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Hi there,

I am thinking of buying my first caravan after having had a trailer tent for the last 5 years and was looking for some advice.  I can't really change my towcar so wanting reassurance that my current thinking is ok.

I have a 2010 BMW 320d estate (177bhp) and I am thinking of getting a Olympus 546 with the outfit matching on whattowcar coming out at 90% (1422/1580).   I've understand all the recommended guidance for towing caravans but just a little worried the match is a bit high for a beginner like me.

My queries are

1.  The caravan weight assumes 200kg user payload and I want to reduce this if possible.  What sort of reduction could I realistically make (like putting awning awning in the car)?  If I can reduce by 100kg the ratio becomes 84% which on paper is obviuosly better but just don't know if this practical.

2.  I will be adding 75kg to the car by means of a roofbox or bikes which will improve the situation further.  I also have a factory fitted towbar which means the car's rear suspension is stiffer than normal.

3.  Obviously any reduction caravan weight/increase in car weight (within the limits) will help the situation but are these gains marginal as opposed to just making sure the caravan is loaded properly.  Am I worrying too much about the ratio and if I load properly, take it steady, will everything be ok? 

4.  Also  I did not tow before having the trailer tent and I have mastered reversing this.  Am I right in assuming it is easier to reverse a caravan because it is bigger and easier to control?

Thanks alot

Put the awning in the centre over the van axles and any other items where you would normally put them under the bunks, just weigh the hitch before you set off to get it as close the manufactures recommended weight

Dont forget to inflate your rear tyres to the towing pressure

Thanks for comments.

Probably worrying too much about doing the right thing but thats not necessarily a bad thing! 

Thanks for further comments.  Been away from ukcampsite for a while but it's a great place to ask questions!

ddlovetts - did you tow with your 3 series?  if so what and how did you find it?

Jennifer - only have 2 adults and two small children in car but boot is not massive though so not loads of space.  Apart from awning what else is heavy that I could put in car easily?  Can't think of much else other than normal food and clothes.

Quote: Originally posted by grifterman on 26/8/2011

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Hi there,

I am thinking of buying my first caravan after having had a trailer tent for the last 5 years and was looking for some advice.  I can't really change my towcar so wanting reassurance that my current thinking is ok.

I have a 2010 BMW 320d estate (177bhp) and I am thinking of getting a Olympus 546 with the outfit matching on whattowcar coming out at 90% (1422/1580).   I've understand all the recommended guidance for towing caravans but just a little worried the match is a bit high for a beginner like me.

My queries are

1.  The caravan weight assumes 200kg user payload and I want to reduce this if possible.  What sort of reduction could I realistically make (like putting awning awning in the car)?  If I can reduce by 100kg the ratio becomes 84% which on paper is obviuosly better but just don't know if this practical. Before you buy a caravan these theories start to convince you to go for a caravan which may or may not be right. Too late to find out it doesn't work for you once you have bought. To enjoy your caravanning you need to carry a certain amount of gear and that may very well mean using all of the payload allowable with your van. After all not everything fits into the car. When you can't carry stuff like chairs table or whatever you feel is essential you can then regret getting the van you have bought. 90% match is not recommended for those who have not towed before. All the safety recommendations are there for a reason. However, the weight ratio is just one factor in safe towing. Loading, decent tyres at the right pressure, sensible driving etc etc all contribute to safe towing. Get on a course. Its money well spent and will give you that extra confidence and assist in safe towing. The truth is that you will need to use your payload in the van, so either get a smaller van or live with the 90% match and then use all of the other safety pointers to safe towing. Take it steady

2.  I will be adding 75kg to the car by means of a roofbox or bikes which will improve the situation further.  I also have a factory fitted towbar which means the car's rear suspension is stiffer than normal. Remember that your car can only take so much on the rear axel and that will be specified in the handbook. Add a roof box and then the nose weight on the tow ball and you may be getting well up to your max. The weight of a roof box may actually limit what you can carry in your car. If your max tow ball weight is, say, 80Kg then with the up and down movement on the tow ball as you trundel along, your weight on the rear axel can go up to 160Kg. So, deduct from your cars payload 160Kg, to err on the side of caution, and to save your suspension, then the weight of the roof box and how much payload have you got left? So, rather than a roof box, maybe use that 100Kg in the van rather than shifting it to the roof of your car. Work out the maths and then think about what you want to take on holiday. All the little things soon add up in weight. Don't forget that when you add up the weight of the gear in the van you have to include e.g the battery, gas cylindars, maybe motor mover (73Kg in my caravan) and that reduces your personal payload. So, if you are taking another 100Kg off your payload you just leave your clothes at home. Just talking practicalities here

