Hi all
Thanks for all the help on previous posts, with choosing a motorhome. We will be attending the NEC with a view to finally placing an order.
It has been a difficult decision to make as we have been Caravaners for 30 years and used to having a car to get around from site.
However, children now grown up and flown the nest, we want to have the option to do more ‘touring ‘ in UK and Europe shorter time at stops but still have the flexibility of a week long stay if we wanted to.
We are going to order a MH that can pull a small car of about 1000 Kgs with a fully braked A frame conversion, not all the time but for some of the UK trips.
We have been looking at heavier MH above 3500 kgs or has the option of an chassis upgrade when we order one, as I have always thought it would be better for towing a small car.
However, this year we have been noticing on our travels that many of the MH we see towing a small car are clearly not above 3500 Kgs?
I am licensed to drive above 3500Kgs but would have been happy to have kept to the lighter MH as I am only looking up to 8.00metres to fit on the drive (would prefer around 7.5m )?
We would be looking at towing a Fiat 500 Abarth.
Can any motor-homer tell me what is affected by going for a 3500Kgs max motorhome, which has a towing limit that can take 1000 kgs?
I would go for the larges engine option (160 or 180 on a Fiat with auto box or the 170 with auto box on a Mercedes) but would my payload be affected or is it more relaxed driving with the heavier body?
I understand the issues when towing a car to Southern Europe needing a trailer, but would not bother, taking a car when touring there with the hassle of a trailer.
Any help or advice from someone who currently tows a small car would be really appreciated.
Thanks
Suggestion, based on many years of MH experience (but not answering the weight question). By all means buy a MH that’s compatible. But try touring first before buying the wee car, to see what kind of sites you enjoy (& don’t enjoy) & what parts of UK you want to explore. I say this because I’ve only seen a few towed cars with MHs over the decades, all on big sites with generous pitches & easy site access via main roads. (And several being towed off soft grass pitches.) Not seen any on single track roads with passing places, but that kind of countryside might not be of interest anyway.
It doesn’t take long to unhook a MH & drive away, because you’ll have tidied everything away after breakfast. We also use Park & Ride & the bus network; others take electric bikes. No point booking somewhere for a week then driving off in various directions for 2 hours every days passing other sites en route; might as well plan an attractive route staying a couple of days at each site then moving on.
In the interim, hiring one is a good idea too to see if you actually miss the car.
Fiona puts the case well. We have caravanned for near on 50 years now,and several times considered motorhomes. But you do loose a certain amount of freedom if you just want days out when on a site due to the size for parking. If you lug a car about may as well stick with caravan. If you change to a motorhome you will need to revaluate what you do and where you go. It will be like a fresh start. Worth renting one first as I have seen many times 12 month old motorhomes for sale ,the reason been told buy dealer that buyer had gone back to a caravan. A very expensive loss. I was on a site a few weeks ago next to a motorhome and the wife told me she wanted caravan back, but was husbands decision to change and she had to go along with him,as he did the driving.
Hi Dave, we have moved from caravan to motorhome. Ours is an Autotrail tracker (7.2m ish)3500kg max. V5 says max braked tow weight is 1250kg, our car is 940kg. Tend to forget its on the back at times unless we see it going round an island. We don't always take the car, depends where we go and how long for, if its just a quick weekender, we try a site near town/village etc so we can walk or bus.
While you are at the NEC have a look at the tow frames - some look a lot better than others. Ours is pretty heavy and does fit in the car boot ok. One word of caution, they do not back well, so it is easier to take it off if you have to do any manouvering. If sites are a farm or country lanes we quite often take the car off for the last couple of miles or so. Google is very handy for the last bit of the journey.
Have a look and make sure you'd both be happy to drive it as you never know when the need may arise.
Great feedback so far.
I seem to be more in tune at the moment with George-Mildred.in that it is the flexibility of either or and offering the choice. I am not so concerned about the length towing the car (FionaW) , for at least the last 20 years towing a caravan they have been about 8.00 metres twin axles behind a 4WD.
My current outfit is about 13 metres combined and I have confronted lanes with passing places (albeit with irritation) at not realising the route to a site was down such a route.
