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hi all ,

im after some opinions and advice.

we have become aware over the last few months that many sites are now not allowing peole onsite if towing with a commercial vehicle, now this is leaving us with a big problem.  We love caravaning but in the next few months are more than likely getting a commercial type vehicle which will be our tow car.

my hubby is whelchair bound and is deteriorating so now has to use a huge electric scooter much of the time. Currently we have a citroen c4 grand picassso but to get the big beast in we have to have all but one seat folded flat (the seat is for our toddler!) i then push the big beast in collapese the light weight chair and fit it in around the big beast leaving no room for buggy or shopping.

we are now looking at a new vehicle which is a crew cab transit!  a classic commercial builders van. it will give us passenger seats and a huge boot for the scooter/chair/buggy and shopping.

this leaes us with the problem that we are being told we wont be able to tow with it as we wont be allowed onto campsites with it. we dont want to give up caravanning but need the bigger vehicle for us to function as a family.

anyone got any ideas or thoughts on the subject, bearing in mind we dot want the huge vehicle but it seems to be our anly choice now.

many thanks

ice cream vans?

What is a commercial vehicle though? A VW caravanelle type vehicle can be an adapted motor home, or a minibus style family (large family mind!) transport. However, a similar vehicle used as a private hire or emblazoned with Bloggins Builders would tend to suggest a commercial vehicle.

Are the sites discriminating against style of vehicle or purpose for which it is, or is usually used ie borrowing the firms van to tow your van for a week(end) away.

Absolutely. A 'phone call to the site before hand would, I'm sure, allay any fears that they may have. Under these circumstances, if pushed, the site could say that the vehicle is not a commercial vehicle (albeit built and possibly registered/taxed as such even though it is being used for private use only) but a disabled vehicle; should anyone else have an issue with a 'commercial' on site.

 A friend of ours had a MWB transit van fitted with second row of seats, single window either side, ie in sliding door and opposite, and a hydraulic tail lift for his scooter. The vehicle was taxed in the disabled class, and the whole purchase was VAT exempt. He never had any trouble getting on sites with his outfit; even the Great Dorset Steam Fair; which specifically bars commercial vehicles, minibuses,pickups etc. from it's public campsites, once he had explained the situation. Indeed we toured for 10 years with a SWB transit day van, plus caravan, similar to the above, in the back of which we carried a Batricar disability scooter, which we  loaded with ramps,plus pram and all the other baby stuff in the earlier years. We never once were refused entry to a site, or asked about the van. It did however have a nice paint job and looked like a camper van. Just a quick question, when you say a Transit crewcab do you mean a van or a pickup truck? If the latter then you may have a few more problems but even then a quick phone call should clarify things.

  Last thought, have you considered the Transit Torneo people carrier or the Mercedes Vito?

  Hope this is of some help.

     Pete.

Is your caravan still within it's factory warranty if so i would look into whether towing with a commercial will invaidate the warranty.

We purchased an abbey vogue brand new in november 08, we were intending to tow with my work vehicle a vauxhall vivaro 2.5 dti. dealers said yes it will tow fine, then eariler on this year i read on another forum that your warranty is void towing with a commercial, i checked with swift and it is indeed the case. we ended up changing the wifes car to a honda cr-v

Richard

It is an exclusion in Bailey's warranty too.

Ali

I know its not a van but have you looked a the really big people carriers, I.E. Chrysler voyager, Kia Sedona or the Huuuge Hyundai I800, THey seem to have loads of room in and I have seen lots adapted for wheelchairs.

Or like has been suggested, the VW Caravalle is very large but you can have them with windows all round.

ive seen some great looking vitos which would put a lot of 'normal' tow cars to shame we were going to convert ours into a people carrier type thing but ended up with the sorento, got as far as converting to 6 seater we've towed the van with the vito and it does tow well took us a few times to get the weight right then it was fine, good reliable vehicle though

ps we're selling it if your interested??