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What is the reason for caravan makers gradually moving what was a twin axle model to a single axle, cost of 2 wheels saved, but partly offset but a more expensive single pair?

Personally I like the idea of one wheel still being there in case of a blow out, and these are massive full length caravans now only single axled now.

Quote: Originally posted by Bill Terry on 20/1/2011

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Having a axle less on a caravan doesent mean you can tow it with a smaller car,  plus the van would be less stable than a twin.

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Quote: Originally posted by TonyC52 on 20/1/2011

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Quote: Originally posted by Bill Terry on 20/1/2011

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Having a axle less on a caravan doesent mean you can tow it with a smaller car,  plus the van would be less stable than a twin.

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The OP was about models being re-vamped as single from twin axel. In general, if the result is a lighter van, then it can be towed by a lighter car. You might have to take care but that would apply to any long single axel van.

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I would think that removing an axle would save about 100kg by the time you have two wheels, the axle, the brakes & the alko lock receiver.  Most single axle Baileys (except ther Unicorn) are 1500kg MTPLM whereas the twins are nearer 1700kg.  1500kg tow weight allows cars like Zafiras et al to tow.

Insurance costs are much lower for a single axle, my ins co insisted I had a tracker on an Olympus t/a so as the tracker is a prerequisite, you don't get the 25% insuarance discount for having one.

Ok so a little weight is lost, but do you really want to pull a full length caravan with a light car, I would prefer it to be on twins if the car is marginal.

I would think a little more weight at the bottom would help stability in cross wind situations.

Can understand the insurance thing though as a few years ago some insurers just didnt insure twins, cost didnt come into it.

depends what you mean by a light car   what is required is a something 85% of 1700  which means car x        but maybe 85% of 1500 which means car y     

y is light in comparison to x   thus x is a light car   in fact it is actually a lightER car because a comparison is being made    obviously when compared with car z  x may be lightER or heaviER depending on the weight of z

I think a single axle will tend to be a ligthER van   However, for me it would still be a heavy  - albeit what I really mean is a heaviER  -   van because I prefer my van to be no more than 5m internal legnth

semantics - such  a problem

When I started caravaning a little over seven years ago people I was told by a few people that some sites wouldn't accept twin axles, as they ripped the grass when being manouvered around corners, but also becuase of they where associated with travellers, but things seemed to have moved on, and people seem to accept them more.

I looked at a few recently and really liked them, size and facilities etc, but to be honest, the cost of fuel going up has meant that I've downscaled my car to a more economical model, which meant that not a single twin that I looked at could have been towed by my wheels.

I think the manufacters are just adjusting to supply and demand principals.  More people are interested in the single axles than twin due to the wieght issues.

Tony B52