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Topic: Newbie

Bambos

03/8/2017 at 10:40pm
Location: Milton Keynes
Outfit: Compass Omega 900

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Hi all,

I'm totally new to caravanning and a total novice so please be gentle. I've just brought a 1989 Compass Omega 900. It's been in the same family since new and is immaculate. I'm a little clueless as to information on it as no manual was avaliable and I can't find any info online about it at all, it's like it never existed!

I would like to know primarily if it's braked as I'm concerned about the match with my vehicle, I have a 2008 2.2 diesel Mazda 5 Sport. It appears that if braked I'm fine but unbraked the max towing weight is 600kgs and on the plate inside the front compartment of the van it says max 900kgs.

Sorry if these questions have been asked a million times before I'm just super paranoid about road safety and knowing my caravan as much as possible. Thanks in advance.

Rob and Tina

03/8/2017 at 11:00pm
Location: Royal Forest of Dean
Outfit: Swift Major 4SB

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It is a braked outfit. Only small trailers and trailer tents are light enough to not require brakes.

Rob

Bambos

03/8/2017 at 11:21pm
Location: Milton Keynes
Outfit: Compass Omega 900

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Wow thanks Rob I'm so much more reassured now I was paranoid it wasn't braked and I would wreck the car pulling it

tango55

04/8/2017 at 1:31am
Location: Lichfield
Outfit: Coachman Amara 450

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The easiest way to find out is to look to see if the caravan has a handbrake lever near the hitch which if it has then it's a braked trailer.

SamandRose

04/8/2017 at 2:23pm
Location: Midlands
Outfit: 2019 VW Arteon + 2002 Avondale Dart

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A 'braked trailer' means that it has its own braking system as opposed to being slowed down entirely by the car towing it. Put simply, your caravan will be braked - as Rob says only small trailers and perhaps trailer tents are light enough not to need their own brakes.

The plate inside the caravan should show 2 weights - the unladen weight and the maximum gross weight (referred to these days as 'maximum technically permissible laden mass' or MTPLM, but not sure that was the case back in 1989). The latter is the heaviest the caravan can weigh with all of your stuff in it. But irrespective of which of the weights the 900kg refers to, it should be fine behind your Mazda. Enjoy

Bambos

04/8/2017 at 4:54pm
Location: Milton Keynes
Outfit: Compass Omega 900

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Thanks everyone I feel a lot better about the caravan now. I think I will book it in for a service just to make sure that everyone's working as it should although I've been quoted £185inc VAT but excluding anything that needs doing I'm not sure if this is average so I'll ring around and get some quotes. She towed fine home and is in storage nearby but i'll not be planning any trips away until I've had her serviced. Just a thought, are brakes usually checked during a service?

Mike3003

04/8/2017 at 5:27pm
Location:
Outfit:

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Welcome to the forum. Yes, brakes will be checked during service, it is a main service item. Just make sure it is a full or premium service, not just habitation.

Have fun with your van. 👍😀

-------------
Not ALL Newts get p**sed.

“Semper Fidelis”

Bambos

04/8/2017 at 7:18pm
Location: Milton Keynes
Outfit: Compass Omega 900

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Thanks Mike

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