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We have a Land Rover Discovery TDi 300 (Diesel) 1996 and are looking to buy a Bailey Senator Louisiana my OH thinks it's to big to tow.  We have never done caravaning before, infact until recently we had never done camping.  Lol...  but we love it, the only problem is I have a spine problem, were by the top three vertibrae are collapsing, and it gives me a lot of pain in my neck.  The dampness in the tent at night, made our three holidays this summer very dificult for me.  So we have decided to go down the root of a caravan.  The one mentioned above is 6 weeks old, and has been fitted with a motor mover and has a full awning, the asking price is  £15,200.00, so it's an absolute bargan!  We love the layout of it, and the solid bed and matress would be great for my neck.  Trouble is we don't know if we can pull it.

The kerbweight for the land drover is 2720kg.   Any help would be greatful, as we are total novices.

Best wishes,

Linda

Thank you for replying Jennifier, it's all new to us!  I will now report back to OH. 

Linda

Linda

I'm very curious as to why would someone be selling a 6-week old caravan?  Are you buying it privately, or from a dealer?

Its MLPLM is of 1695 is quite low for a twin axle and certainly the Disco shouldn't have any problem with it.  Having said that, it will be quite daunting to take an outfit that long onto the road for a first-time tow-er!

Hope it all goes well for you!

Oraya

this web site is useful. You can plug in your van and car details and get an analysis of how well the match will perform.

http://www.whattowcar.com/

Mark

Quote: Originally posted by Ulti-Mates on 12/9/2006

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Linda

I'm very curious as to why would someone be selling a 6-week old caravan?  Are you buying it privately, or from a dealer?

Its MLPLM is of 1695 is quite low for a twin axle and certainly the Disco shouldn't have any problem with it.  Having said that, it will be quite daunting to take an outfit that long onto the road for a first-time tow-er!

Hope it all goes well for you!

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Hi Ulti-mates,

It's from a local dealer who is Bailey registered, the owner of the caravan works there.  He brought it, then decided it wasn't for him.    We have been told it will have all gaurantees etc, so it seems a good deal.  We checked how much it would cost with the dorma awning and MM, it would have cost over 18k, we were looking into buying the Indiana at first, but then thought as this has all the extras, and buy the time we brought the indiana new, and an awning it would not have been much difference in the two prices.  Storage is not a problem, as we own our own funeral bussiness (dare I say that! ), and have a huge garage for over 11 cars.  OH loves the fact that it has a large seperate shower.

The towing isn't a real issue as we have a large car trailer that we use for transporting the 2 Daimler Limo's when they brake down lol...  though granted this is different.  He feels confident, though I have asked him to go on a caravan towing course, as I'm rather nervous of the size.

Linda

Only thing we have to do now it sell two of our cars. One being my baby, so if anyone is interested in our Austin Healy 2 Seater sports car, see this link   And later we will have to sell the Alvis that he has been doing up.  Though that should go for more. Hopefully...

 

Quote: Originally posted by mbeddoe on 12/9/2006

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Oraya

this web site is useful. You can plug in your van and car details and get an analysis of how well the match will perform.

 

http://www.whattowcar.com/

 

Mark

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Hi Mark,

I did have a look at this site, as you mentioned it to some one else in another thread, but I couldn't find our Landrover listed or the Bailey Senator Louisiana.  Thank you for mentioning it though.

Linda

we have a discovery and tow a van thats 1601kg and dont find it a problem. our disco is a 2.5 tdi

Quote: Originally posted by rattyhorses on 12/9/2006

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we have a discovery and tow a van thats 1601kg and dont find it a problem. our disco is a 2.5 tdi

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Thank you for you reply rattyhorses, is your van a double axle?  And what's it like going down hill with such a large van?  So many questions, sorry.  Just trying to convince myself it will be ok with our car.

Linda

If the Bailey is MTPLM: 1695k and the Disco is 2720Kgs then it will handle it no problem it is well within the 85% rule

2720kgs x 0.85 = 2321Kgs so you could in effect tow anything up to 2321Kgs

Quote: Originally posted by oraya on 12/9/2006

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Quote: Originally posted by rattyhorses on 12/9/2006

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we have a discovery and tow a van thats 1601kg and dont find it a problem. our disco is a 2.5 tdi

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Thank you for you reply rattyhorses, is your van a double axle?  And what's it like going down hill with such a large van?  So many questions, sorry.  Just trying to convince myself it will be ok with our car.

Linda

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yes it is a twin axle. its fine going down hills as long as you stick with in the speed limit for the road you are on. i havent experienced any shaking at the back and it is really stable to tow.

your kerb weight is 2720kg divide by 100  X 85 will give you 2312kg 85% rule for you car. so you are well within your towing range for the vehicle you have.

Quote: Originally posted by oraya on 12/9/2006

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The kerbweight for the land drover is 2720kg.

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I think you'll find that 2720kg is the maximum gross weight - NOT - the kerb weight.  The kerb weight for a 300 TDi is 1977kg - so, around 85% of that is the safe weight to tow, i.e. around  1680kg.

The max technically permissible weight for the Bailey is 1695kg, so I suppose the bottom line is that you'll probably be just about OK, provided the Disco suspension is spot-on and you are careful.