motor mover, indeed you may have to invest in a caravan to try one, but try one! Just being sat inside the towcar (smoky diesel admittedly) but out of easy view and steering a huge tin shed into an implausibly small space to the delight/bewilderment of clueless onlookers is just fun.
That a MM saves the car clutch, or at very least the stench of a burning clutch is probably also another good reason.
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I do have motor movers, and I'm not afraid to use them.
As part of my preparations for joining the caravanserai, I had taken a session with a driving instructor specialising in towing instruction. Only a couple of hours, but this (or more importantly, reversing in a straight line) would have been impossible without. This was a very satisfying moment, whatever.
(Car clutch?? what is such a thing ? ? ;) ;D )
Probably more deserving an entry into the MM thread, was the recent time at a roundabout where two lanes merge into one. I, in the nearside lane, adjusted speed to allow the adjacent car to pull in front as I am coming off. MM coming up behind clearly thought that 7.5m of caravan was going to evaporate, as he kept on coming, attempting an overtake regardless that there was literally nowhere to overtake to. I stopped when I saw that his n/s wing mirror hit the van, and waved him past. Cue much frothing at his mouth on the way past as his wife sat beside him - staring stonily forward in obvious embarrassment. I just laughed.
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Everyone needs a motor mover, indeed you may have to invest in a caravan to try one, but try one! Just being sat inside the towcar (smoky diesel admittedly) but out of easy view and steering a huge tin shed into an implausibly small space to the delight/bewilderment of clueless onlookers is just fun.
That a MM saves the car clutch, or at very least the stench of a burning clutch is probably also another good reason.
You can get radio controlled motor movers?!
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Nice parking but I'd be playing with the motor mover like playing with a giant R/C car.
This was exactly my take on the late lamented jogler's radio-controlled caravan. (I had no idea that caravan movers were a thing until I saw it in action.)
I saw one in action 2 years ago as the owner of the van opposite drove it out of the pitch to meet the car. He got it stuck on the incline from pitch to road, and also wiped out half the van side on the hedge beside the pitch.
I would say that campervans are the way to go :smug:, other than the other pitch opposite ours lost all their possessions to the local camp site yoofs when they went out for the day (not a good image for the UK from our European visitors), but strangely everything was returned overnight. The "**** the're back" was an amazing chant from all over the site.
Luckily we had best of both worlds. Mrs Nutty took her campervan for us to stay in and pi$$ oil into as many buckets as I could put down, and I drove the car that we took out for sensible days out :facepalm:
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Everyone needs a motor mover, indeed you may have to invest in a caravan to try one, but try one! Just being sat inside the towcar (smoky diesel admittedly) but out of easy view and steering a huge tin shed into an implausibly small space to the delight/bewilderment of clueless onlookers is just fun.
That a MM saves the car clutch, or at very least the stench of a burning clutch is probably also another good reason.
You can get radio controlled motor movers?!
I think they all are cordless, though mine can have a lead plugged into both the controller and (obv) the caravan should the controller loses the magic cordlessness.
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We’ve been thinking about getting a caravan again, the previous one was cheap, damp and sold 9 years ago but we did enjoy it.
Mrs B would like something medium sized with 4 berths, a full size cooker and shower, I prefer the idea of a small van such as the Eriba or Basecamp.
One of the barriers to getting the sort of caravan favoured by Mrs B is our current car. Although it’s a large Passat Estate when we purchased it in 2015 we wanted to avoid diesel for environmental reasons so we bought the 1.4 petrol model.
The manual states that it will tow 1400kg up a 12% gradient and given that the sort of 4 berth we’ve been looking at would probably have a mass of 1500kg (ish) when laden it should in theory just about manage.
However given that the car weighs nearly 1500kg and would likely be carrying 500kg of people fuel and paraphernalia we would have a total mass of 3.5 tonnes. As the car is 120hp that leaves us with a power-to-weight ratio of about 34hp/tonne.
The internet says that when towing you shouldn’t go below 40hp/tonne so I’m inclined to say that our current car doesn’t suit a mid size caravan but would be fine with a small van. I’m I correct with that? Would be good to hear from the experienced caravaners.
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When we were first thinking of getting a 'van, we went to the local supplier to ask what our car would tow.
The answer was 'not a lot' (Renault Kangoo II, 1.4, 110hp).
They were able to cross-check for just about any car and tell you how much weight it could safely tow.