It is more for the touring aspect , we go to Europe regularly and Motorhomes are so well catered for there with Aires and stops everywhere .
I suppose in some respects I have had my fill of lugging nearly two tonne of caravan h half way around Europe , but also for the fact that with a small car on tow in the U.K. , means I still have the option of getting around if we were to stay somewhere for a few days or more .
We are now semi retired and have a lot more time available now and want to tour much further afield in Europe.
Juts before the pandemic we towed the caravan to Croatia (Istria) and only had a three week holiday , it was a long and tiring haul .
It was then that got me thinking that a motorhome was probably a better bet , now the children have all left home and I do not mind towing a car on the occasions I needed it in the U.K. .
Another point is that we keep the van at home and still in the same house we bought 27 years ago . In the last few years with new houses being built and traffic flow near our home , now means I have to rely on movers to get the caravan on and off the drive as the road has become narrow and parked vehicles opposite my drive do not give enough manoeuvring room to reverse the van when getting on and off the drive , like I used to be able too.
This would not t be an issue with a MH as I could detach the small car from the Motorhome in a lay by before arriving home , for my wife to follow back . Again small points but makes the whole experience of being away more enjoyable , without the concern on returning home on choosing a weekday to avoid parked weekend traffic so I can reverse on my drive .
Small point but it means I try to plan to return home on a weekday so I can reverse on rather than use the movers and detach in the road. This of course means I can not go off grid on last day before home as need power for the movers
You mentioned the A frame (George-Mildred ) , I have been looking at having the lightweight Tow a Frame , fully braked version .they are light and quick and easy to put on and off.
One other point is that we love going to places like Italy and many of the sites there are small , narrow access and with parked cars all over the place at the end of pitches . The amount of times I wish I had a MH when trying to manoeuvre 13 metres of car /caravan combo off the site in the July /August when the site is full of cars half blocking the roads with cars at the end of their pitches.
Essentially ,I have looked up all the pros and cons now there is just the two of us With much of our touring will now be in France, Switzerland , Italy, Croatia ,etc .
Our favourite U.K. destinations like Cornwall, Wales and Scotland would be the sort of places we would tow the small car., where roads are often narrow and small for days out in all weathers , not having to rely on an E bike in the winter months .
Some Motor-Homers I have spoken with , do not want to tow a car just because they don’t want to tow . it’s not the case for me . I do not mind towing , but I want the flexibility of either and all scenarios.
There are equally some motor-homers I have spoken to on sites , who say they would not be without a car on their motorhome ?
I am just wondering if a 3.5 T motorhome is capable of towing a small car with ease and bug hitting the payload or if it is wiser to go for a chassis upgrade to a heavier 7.5-8.00 metre MH?
Thanks .
https://www.caraman.co.uk/towing-siting-security/towing-a-car-behind-a-motorhome-in-europe/
Apologies if I’m talking nonsense - someone will put me right, nicely.
Reading this article, it seems to say that you can’t easily reverse far with a car on an A frame. It’s not like towing a caravan: that would need the car to be on a trailer (but then you have to get the trailer onto the pitch as well as the MH and car). You may have to reverse several hundred metres & round a corner on some single track roads in Scotland. When I was working in these areas, I’ve been the driver waiting for someone to reverse to their much closer passing place so I can catch the last ferry & it can turn into a Mexican standoff.
Ours tows the car well, with ease? it dents the fuel economy for sure, but so does any towing. We wouldn't go bigger/heavier.
I say go for it, by the sounds of it, if you're thinking of mostly Europe you will be well catered for over there and won't need a car (or trailer) and would you share the driving?
There are other A frame firms to look at - TAF chesterfield, Armitages, Towtal.
If you unhook before you get home, it's ideal opportunity to go shopping and stock up the empty fridge at home
Quote: Originally posted by macquatic on 12/10/2022
Spanner in the works maybe?
It's my understanding that towing with an "A" frame in Europe was illegal?
Errm, OP said he was only planning to use the A-Frame in the UK.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Motorhome - What Weight?
via mobile 12/10/2022 at 1:39pm
