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Subject Topic: Finally switched to a caravan
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08/11/2019 at 11:00am
 Location: Hampshire
 Outfit: Hi Gear Oasis 8 Voyager 6 Nevada 8
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Well after camping for the last 20 years we've decided to take up caravanning, our eldest girls don't much care for it but our youngest (9) is very excited about the prospect.

We are due to view a Bailey Ranger 550/6 2003 on Saturday, it comes complete with awning and appears to be (from the photo's and sale post) well looked after.

Is there anything I should check apart from the obvious damp and spongy floor when I view? Any advice would be very well received!


08/11/2019 at 12:30pm
 Location: Somerset
 Outfit: Hobby 560 Prestige +VW Touareg
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Can't offer any advice on the caravan, but I have just had to give up caravanning, and have a lot of equipment that you may not have: Aquaroll, wastemaster, electric hookup, mover etc. All used but perfectly serviceable.

Del


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08/11/2019 at 12:33pm
 Location: Harrogate Yorkshire.
 Outfit: Skoda Octavia 4x4 & Compass Omega 482
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Check tyres they may be old, just had my van serviced and been informed they are now just over 5 years old and I should consider changing them. I knew it anyway and had got some prices. Check all the appliances to make sure they all work, ie. cooker, heating & fridge.


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Skoda Octavia Estate 2.0TDi 4x4 (2012) towing a Compass Omega 482 (2014)


08/11/2019 at 12:47pm
 Location: Wigan
 Outfit: VWSharan. Sport 442.
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May be worth while getting it thoroughly checked over.

https://www.mobilecaravanengineers.co.uk/find-an-engineer/

I have no connection with this organisation.


08/11/2019 at 7:29pm
 Location: south yorkshire
 Outfit: coachman Amara 450
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that's a fair sized caravan, have you checked if your towcar is up to it.
stu

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I predict a riot !!


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via mobile 08/11/2019 at 8:35pm
 Location: Hampshire
 Outfit: Hi Gear Oasis 8 Voyager 6 Nevada 8
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I have a Citroen C4 grand picasso so it should be ok, the particular caravan we're looking at has all the aqua roll, waste cassettes and EHU cable, the only thing missing is the motor mover


via mobile 08/11/2019 at 8:51pm
 Location: Royal Forest of Dean
 Outfit:  Swift Major 4SB
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Some Citroen Grand C4 Picasso's have a very low tow weight and would not legally be able to tow that caravan, we know because we had one, you may also need to have have B+E on your driving licence if you haven't already got it.

Rob


09/11/2019 at 12:31pm
 Location: east midlands
 Outfit: swift 530
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https://towcar.info/GB/

towing can be checked on what tow car.

Check the blinds are working and the condition of the fly screens.

A dealer will demonstrate everything

private sale check the documents, crisis registration, service history. If its a private sale definitely pay for a professional check.

I would recommend buying the Haynes caravan manual

Ask for everything to be shown to you as working.

Buying a used caravan advice video linked below

Practical caravan YouTube



11/11/2019 at 8:38am
 Location: West Midlands
 Outfit: Bailey Pageant series 5 Provance
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Damo8604 - We had to get rid of our C4 grand Picasso to tow a 5 berth Bailey. It has a towing weight of about 1300kg. Very poor for its size. but that was the 1.6HDI. I would suggest double checking what yours can tow.


11/11/2019 at 9:43am
 Location: Hampshire
 Outfit: Hi Gear Oasis 8 Voyager 6 Nevada 8
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Quote: Originally posted by Grove Family on 11/11/2019
Damo8604 - We had to get rid of our C4 grand Picasso to tow a 5 berth Bailey. It has a towing weight of about 1300kg. Very poor for its size. but that was the 1.6HDI. I would suggest double checking what yours can tow.



Wow! I double checked the towing capabilities of the C4 (we had the same 1.6HDI), and thought it was adequate to tow. The kerb weight of the C4 is 1505kg and the caravan MTPLM was 1326kg. Given that the caravan was unladen (except the awning)I was led to believe that this was within the parameters for safe towing?

I picked up the caravan yesterday and towed it to the winter storage yard 50 miles away, it towed well and I didn't notice any problems although I stayed at 50mph for most of the motorway journey.

It's going to go on a seasonal pitch next year and the site is 5 minutes from the storage site.