3.  Obviously any reduction caravan weight/increase in car weight (within the limits) will help the situation but are these gains marginal as opposed to just making sure the caravan is loaded properly.  Am I worrying too much about the ratio and if I load properly, take it steady, will everything be ok?  You do right to be concerned about the ratio. Safety is very important. The reality of caravanning is that you will probably have to travel at a 90% match if you get the van you are after. Just use all the training, safety guidance etc you can to make it work

 4.  Also  I did not tow before having the trailer tent and I have mastered reversing this.  Am I right in assuming it is easier to reverse a caravan because it is bigger and easier to control? It's like anything, dead easy once you understand the physics and know what you are doing. Get on a CC course and it will be a doddle

Thanks alot

 

 

Phil

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Thanks for comments Phil.

Not actually buying a caravan quite yet but seriously thinking about it and just exploring the art of the possible while remaining safe!  Don't have the option of changing my car but obviously could choose a different caravan.   l'd definately do a towing course for extra comfort.

Always thought a 100kg re.duction in user payload would probably be impractical but it's hard to know what you can and can't do without the experience.  Like people say will just need to load caravan properly. It's likely the 75kg roof limit will be taken up with 4 bikes and the bike carriers so probably no room for roofbox anyway.  Again just thought the the extra weight would help.

I think the car permitted gross weight will be fine as well although there is a bit of the car manual that confuses me.  Under the normal weights section for my model it says Kerbweight 1580,  Permitted gross weight 2045,  Rear axle load 1160 but then there is section for when towing a trailer and for my model it then says Rear axle load 1275 and Permitted gross weight of 2120.  I can only assume the normal numbers exclude some contingency for when towing a trailer.

So car will have 75kg roof load, additional adult plus 2 small children (about 125kg max although prob just under 100kg), say a generous 150kg allowance for noseweight (although will only be 75kg max) plus any personal belonging not in van.  Maybe awning, maybe not.  Does this seem reasonable?

Are there any rules of thumb to calcuate rear axle loads or do I need to get car weighed?

Cheers

it's hard to know what you can and can't do without the experience

Don't suppose we are any different tp anyone else but the van is almost to its full payload and the car is packed...and there are only the two of us. We like an awning, with carpet, table, two chairs, sometimes a rotary drier if we are away for a long time, walking boots rucksacks, water carrier ..just pretty basic stuff really. The weight soon adds up and even I am having to tell the wife we are at our limit. To reduce weight on books we are even getting a kindle its that tight. Don't give up on weight you can carry you will regret it. It could spoil your caravanning experience to be without table and chairs. Look around the shops and go for lightwight gear. 

As for bike carriers remember thats more weight on rear axel. Don't get one of those bike carriers that is attached to the towball . If you do you can't carry bikes as your tow ball can only take so much.

Some stuff you carry will be forward of the axel and so they will not apply as much weight as what you have in the boot/rear foot well. I just assume that the rear axel takes the lot including driver and passenger. Anyway, you can only get so much gear into the car and carvanning stuff is just the wrong shape for packing.

We tend to have outside stuff in the car and inside stufff in the van when we travel. Makes the other end easier to sort out. So the car has the water hog and waste hog. Such awkward big shpes that they reduce what you can carry in the car. Then the awning goes in the car. Chairs - now thay are an awkward shape. So, in truth all that cuts down on what can go in the car and that keeps the weight down.

I weigh everything that goes in the van and the car just to make sure I don't overdo anything

It will work out

Phil

If the worst comes to the worst the kids will fit into a duffel bag and you can get one free just now if you buy Eternity perfume my wife tells me!!!!

Phil