When we got round to actually buying both the caravan and the new car to tow it, the caravan salesman made me phone to car dealer to make sure the model I was buying was indeed capable of towing the caravan I was about to purchase. Fortunately it was!
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When looking for a towbar you don't just need to know just how much power your car has, you need to know the car to van ratio. If I recall correctly a fully laden van should weigh no more than 85% of car kerbweight (I think) but regardless, lower the ratio the greater for stability.
I have seen the effects of a trailer wagging the dog and going for a tumble. One of my nephews has lifelong injuries caused by the family caravan being caught by a passing hgv and going into a waggle. The end result was the car rolling.
Extreme I know but put the odds in your favour folks.
Oh, my BiL had been an HGV 1 licence holder for 20 years when this happened and he is also a driver trainer and assessor. He is probably the person with whom I feel safest with when I am in a car.
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I can't remember the exact numbers, but PB is correct about there being a ratio. That was the biggest problem with the Kangoo, it's just too light.
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The caravan organisations do recommend an 85% ratio (between the car's unladen weight and the 'van's MTPLM*) for safety reasons. If you are experienced you can tow up to 100% or to whatever the car manufacturer states as a max, in SteveC's case not a lot. Renaults are famous for low towing figures. It's not the weight of the car it's whatever the manufacturer states as a towing limit.
If you exceed the 3.5 tonnes train weight then you can get into licencing issues if you are of the younger type. Doesn't affect me!!! >:(
Eribas are lovely things to tow, being light and narrow and with the pop top the frontal area is low, the compromise is interior space. Our 3 berth Triton isn't really suitable for three. Even with two you cannot really both be standing at the same time!
Bascamp comes as a 4 berth as well, it is longer, wider and much taller than a Triton but its MTPLM* is about the same, just shy of 1200kg.
A shower would be nice but we make do with a night time visit only toilet and a kettle. We think that a cooker is completely unneccessary for camping. It's supposed to be a holiday for all.
* Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass
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We didn't stick with the Kangoo (although we still own it). Škoda Yeti (don't tell Ian) and a Lunar Clubman what is huge and not really a very sensible choice for first time caravaners, but it is nice).
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I have seen the effects of a trailer wagging the dog and going for a tumble. One of my nephews has lifelong injuries caused by the family caravan being caught by a passing hgv and going into a waggle.
I found myself following one of those on the motorway last week. Kept well back until I could overtake in lane 3. :hand:
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I have seen the effects of a trailer wagging the dog and going for a tumble. One of my nephews has lifelong injuries caused by the family caravan being caught by a passing hgv and going into a waggle.
I found myself following one of those on the motorway last week. Kept well back until I could overtake in lane 3. :hand:
My opinion is that the only reason that caravans have the wheels bunched together under the centre of gravity, instead of one at each corner with the front ones steering, is to make reversing merely difficult rather than almost impossible. The cost is that the caravan's pitch and yaw has to be controlled by the car, and stability depends on odd things like where the centre of gravity is in the caravan. An extra couple of cases of beer at the back of a caravan can cause it to be unstable. There is also a lack of knowledge of how to stop the caravan swinging. (just brake)
It's my opinion that automating the nearly impossible reversing should be comparatively easy, but it would need caravan to car communication, so it won't happen, as there can be a big age difference between car and caravan.
To show how difficult it is to get changes on both cars and caravans, the 13 pin European towing socket took around 30 years to become common in the UK. Owners would buy a new car, the 13 pin socket would be fitted. The owner would get that changed to match the caravan. A few years later, a new caravan would arrive with a 13 pin socket, which was promptly cut off to match the old socket on the car. And so on. It was only about 10 years ago that adaptors became readily available.
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Many years ago I was once involved in converting commercial vehicles and used to read 'Commercial Vehicles' or some such magazine and I think I can remember an article on caravan stability and it was found that by offsetting the wheels of the 'van a small amount fore and aft, ie no longer on the same axle plane, a turning motion was introduced which had a stabilising effect.
I guess it was too difficult (expensive) to produce so never happened.
