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hi all

we are giving up the camping with tents and decided to go for a caravan.so taking the plunge early next year.we have a 59 plate focus 1.8 tdci style estate and going for the bailey pageant champange around the 04/05 year. any feedback please before we buy.

i have towed camping trailers daxaras etc but nothing quite as big as a caravan so do you think i need to go on a caravan handling course? if so can you recommend somewhere i can do this. (we live in leicester)

any guidance would be helpfull.

cheers

dave and jo

Can't speak for your car/van match. Apart from checking weight match it's really down to what you like. As for a towing course - it depends really on your confidence. I have never been on one and I am very confident I can do the job. If I went on one I guess I probably learn something.

I also use a small trailer. I find reversing the caravan easier but much better with a "spotter"

Both clubs do them and these would be the best source for training if you decide to.

hi all

how do i find the kerb weight of my car as i cannot find it in the hand book or am i completely thick.

my car is a 58 ford focus 1.8 tdci duratorq 5 door hatch.

i have checked the vin plate inside the drivers door and all it gives me is is 4 different weights and the book indicates that the first weight is the vehicles gross weight which is 1950 kg.

but cannot find the kerb weight anywhere.

please help

dave

You really need to do your own outfit matching to be sure.

MTPLM of caravan must not exceed kerbweight of car and really should be no more than 85% of kerbweight of car for inexperienced towers.

MTPLM of caravan must not be more than Max Tow Braked Trailer for car.

Check you cars handbook for kerbweight for your particular engine size, model etc.

Check your cars handbook for Max Tow Braked Trailer. Check if there is a requirement for it to be within the Gross Train Weight of the car.

Gross Train Weight of the car is the weight of the fully loaded car and caravan.

Personally I wouldn't be happy towing a Pageant Champagne with a Focus, it's too near the limit for me.

hi

the caravan dealer said this is a good match?

this is thier info

car- kerb=1362kg, nose =75kg, max tow=1300kg, unbraked max tow=681kg, gross=1795kg, train=3095.

caravan- bailey pageant champange 2004 4 berth.    user payload=207kg, est.nose=91, mro/unladen=1095kg, mtplm/maw=1302.

so you have got me worried now.

dave