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Our heavy stuff either goes in the car or under the fixed beds, no big deal.

Anne

Quote: Originally posted by Greendemon315 on 10/3/2010

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No, never needed calculations, but I think you'll find it's not regarded as extreme.

I certainly don't know anyone who travels with anything substantial either high up or at the ends.  Pendulum effect means it's an accident waiting to happen.  Obviously bits and pieces don't matter, but it's important to realise that the caravan has two functions.  One is as a living space, and the other is as a trailer.  When it's used as a living space, things are packed away, and when it's used as a trailer, it should be loaded as a trailer.

If you check your chassis manufacturer's website I'm sure it will say that you should not have weight either high up or at the ends.

It's only a few minutes when you arrive, and not worth any risk at all to save that amount of time.  The balance of a caravan is precarious at best, with windage problems caused by overtaking vehicles.  That's why the 85% "rule" exists, and you shouldn't go up to the max tow specified by the vehicle manufacturer.

I don't see why it would be a problem just to stow everything away when you arrive.

Jim

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I put the awning, 2 chairs and satellite kit over the axle as these are heavy items. The rest goes in the cupboards etc.

I'm lucky in that, in our layout, all the storage is over the axle anyway. We have 3 low level cupboards plus 3 full size shelves in the wardrobe, all over the axle. I put heavy kit like the jack in these.

We have light weight crockery in top cupboard along with clothes and a bit of food. We do a big shop when we arrive for food so dont carry much.

Well done Bailey for considering towing stability in the design. They put all the heavy equipment (cooker, fridge, heater, battery, water heater, over the axle.

Quote: Originally posted by Greendemon315 on 10/3/2010

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No, never needed calculations, but I think you'll find it's not regarded as extreme.

I certainly don't know anyone who travels with anything substantial either high up or at the ends.  Pendulum effect means it's an accident waiting to happen.  Obviously bits and pieces don't matter, but it's important to realise that the caravan has two functions.  One is as a living space, and the other is as a trailer.  When it's used as a living space, things are packed away, and when it's used as a trailer, it should be loaded as a trailer.

If you check your chassis manufacturer's website I'm sure it will say that you should not have weight either high up or at the ends.

It's only a few minutes when you arrive, and not worth any risk at all to save that amount of time.  The balance of a caravan is precarious at best, with windage problems caused by overtaking vehicles.  That's why the 85% "rule" exists, and you shouldn't go up to the max tow specified by the vehicle manufacturer.

I don't see why it would be a problem just to stow everything away when you arrive.

Jim

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     Quite agree with having nothing heavy high up, but maybe someone should have a word with the manufacturers who put micro-wave ovens at eye level.

     Pete.

Hehe - new to caravanning.

Only been out once in the van and hubby took it to the site, pitched it, then came and picked me up from work. So I don't know how he packed it all. I rolled up when the wine was chilled ready to christen the van and dinner was about to go on the table

Seriously though - we had planned where things could go, and we worked on the theory that top lockers stayed empty for the journey, with weight over the axle but enough up front to give a sensible nose weight.

We are off again this weekend - without kids for the first time ever - woohoo And I will be included in the outward journey this time too.

We wouldn't have been going away if we were still using our tent. I love my caravan

Firstly let me say that I am very well aware that the 85% rule is not a rule. That's why I put it in inverted commas.  What would you like me to call it?  Next, even though it's not a rule, it's a widely quoted bit of common sense, so we shouldn't ignore it.

I have no issue with socks and underwear, or even some tinned food in cupboards, as long as they are above the axle.  Top cupboards are definitely out.  We should bear in mind also, that the side to side loading should be equal, and I have a cooker and fridge on one side, which I try as far as possible to balance out.

The main causes of caravan accidents seem to be inadequate tow cars, poor loading, wrong nose weight and speeding, so it doesn't make any sense to ignore any of these areas.

Again, I can't see what the issue is.  Our caravn is in storage, so we normally travel with everything in the car, and from the moment we arrive on site to the kettle being on, with everything stowed away is probably less than 30 minutes.

It just isn't important, but poor loading could be. Why give it a chance to ruin your day?

Jim

this is my second season as a caravaner, and a women tower at that, i got the caravan aug last year, and took it straight to the site with only the aqua roll, waste master, aerial, 3 folding chairs and table in the van, went back home as only 40 mins away, got kids and took everything in the car, this year will be different, will hvae my 3 kids in my car, sis and niece, so 7 in the car, there wont be much space in the car for anything else, i was thinking of going down to the storage with clothes, tinned food etc and putting these in the cupboards, food in the low cupboards, clothes and light stuff in the wardrobe, lockers, was thinking of putting the awning, tv and heavy stuff on the floor in the middle, am i doing the right thing??

dont want to cause a accident and want to get there safely, i could take the van to the site unloaden and my sis could follow in her car with the kids, that means more space in my car for everything, van unloaded, but didnt really want to take 2 cars with us.    

You should be able to do that quite safely, but do be sure not to exceed your MTPLM and your Gross Train Weight (This is easy to do with 7 in the car).

Try to equalise the load from side to side as far as possible.  Don't try to be too exact about this.  Keep the weight low and as near as possible to the axle.

Weight high up and weight at the ends are extremely bad news.

Jim

thanks,going to air on the side of caution, and put as much as i can in the car, under the kids feet etc, (they are use to this with camping trips), then put the heavier stuff on the floor of the van, there should be room for a box of food on the floor, is it ok to put all the bedding in the  storage areas under the seating?? have 3 big understorage lockers and 2 in the dining area??

sorry for all the ??'s but really dont want to be in a acccident, had a near fatal one a few years back, (not involving a caravan, so we are all lucky to be alive.)

No problems about the questions, it's people who don't think about these things who have problems.  I, and I'm sure many people, will be happy to answer as long as you have anything to ask.

Bedding shouldn't be a problem, it doesn't weigh much.  Think in terms of tinned food, things like TV, radio, any items where there's quite a bit of weight in a small volume.

Do be careful not to overload the car, each axle has a maximum weight, then there's the maximum weight of the caravan and the gross train weight.  That's four numbers to check.  It's a good idea to write them down. Commercial vehicles have all that information on a plate, and cars should have both axle weights and the gross train weight on a plate in thedoor frame or under the bonnet.  The caravan MTPLM is something you can get from the manufacturers or someone on here may be able to help.

Jim

Also, be aware of any heavy items loose in the car. Think where they would go in an accident, and pack accordingly.  With 7 people in the car, you may not be able to put much else in anyway.

Quote: Originally posted by Greendemon315 on 11/3/2010

The main causes of caravan accidents seem to be inadequate tow cars, poor loading, wrong nose weight and speeding, so it doesn't make any sense to ignore any of these areas.

Jim

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