Decent Caravan for approx £2000?

Paperbird

The extra test for towing will depend on your car and the weight of the caravan. Something like a Vectra or Mondeo with a caravan with a maximum loaded weight of around 1300kg I don't think would need the driver to have taken the extra test.
There will be a plate on your car that gives the max front axle load, max rear axle load and maximum train weight ( maximum weight for car plus trailer ).
Add the max weights for front and rear axles and subtract this from 3500kg. This will give you the maximum weight of caravan you can tow without needing the extra test.

wba31

Paperbird wrote: »

The extra test for towing will depend on your car and the weight of the caravan. Something like a Vectra or Mondeo with a caravan with a maximum loaded weight of around 1300kg I don't think would need the driver to have taken the extra test.
There will be a plate on your car that gives the max front axle load, max rear axle load and maximum train weight ( maximum weight for car plus trailer ).
Add the max weights for front and rear axles and subtract this from 3500kg. This will give you the maximum weight of caravan you can tow without needing the extra test.

I was under the impression that unless you have the picture of a caravan on the back of your card licence an extra test is required...

wba31

vaio wrote: »

damp is the killer

My parents bought a brand new caravan 4 years ago and pay £££ for a fully professional service each year. Last year they found a seam had a slight split and water had got in and ruined a lot of wood in the frame, cost £1500 to have repaired.
They would have bought a new van, but my dad only has a Peugeot Partner Combi so they're stuck on weight until he changes his car.
They're van is lovely, me and mrs WBA borrow it a few times a year, but I wouldn't like the expense of my own...

Nodding_Donkey

Cars
Motor vehicle with a MAM of
up to 3,500kg, no more than
eight passenger seats with or
without a trailer – weighing no
more than 750kg.
As category B but with a
trailer weighing more than
750kg. The total weight of
the vehicle and trailer together
can’t weigh more than 3500kg.
The weight of the trailer, when
fully loaded, can’t weigh more
than the unladen weight of the
vehicle.

that is taken from DVLA INF30 for group B. To tow a larger trailer you need group BE

AdrianC

Nodding_Donkey wrote: »

To tow a larger trailer you need group BE

Which, if he passed his test before 1997, he will have.

pstuart

We are back to " the total weight of the vehicle and trailer combined can't weigh more than 3500kg", the rest is just confusing.

Paperbird is quite correct in their generalization, just try to ensure that the van is about 85% of the weight of the car, otherwise a novice may find that the tail may start to wag the dog

F1F93

OP,

What car do you have? I'll try and find the exact weights for you so you know whether your OH will need another test, and we'll be able to advise on suitable caravan choices.

As for the pitches, you can get good bargains. For example, if you look for Caravan Club/Caravan & Camping sites, you'll pay a lot more. My OH and I found a site that was about half the price of a CC site. It's nothing special (basically a field with electric hookups and the loo facilities etc) but what more do you need?

Hope the caravan search goes well!

Anoneemoose

F1F93 wrote: »

OP,

What car do you have? I'll try and find the exact weights for you so you know whether your OH will need another test, and we'll be able to advise on suitable caravan choices.

As for the pitches, you can get good bargains. For example, if you look for Caravan Club/Caravan & Camping sites, you'll pay a lot more. My OH and I found a site that was about half the price of a CC site. It's nothing special (basically a field with electric hookups and the loo facilities etc) but what more do you need?

Hope the caravan search goes well!

Thank you! We currently have a Ford Galaxy Mark II but will probs have a mondeo by the time we get a caravan. Hubby has been looking.

He didn't pass his test until 2001.

I would be extremely grateful for any advice in relation to types of caravans, thanks again!

forgotmyname

For newer drivers a big heavy car can limit the caravans they can tow. As its the gross weight that counts.

Galaxy laden weight approx 2500kg? So only allowing a caravan with a max laden weight of 1000kg.

Mondeo gross laden weight 2100kg? So allows a caravan of 1400kg. But then its getting close to the cars kerbweight which is a big no when new and not so new to towing.

The heavier the caravan in relation to the car means the caravan canb dictate the direction of travel in side winds and overtaking/being overtaken.

What year/engine Mondeo? If going for a MK4 2007 onwards they are quite heavy so maybe in the same boat as the Galaxy.

topdaddy_2

Join the caravan club and attened rallies or use CLs and you'll be paying fifty quid ish for a weekend away. It'll be too expensive to stay at home in comparison!