We are looking to buy a caravan later in the year and plan to tow with a renault trafic van. However reading an online manual it does say the caravan ( coachman pastiche) should not be towed with a commercial vehicle? Anyone know anything about this, coachman still haven't replied.
I think all the UK caravan makers have this get warranty get out clause in their small print. All it really means is that some commercials like 4x4 trucks or larger trucks, ie 7.5tonne or over for example might have harder suspension than cars so might cause caravan a bit more stress. If caravan is secondhand & out of warranty the 'warning' can safely be ignored.
I suppose in years past there would have been some truth in it & you could get suspension tow hitches for Land Rovers but even larger trucks nowadays have air suspension & won't harm caravan but probably some dealers would want to get out of any warranty work if they knew you were towing with a van perhaps?
I bought a new Elddis caravan and it's been in twice for warranty work.
Towed it away when it was delivered new with a panel van and towed it to the dealers for both repairs with the same van and nobody questioned me.
I was also not informed of the clause in the warranty regarding commercial vehicles when I told the salesman what I was using as a tow vehicle (Peugeot boxer) when I put the deposit down !
Not sure if or how they check up on this and what defines a commercial vehicle.
You see plenty of caravans towed behind trucks with caravans on the back, so obviously dealers tow like this with flat bed trucks, which you would think would be even harder suspension than a normal panel van!
------------- May 2020 - tbc
7tth August -15th August 2020 trevornick Cornwall
Coachman and Lunar are the only manufacturers that use a different method to join the floor to the upper body.
This when coupled with something that is very rigid can literally shake the van to bits.
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As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
i asked the question to adria when i bought my new caravan as i was going to get a vw transporter crew cab.they came back and said that there was no issues to worry about. i have heard that some hobbys crack the chassis behind where the a frame attaches. my hyundia i800 is basically a van converted.
Quote: Originally posted by old chap on 16/3/2016
On commercial vehicles & land rovers it is recommended to use a DIXON BATE tow hook, this is designed to reduce stress to the caravan due to the hard suspension fitted to this type of vehicles
Hmmm, bearing in mind that many Land Rovers such as Discoveries and Range Rovers have coil or air suspension, I don't think that is a valid comment.
It may apply to the leaf-sprung Series 1, II and III, but you won't see many of those towing new caravans.
As pointed out, condition of caravan warranty is years out of date but as long as the condition still exists then if you tow with a commercial vehicle the dealer could see that as a way of avoiding warranty work on caravan.
It has nothing to do with whether a commercial vehicle has hard suspension that might stress caravan body unduly or not.
I would think towing with a Land Rover or a Transit van in 1970 may well have stressed caravan body more so than a Ford Cortina even if that would not be the case now with a modern Land Rover or Transit but nonetheless the warranty condition is still there so if you tow with a commercial vehicle notwithstanding you cannot really argue if the condition is applied to void the warranty.