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Having launched ourselves into the world of caravans last year OH has always done the towing - he has a Navara which I'm not too comfortable driving and therefore would never even consider trying to tow.

I said that if we changed my car for something which would tow I'd happily take the towing course and be able to do some of the driving on long trips.  Yesterday we took the plunge and ordered my a Honda CRV which is more than capable than towing our van.  Now I've got to keep my end of the bargain and do the course!

Is towing that difficult or is it just a case of knowing what to do and having confidence?  Luckily I won't have to manoevre too much as we have a mover fitted.

Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quote: Originally posted by midge21 on 15/11/2009

Having launched ourselves into the world of caravans last year OH has always done the towing - he has a Navara which I'm not too comfortable driving and therefore would never even consider trying to tow.

I said that if we changed my car for something which would tow I'd happily take the towing course and be able to do some of the driving on long trips.  Yesterday we took the plunge and ordered my a Honda CRV which is more than capable than towing our van.  Now I've got to keep my end of the bargain and do the course!

Is towing that difficult or is it just a case of knowing what to do and having confidence?  Luckily I won't have to manoevre too much as we have a mover fitted.

Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Hello Midge 21

I'd be rather wary towing at the mptl in the honda...even with 20 years experience behind me ..the weighbridge is a must for both car and fully loaded caravan ..get a ticket for both...then you can load the caravan to 85% of the honda's kerbweight...

loading out the caravan is a critical part of caravanning so by no means go about this in a hap-hazard way...

give it some responsible consideration with your hubbys help and weigh everthing going into the caravan ...if you don't use something heavy in there ..take it out for the next time you use it as the weight will creep up over time with stuff you buy and put in drawers cupboards boxes ect ...i know because i've done it too ...when changing the caravan this year we emptied it and were amazed at how much stuff was accumulated over 6 years it was piled up in the living room for 3 days ..

Quote: Originally posted by clanjones on 16/11/2009

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Hello Midge 21

I'd be rather wary towing at the mptl in the honda...even with 20 years experience behind me ..the weighbridge is a must for both car and fully loaded caravan ..get a ticket for both...then you can load the caravan to 85% of the honda's kerbweight...

loading out the caravan is a critical part of caravanning so by no means go about this in a hap-hazard way...

give it some responsible consideration with your hubbys help and weigh everthing going into the caravan ...if you don't use something heavy in there ..take it out for the next time you use it as the weight will creep up over time with stuff you buy and put in drawers cupboards boxes ect ...i know because i've done it too ...when changing the caravan this year we emptied it and were amazed at how much stuff was accumulated over 6 years it was piled up in the living room for 3 days ..

 

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Thanks for the good wishes and advice.  We realise that we calculated the weight ration incorrectly and have gone back to Honda to check.  They got it wrong too.  We've therefore cancelled the order, got our deposit back and have gone back to square one.

Thanks to your good advice we've avoided making a huge and expensive mistake.