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Achieving the 85% ratio isn’t going to be the issue with our current car as it is a large estate, unfortunately it’s the power that concerns me. At least with respect to the sort of van Mrs B favours, for the kind of small caravan that I prefer power isn’t such an issue ;D
My opinion is that the only reason that caravans have the wheels bunched together under the centre of gravity, instead of one at each corner with the front ones steering, is to make reversing merely difficult rather than almost impossible. The cost is that the caravan's pitch and yaw has to be controlled by the car, and stability depends on odd things like where the centre of gravity is in the caravan. An extra couple of cases of beer at the back of a caravan can cause it to be unstable. There is also a lack of knowledge of how to stop the caravan swinging. (just brake)
Although I don’t have much car/caravan experience I do have a lot of experience with tractors and large agricultural trailers as I lived next door to a farm as a child and still occasionally help out a bit during harvest. I can therefore say with certain knowledge that trailers of any kind behind a car are an absolute pig compered to a 16 tonner on the back of a tractor. I can get one of those through a gap barely wider than the trailer itself, can I do that with my little car trailer, no chance. Pivot points right on (or nearly on) the rear axel are wonderful.
Russell; I was pitched quite nearby to you in Nottingham last week, given that Mrs B and I have been discussing caravans since returning home I wish that I'd taken the opportunity to have a nosey at your Eriba now. They look like terrific little caravans, I think that I might even be able to keep one of those in our front garden without completely blocking all natural light from the living room.
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Dash it. I didn't think there were any other YACFers there, oh, apart from Tim Hall of course. I saw a Passat there, dark blue???
Our Octavia has 140bhp, previously our Picasso had 110bhp. The extra 30 is very nice to have but the Pic did tow it easily enough only running out of puff with 4 adults, two tandems and the the van on some welsh hills. Both deisel though.
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See here for outfit matching:- https://towcar.info/
The 1400kg up a gradient is just that restarting on a gradient, and so is just a traction derived figure, and is for a ballasted flat deck trailer so doesn't relate at all well to a 1000 cu ft sail on a motorway viaduct in the winds, or buffeting from following empty car transporters. Stick to the 85% recommendation.
Oh and don't go balancing a heavy noseweight with heavy stuff at the rear, seesaws aren't renowned for stability, and snaking outcomes range from needing new underpants to needing new vehicles and/or needing the assistance of big red/white vehicles with pretty lights.
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I'm trying to convince Mr R to give an Eriba a try...
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See here for outfit matching:- https://towcar.info/
Your link seems to think my Honda Civic is suited to towing a 1200 kg trailer/caravan, while the owner's manual says it is not designed to tow a trailer/caravan, and doing so will void the warranty. The Civic in question is a US market hatchback, built in Swindon.
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See here for outfit matching:- https://towcar.info/
Your link seems to think my Honda Civic is suited to towing a 1200 kg trailer/caravan, while the owner's manual says it is not designed to tow a trailer/caravan, and doing so will void the warranty. The Civic in question is a US market hatchback, built in Swindon.
Its a euro website so won't know the finer details of American cars.
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I’m quite pleased to report that Mrs B is now getting quite into the idea of a small caravan rather than a larger model as the engine size and physical size of the car required is the over-riding factor in the decision.
Our thinking is largely based on the fact that once purchased we expect this caravan to be long term project, whereas large powerful cars are likely to have a less certain future. It’s surely only a matter of time now before we see financial penalties on large polluting vehicles increase to the point of making them very unattractive to own. A small 1000kg(ish) caravan should also (hopefully) still be viable in the electric future.
Getting back to the caravans, we’re both becoming quite fond of the Adria Action, though we intend to wait until we are able to view all our shortlisted vans once the trade fairs start up again in the spring before deciding.
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Quite so Joe. Apparently the very capable Skoda Enyaq ev has a 1500kg towing limit.
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If I may offer a few words based on experience of small vans?
Most small vans have similar layouts in that the day settees/eating area doubles up as the bed for the night. This means that you have to be prepared to make up and dismantle the bed and stow the bedding somewhere during the day. You cannot guarentee that you will be able to eat outside every day. This may be a PITA for some. It was for us so we chose a van that has a separate dinette area.
You also need to be aware of user payload, that is the difference between the mass in running order (MIRO) and the maximum technical permitted laden mass (MTPLM). Even some quite large vans have ridiculously low user payload figures. It's worth checking the figures and noting that any options (even onboard water) will eat into the payload. See if an axle upgrade is available. A recommendation from the caravan organisations is to take it empty to a weighbridge to find out what payload is available.
R
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I have seen the effects of a trailer wagging the dog and going for a tumble. One of my nephews has lifelong injuries caused by the family caravan being caught by a passing hgv and going into a waggle.
