Hi all,
I am going to view a coachman mirage 500/5 caravan 1995 as i'm after a double bed at the rear which i can leave "made up". My car is a BMW 3 series 1.8L petrol saloon with a max 85% towing weight of 1177kgs.
1. i have read about this model being "twitchy" when being towed, how can i overcome this as this gives me cause for concern? My last van was a 390/2 & a dream to tow using a renault megane 1.5dci.
2. Has anyone any advice/ideas on other types of vans that i could tow which has the rear dinette also?
any help would be most useful !!!
thank you!
Steve
The weight of a Coachman Mirage 500/5 would be around 1100 kgs. unladen with a fully laden weight of 1400 kgs. so by going on the towing limit of your BMW the caravan would exceed the legal towing cabability. Other caravan manufacturers produce similar layouts and although are quite lighter don't have the same build quality as a Coachman caravan. Below is a link for various caravan manufacturers with corresponding weight limits etc.
Bailey ranger do that layout, I think they are lighter too, I'm not sure of the weights, but coachman are quite heavy vans.
------------- "I'm a fool for my dogs"
Adopt a rescue, rescue dogs make great pets, don't support puppy farms.
The road can be tough and rough,but what you put in you get back 10 x more.
Quote: Originally posted by murano on 09/1/2012
Bailey ranger do that layout, I think they are lighter too, I'm not sure of the weights, but coachman are quite heavy vans.
Murano is quite right, Coachman caravans actually are quite heavier in comparison as I already stated but I think you will find that the earlier Coachman vans are somewhat lighter. Mine is a 1999 Coachman Amara 2 berth which is the basic range the same as the earlier Mirage range. The unladen weight of mine is 984 kgs. and a maximum laden weight of 1300 kgs. which is much lighter than the newer 450 models of the same Amara range. If I bought a new Amara 450 then I would most definitely have to change my towcar accordingly too as the new models would exceed my car's towing capability.
A bailey ranger about that age 500/5 same layout is miro 1000 mass 1250 I don't know if that's still to heavy.but there are lighter vans with that layout out there, good luck with your search.
------------- "I'm a fool for my dogs"
Adopt a rescue, rescue dogs make great pets, don't support puppy farms.
The road can be tough and rough,but what you put in you get back 10 x more.
I don't know all your cars details like age ect, but putting in on what tow car the bailey 500/5 and your car comes in at 85% , as I said I just put in a standard BMW 1.8i with a ranger 500/5
Right tea break over best get back to work
------------- "I'm a fool for my dogs"
Adopt a rescue, rescue dogs make great pets, don't support puppy farms.
The road can be tough and rough,but what you put in you get back 10 x more.
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: towing & weights
