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Topic: Advice Please

filrock

27/3/2015 at 8:37am
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Hi All,

just a very quick question. I'm thinking of getting a small 2 berth caravan to restore for my partners 40th. She has always wanted one. And I'm obviously looking at ebay and the possibility of towing it home.
My question is this....do small caravans need fully working brakes to be moved?
An awful lot of the listings state that the lights work etc and it's been moved or can be towed, but not a lot state fully that all the brakes etc have been serviced or maintained fully. It's clearly going to moved slowly and gently I'd expect no more than a gentle 60 on the motorways. And it will get a full service once restoration starts. But I have no actual experience of towing a caravan and thought I'd ask in case it's a huge non starter.
Thanks in advance.
Phil

NickH

27/3/2015 at 8:48am
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Quote: Originally posted by filrock on 27/3/2015
Hi All,

I'd expect no more than a gentle 60 on the motorways.

That's the maximum permitted speed on motorways in the UK

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billy

27/3/2015 at 9:21am
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If you buy an old caravan from miles away & tow it home you take a calculated risk. The more you know about the caravan, the more you can calculate the risk. Speak to the seller, has he used the caravan recently, when was it last serviced, how old are the tyres? No sensible seller will give any safety assurance for an old caravan but they may be able to impart useful info if you ask them questions.

Tyres over 6yrs old, regardless of wear could be perished enough to fail at motorway speeds but provided on inspection you can see no cracks in the rubber you may decide to go with them. Take a pump & inflate to correct pressure & a wheel brace to check wheelnuts, keep towing speed down to about 50 I would. It would also be advisable to check tyres are correct for caravan, ie sufficient load rating.

As for mechanical condition, provided wheels turn it will be towable. I've plenty of towing experience & good mechanical knowledge, I can assess whether caravan is towable based on my own ability even if mechanical condition is not perfect.

I would say provided caravan you are buying has been used for normal purposes fairly recently you would probably be good to go. Collect & get it home in daylight then you will have less trouble with dodgy lights.

If you have zero mechanical knowledge then its difficult to advise because I can only view it from pov of one who would turn up with tools & the nous to make the assessment.

DaveS1

27/3/2015 at 10:32am
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The Road Traffic Act Construction and Use require working brakes on a caravan.
Very risky I would have thought with about a ton weight behind you.
Look on Ebay by all means but you can often pick up a good deal at your local dealer where you will get some guarantee of road worthiness.
Daves1

tango55

27/3/2015 at 12:31pm
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Also, has your towcar got the right towball fitted? If the caravan has a stabliser hitch fitted then you will need an Alko towball otherwise the caravan is likely to detach from a vehicle with a standard towball. Amongst the other things that others have said above there is a lot to learn before just hitching up a caravan and taking to the open road.

I800 dave

27/3/2015 at 6:07pm
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Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 27/3/2015
Also, has your towcar got the right towball fitted? If the caravan has a stabliser hitch fitted then you will need an Alko towball otherwise the caravan is likely to detach from a vehicle with a standard towball. Amongst the other things that others have said above there is a lot to learn before just hitching up a caravan and taking to the open road.

Really? I didn't know some wernt compatible with a normal tow bar! Something for me to look out for when I buy one!

billy

27/3/2015 at 6:11pm
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You are ok with swan neck towbar but with flange ball type you need extended neck & deeper towball to allow clearance at extreme articulation for Al-ko stabiliser hitch. If you are having a flange type towbar fitted then fit Al-ko compatable ball & you are good to go with any trailer hitch.

blueexpo97

27/3/2015 at 6:21pm
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filrock

27/3/2015 at 7:56pm
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Thank you all.
Good advice. Many thanks.

Grampian91

28/3/2015 at 12:40am
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What are you towing it with?

When did you pass your driving test?

Do you know what your vehicles max loading and max tow weights are?

Also have you seen the fixit threads? Sometimes what appears to be a small damp patch could be have the caravan needs a rebuild.

filrock

29/3/2015 at 8:32am
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Thank you. That's very handy to know. I've been driving for 20+ years and have lorry test also under my belt and drive for a living so I'm sensible there. But the weight limit info is very handy. Thank you. Phil

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