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   Caravans and Caravanning -  Caravan Towcars and Towing Advice 		Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email  Printer Friendly Version Print
Subject Topic: Towcar for a 1450kg van Post Reply Post New Topic
Personrobchester
11/7/2017 at 9:38pm
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Good evening all, i'm looking for some advice on a suitable towcar but I need to get the car first before I can buy a suitable van.

I'm looking at vans with double dinettes (not side dinettes) and rear washrooms, so any caravans where there is a rear dinette in place of a Fixed bed. Something like a Bailey Orion 440, Lunar Lexon 520 or Bailey Olympus 504. Other than the Orion, the other 2 are 1420kg and 1440kg mtplm with 180/220kg payload respectively.

I'm after something for about £6-7k, reasonable on fuel as I have a fairly big motorway commute also and i'm also on a 3500kg licence limit so it rules out big 4x4s.

I was looking at Octavia's but these seem to be fairly lightweight so I dont think they'll be suitable, despite some models having a 1600kg towing limit.

Could anyone point me in the right direction for a suitable vehicle?


Persondiesel steve
11/7/2017 at 9:47pm
 Location: fife
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look at a octavia scout 4x4. it will tow 1600 kgs no problem and return up to 60 mpg


PersonPaul B
11/7/2017 at 10:50pm
 Location: Bradford West Yorkshire
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Finding a suitable match on a 'B' license for a van that size may be difficult. Remember it is the max weights of car and van added together (regardless of how heavily loaded they are) that matters.


In round terms;
3500kg - 1500kg (Caravan) leaves 2000kg available for the car
Knock off a payload of say 500kg gives a kerbweight of 1500kg for the car and you're therefore towing at a 100% ratio

Appreciate that this is very approximate, but certainly highlights the issue that you need to be very careful in your selection... or take the B+E test.


Review here on the Octavia - their 85% match though highlights the point I've made above...
https://www.practicalcaravan.com/reviews/tow-car/31865-skoda-octavia-scout


Personrobchester
11/7/2017 at 10:54pm
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Hence looking for a vehicle with an all up mass of lower than 2000kg and the Octavia has GVW around 1950kg (Depending on model).

If our caravanning exploits continue, then I would probably look to get the b&e to buy a bigger van if I needed it. I'd get something really lightweight but theyre generally out of budget as theyre new vans with lighter materials.


PersonRay Clayton
12/7/2017 at 10:40pm
 Location: Ilkeston. Derbyshire
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Volvo V70 XC
Good tow car.



-------------
Cheers
Ray

Discovery 4 & Bailey Barcelona 4







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Personrobchester
12/7/2017 at 11:55pm
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Thanks for all the replies. I think the honest answer is look for a lightweight van under 1400kg and then it'll give me a few more options of tow car. It was such a tight match trying to get a kerb weight of at least the van weight yet keeping it under the limit for GVW


Persondixon72
13/7/2017 at 1:17pm
 Location: Tamworth Staffs
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Ssangyong Korando worth a look as you get alot for your money


Personpath20
13/7/2017 at 7:26pm
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We towed a Swift two berth caravan with an end washroom with a Vauxhall Meriva . It towed well. Not sure what engine size, I think it was a 1.7 Cdti.Just check towing weight. We now tow with a Vauxhall Antara 2.2 Cdti but we have a heavier caravan,


PersonPaul B
13/7/2017 at 11:05pm
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Quote: Originally posted by dixon72 on 13/7/2017
Ssangyong Korando worth a look as you get alot for your money


Agreed - great tow car, but with a GVW or around 2200kg it is too heavy to keep within the 3500kg of a 'B' license with a 1450kg caravan that the OP was asking about



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