I didn't get it checked by a engineer because the family I purchased it from had a fairly recent service done on it and had all the paperwork.

I'm really excited for next year and it didn't cost the earth, if we find we like it we can look at possibly upgrading to a newer caravan next year.



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11/11/2019 at 8:01pm
 Location: essex
 Outfit: Swift Challenger 570
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Good luck and welcome to the caravan family I hope you and your family have many happy times away.
I had a 2002 Picasso 2.0 hdi and towed a Bailey Ranger 2005 510/4L, my car had a max tow of 1300kg and caravan max 1250kg, family of 4 and 2 dalmations in the boot, never had an issue with stability, it was a great car and the caravan was even better

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its our imperfections that makes us perfect


12/11/2019 at 10:44am
 Location: West Midlands
 Outfit: Bailey Pageant series 5 Provance
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Hi Damo. It will tow it physically. I had to look in to this as the wife is a real stickler for the law. Although the actual weight you are towing may be under the limit, if you get pulled over for any reason, it is based on the max capacity weights permissible. So the caravan may physically weight say 1250kg at that moment in time, but if the plate says it can carry 1550kg then thats what it will be classed as! hense why we ended up changing.
The C4 is great for towing. Espicially with the anti roll back for pulling away on the hills and the auto handbrake off. I do miss ours.

But on the same note, as someone who is mid 30's and generally looks young, i have yet to be pulled or even looked twice at. I have got many friends who have not got the licence to tow over 3500kg but do regularly and have never been pulled at all.


12/11/2019 at 1:41pm
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: 2019 VW Arteon + 2002 Avondale Dart
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Grove Family - what you have said is not my understanding.

Driver's licence requirements are based on maximum plated weights of car and trailer combined - therefore if your car can be loaded to a maximum of 2000kg and the trailer can be loaded to a maximum of 1501kg you cannot legally tow it on a post-1997 'Category B' licence.

However, the towing limits are based on ACTUAL weights. Therefore if the trailer actually weighs 1250kg and is being towed by a car with a towing limit of 1300kg, the combination is legal and it would be of no relevance whatsoever if the trailer was capable of being loaded to 1500kg.

Note that there are no towing laws specific to 'caravans', they are classified as 'trailers' hence the use of this word.

I don't think the key concern would be being pulled over, unless your car and/or caravan were somehow perceived to be in a dangerous condition. Rather it would be your position in the event of you being involved in an accident to which the police were called.

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"Don't wait for the perfect moment. Take the moment and make it perfect."


16/11/2019 at 10:10pm
 Location: Sussex
 Outfit: Vango Solace 400 Airbeam
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Quote: Originally posted by Grove Family on 12/11/2019
Hi Damo. It will tow it physically. I had to look in to this as the wife is a real stickler for the law. Although the actual weight you are towing may be under the limit, if you get pulled over for any reason, it is based on the max capacity weights permissible. So the caravan may physically weight say 1250kg at that moment in time, but if the plate says it can carry 1550kg then thats what it will be classed as! hense why we ended up changing.
The C4 is great for towing. Espicially with the anti roll back for pulling away on the hills and the auto handbrake off. I do miss ours

But on the same note, as someone who is mid 30's and generally looks young, i have yet to be pulled or even looked twice at. I have got many friends who have not got the licence to tow over 3500kg but do regularly and have never been pulled at all.



I think you would find that if either your or your friends were involved in a RTA with a combination over 3,500 kgs, your insurance would be void and you would probably end up with points on your licence, a fine or even removal of your licence. Easier to do the B+E part of the exam. Easily organised, most caravan dealers will know a trainer etc.


16/11/2019 at 10:21pm
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Quote:
But on the same note, as someone who is mid 30's and generally looks young, i have yet to be pulled or even looked twice at. I have got many friends who have not got the licence to tow over 3500kg but do regularly and have never been pulled at all.



I hope they are not involved in an accident, as I don't think their insurance company would be too impressed with that behaviour.


17/11/2019 at 12:19am
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what does the B+E part of the exam entail?

My son pulls a large twin axle (forgot the model) with a new discovery sport and I am convinced he is over the weight limits although he says he has checked and is adamant that he is ok

He has 3 very small children so I find the insurance aspect very worrying, his previous towcar was a ford Kuga which may have just been ok but not this big thing

If the test is not that involved I would gladly organise and pay for it for him



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