My husband had a 10ft caravan he towed with his mini metro
We now have a 12ft Compass 1981 towed with our 3 door Rav4
In the 60's my parents towed a 5 berth all around France and spain with a VW Beetle, complete with inflated Dingy on the roof and 3 kids in the back........
I sure like the Trigano Silver caravans, and one is definatley on my wish list as I drive a VW Golf, great how the roof drops down, I have never understood why all caravans don't offer that feature.
Also as our main holiday will always be the South of France, I noticed in the Trigano Silver info that all thier caravans can go Toll free on the French autoroutes, which for us would be ideal, but the jury's still out between getting a FC or Caravan, both have there pro's and cons.
Quote: Originally posted by LobeyDosser on 30/3/2012
This was our last unit. A 2 berth Sprintaway towed by a 1.4 Clio.
some of the folk on here would need a 4x4 to tow that then write a book on how much the weight is and the fact that the tow ball weight would need to be weighed to the nearest once
I sure like the Trigano Silver caravans, and one is definatley on my wish list as I drive a VW Golf, great how the roof drops down, I have never understood why all caravans don't offer that feature.
Also as our main holiday will always be the South of France, I noticed in the Trigano Silver info that all thier caravans can go Toll free on the French autoroutes, which for us would be ideal, but the jury's still out between getting a FC or Caravan, both have there pro's and cons.
We started our venture into the world of camping/caravanning with a brand new Conway Challenger in 2007 having previously done the odd bit of camping in our youth. Once the family had fled the nest we decided we'd like the freedom of taking off as we wished so thought an F/C would be the best solution (easy towing & storage etc). How wrong we were, we had one of the wettest summers on record & squelched our way through several trips with each one being endured rather than enjoyed. At the end of the 1st season we bedded the F/C down for the winter. Fast forward to the next season (2008)& we set up again for another try, well, one wet trip later with icy temps in May we decided enough was enough & it had to go.
It was while we were looking for somewhere to sell it (Fleabay having produced some stupid offers!) that I found a dealer in the New Forest that sold pop-top caravans & would take our F/C in part exchange & best of all we could tow with the Micra. We part exchanged the F/C for a 1999 Fleurette Tamaris 321T - 2 berth, loo & basin, hob & fridge (no grill as it was a continental spec)but the biggest asset was the pop-top that could be up in about a minute!! The door was on the 'wrong' side but caused us no problems on site.
We have never looked back, we upgraded last year to the Trigano with much the same configuration as the Fleurette but a bit more swanky inside than the Fleurette & with wrap round seating & a grill & even a hand-held shower in the washroom.
I am heavily biased in the pop-top/F/C argument with the pop-top winning hands down, it's easy to tow & set up & as my OH demonstrates when it's raining by knocking on the well insulated walls that we are not separated by less than a mm of canvas between us & the outside elements! When we stop for lunch on the way to wherever, we eat in the van with the roof down, sat on a comfy seat, you can't do that in an F/C.
We have a full awning, we were on a site in Norfolk one year & arrived with this little van & proceeded to set it up, we were, by then, being watched by other campers (as you do!)& we could see them thinking 'poor things, such a tiny van' when we proceeded to erect the awning. it was after this that we were asked 'can we have a look inside please?' We were told it was a bit like the Tardis!! We have just managed to source a lightweight canopy with sides, lighter than the full awning but just fine for the two of us.
Good luck with making your decision, I know what my verdict would be!
Post last edited on 06/04/2012 09:14:43
------------- Harvey 15.8.1995 - 18.11.2010. Run free, sweet boy x
I think it will be a Trigano Silver in the end, the VW Golf can tow any in the range, and still be within the 85% rule.
Thanks for your info and photos, definatley food for thought.
In the meantime though, we are quite happy with the tent, especialy as we only get to go on holiday once a year, for our three week break in the South of France.
But the time will come, when putting up the tent and all the kit, becomes to much of a chore, so I am not looking to upgrade to a caravan, untill maybe 2020!, so plenty of time to save up me thinks. for my 60th Birthday present.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Who is towing with the smallest vehicle?