I found myself following one of those on the motorway last week. Kept well back until I could overtake in lane 3. :hand:
Wasn't me, was it ? ;)
Coming back last Friday, on the (more gusty than I had reckoned) M42, I was trundling along, speed limiter set on 60 as is my wont, accelerating up to an indicated 64-ish to overtake when appropriate, overtaking a slower artic when a gust set up a waggle. The seatbelt tensioners decided we were going to crash, to tightened up just to make me feel good, and the light on the dash to say "you're wobbling" came on. Helpful. Lasted seemingly for ever, but by easing up and the good grace of the trucker, I managed to slow down and pull in. Overtaking was shelved for the duration.
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Squeaky bum time.
It was my sister, BiL and their two children about 20 years ago. My nephew has minor but permanent life-changing disabilities as a result.
Although the M5 was blocked northbound for hours with fire services cutting the car apart, obviously lots of police and three ambulances as well as a helicopter lift for my nephew, the lorry which caused the accident was never identified.
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After years of thinking about it (as is my wont), and after looking at many different ones at a dealer in Dorset, we have taken the plunge and put a deposit on a used Eriba Puck L. We thought we (2 of us) would just about okay with a Puck (and an awning made from an old Khyam tent porch), but I couldn't sit up in the Puck without my head being canted forward by the window blinds' rollers, and I have enough trouble with my neck. Pucks are weird; you sit in and look at all the storage and think, yes, we can fit in all we need; then you get out and look at the thing and it's tiny. Terrific packaging.
The Puck L's plate says 850 kg max weight so we think it will be okay with a Honda Civic 1.0T (which already tows a trailer, towing limit 1200 kg), but this car has all the engine braking of a '70s two stroke 250... Looking forward to it. The idea is to follow daughter's rugby to away matches and stay a couple of nights to see more of the country, plus other exploring (Scotland, Wales) and hopefully a longer French trip each year.
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Can anyone recommend a campsite around Rutland Water, preferably with electric hook up?
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Wing Hall
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Day 2 at Sandringham CCC site and it's a day of rain! First good poor weather test of our Kyham awning, and first trip with our new tow car, a Nissan X-trail T31.
https://twitter.com/PugnatorM/status/1437719068031737858?s=19
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Wing Hall
Ooh - that looks good! ta! :thumbsup:
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We've decided to head to Kessingland this weekend. The weather forecast looked slightly better than the one for Rutland.
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Can anyone recommend a campsite around Rutland Water, preferably with electric hook up?
The Paddock (C&CC Cert. site). Stayed there BH w/e. Very pleasant :thumbsup:.
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Can anyone recommend a campsite around Rutland Water, preferably with electric hook up?
The Paddock (C&CC Cert. site). Stayed there BH w/e. Very pleasant :thumbsup:.
Unfortunately, not taking people without their own sanitation at present. It did look good.
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A several of years ago, whilst working for an Association with yellow liveried everything, I was driving a Dodge flat-bed car transporter with a car trailer in-tow.
The incident in question took place along the M25 on the descent from Reigate Hill.
The trailer decided that it was going to try and overtake the lorry towing it.
I cannot remember many incidents in the course of my life that left me thusly terrified as I tried to bring the entire shebang back under control.
I seem to remember using all three lanes of the motorway in addition to the hard shoulder (it was, thankfully, in the wee small hours of the night) to get it back on an even keel.
The take-home from this incident?
Never run the towing vehicle flat-out.
Always leave some power in reserve to pull yourself out of such situations.
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A several of years ago, whilst working for an Association with yellow liveried everything, I was driving a Dodge flat-bed car transporter with a car trailer in-tow.
The incident in question took place along the M25 on the descent from Reigate Hill.
The trailer decided that it was going to try and overtake the lorry towing it.
I cannot remember many incidents in the course of my life that left me thusly terrified as I tried to bring the entire shebang back under control.
I seem to remember using all three lanes of the motorway in addition to the hard shoulder (it was, thankfully, in the wee small hours of the night) to get it back on an even keel.
The take-home from this incident?
Never run the towing vehicle flat-out.
Always leave some power in reserve to pull yourself out of such situations.
Comedy gold. :-)
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I know that one of my fellow sailing club members got pulled up on his way back from an open meeting in his Ford Sierra estate with Merlin Rocket in tow doing over 100. Probably still not flat out though .....
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A several of years ago, whilst working for an Association with yellow liveried everything, I was driving a Dodge flat-bed car transporter with a car trailer in-tow.
The incident in question took place along the M25 on the descent from Reigate Hill.
The trailer decided that it was going to try and overtake the lorry towing it.
I cannot remember many incidents in the course of my life that left me thusly terrified as I tried to bring the entire shebang back under control.
I seem to remember using all three lanes of the motorway in addition to the hard shoulder (it was, thankfully, in the wee small hours of the night) to get it back on an even keel.
The take-home from this incident?
Never run the towing vehicle flat-out.
Always leave some power in reserve to pull yourself out of such situations.
Comedy gold. :-)
I was going for it......
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Can anyone recommend a campsite around Rutland Water, preferably with electric hook up?
The Paddock (C&CC Cert. site). Stayed there BH w/e. Very pleasant :thumbsup:.
Unfortunately, not taking people without their own sanitation at present. It did look good.
Ah, yes. Porta-Potti FTW :thumbsup:. Our van is relatively small (Mercedes Vito) so no shower or anything fancy like that but the PP is essential kit as it opens up many more possibilities for places to stay.
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We joined the ranks of caravanners this year after years of camping following the purchase of a mate's well looked after van. We've used it a fair bit and it's made it easier to get away with the rest of the family (all caravan owners too) since a lot of sites don't allow pitching of tents and vans on the same field.
Took the van to the Peak District over Oct half-term. When the C&CC say about their Bakewell "Access road is narrow and care is needed" they really aren't joking. We only have a single axle van but also only a 2WD car and ye gods the lane through the village is narrow, double parked and steep. Getting back up the hill on the way out required precise timing and extensive prayers to negotiate a wet road and avoid a wheel-spinny clutch-destroying set of hill starts.
Other than that, a nice and well maintained site with negligible facilities and great walking straight out of the door.
https://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/campsites/uk/derbyshire/bakewell/bakewell-camping-and-caravanning-club-site/
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A recent addition to the family has required a slightly larger Eriba.
It is a bit of a project, but more than usable as it is. I’ve made a start at pealing the flowers off. :facepalm:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52198579187_1739379c5b_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2nwBn2e)
Eriba Triton 410 (https://flic.kr/p/2nwBn2e) by Luke Hayes (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60205142@N04/), on Flickr
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Nice, what year is it?
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It is a 1993. 410 model with the huge dinette/bed at the rear and single to the front.
The plan is to replace the front seats with fixed bunks.
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A couple of rubbish interior pictures;
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52200471654_d67cced3b0_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2nwM4zY)
Eriba triton 410 (https://flic.kr/p/2nwM4zY) by Luke Hayes (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60205142@N04/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52200197996_7a3c09a994_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2nwKEeJ)
Eriba triton 410 (https://flic.kr/p/2nwKEeJ) by Luke Hayes (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60205142@N04/), on Flickr
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Nice, Luke. Just come back from 4 weeks in France (first trip!) with our 2009 Puck L 230 & 1L Civic. Liked it, once stabiliser was adjusted to actually move rather than being utterly solid. Impressed by coolness of the van in near 40C heat, and the amazing amount of storage available. Also bought a Wild Country driveaway annexe last minute as our daughter was able to come for 10 days & slept in it, also very good but quite bulky & weighty. Still cooking on old Trangia outside though due to ludicrous UK gas bottle shortage, though not a problem (heater not required...).
Will we get commentary and pictures of your mods?
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A little update on the progress with the project Eriba.
Significant amounts of welding were required to the frame underneath, which has now been done. A window seal has been replaced and slight damage to the frame where water had been getting under the seal repaired. Some loose bits of trim have been secured, and the wheels painted. The vinyl flowers took days to remove. :facepalm:
Still to do externally is repaint the discoloured trim around the wheel arches and also the gas locker.
Internally the main dinette seats have been recovered. I’ve started planning the bunks for the front, but haven’t started any actual construction. The blinds really need replacing.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52785092659_dab6825c2e_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2oqrp3t)
Eriba Triton (https://flic.kr/p/2oqrp3t) by Luke Hayes (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60205142@N04/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52785094079_807b04df31_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2oqrpsX)
Eriba Triton interior. (https://flic.kr/p/2oqrpsX) by Luke Hayes (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60205142@N04/), on Flickr
We have had a few trips out so far. Scarborough last year. Sherwood pines over Christmas. Clumber park in February and York last month. We’re going back to Scarborough in a couple of weeks.