Myself and my family (3 children and Husband) are looking for our first Used Caravan and looking for the most sensible sized and light caravan to suite our family, preferably with an Awning.
We will be towing the caravan with an Astra Estate 1.7 DTI, but are totally unsure of what this car can pull in terms of caravan size/weight?
Can anyone give us a point in the right direction? Any help would be much appreciated.
Hi, welcome to the site that seems able to answer almost any question!
The critical thing you are looking for is the total weight of the caravan, including the items you want to put in it - this is called MPTLM (Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass) - someimtes also called Maximum Gross Weight in older vans.
The MPTLM should ideally be around the 85% mark of the Gross Vehicle Weight of your car, and not exceed what the manufacturer says you can tow - you will need to check your handbook, or someone else with the specs will be along shortly, I am sure. This is really more important than size/length of van, but generally the longer it is the heavier.
There will be a range of vans to suit your car I am sure, and others will no doubt give their thoughts of specific vans.
Hope this gives you some help in the right direction.
The Kerbweight is 1815Kgs and towing capacity is 1100Kgs so I'm sure there are a few Vans out therer that you will be able to pull. as Viffer97 said look For either MTPLM or Gross weight and these should not exceed 1100Kgs
Thank you to everyone for the information.
I checked the first link and got 1150 towing capicity so at least i know i am in the right ball park now,only problem is finding the right size caravan for the gross weight.A quick look seems to dictate a limited choice of caravans that are 4/5 berth.Looks like it may be a smaller van with anwning and annex for sleeping quarters.
You look to be at about 1100kg base on the 85% rule. I guess you will be wanting a 5 berth van. Lunar and the Bailey Rangers / Discoveries are light weight vans. You need to decide what Layout you want. Get along to a dealer and look at all the different vans and layouts, find a layout that suits then find one that is light enough for your tow car.
Good hunting and welcome to the UKCS
------------- "You can not change the wind, but you can adjust your sails"
I used to tow with a P reg (97) Astra Estate TD and found that it really struggled up hills with my lightweight caravan which is only 750kg fully laden so I've just changed my towcar, if you have one of the newer Astra's they are far better and you will have no trouble at all towing.
HI Papadore,
Yes, our Astra is a 1999 Model and we bought it second hand last year complete with a towbar and 2 electric sockets already on it, so i presume it has been used to pull a caravan in the past??..we have pulled a 5 ft trailer complete with ALL our camping gear in it which must weigh quite a lot fully laden, considering the 6 berth tent we carry is ridicoulously heavy in its own right, then with the chairs tables and gas bottle etc AND the boot full and Roof pod, surely that would amount to a caravans weight?
I will try to stick to the guidelines and gather as much information as possible.
We are only looking to buy a second hand caravan privatly and so weights information etc may not be accessible.
Hi susie yes all that lot would probably amount to a lightweight to medium weight caravan so you might be alright, I will say though that I towed our folding camper with the Astya and it had no probs at all going up the hills but then there was less wind drag as the trailer was well below the height of the roof of the Astra, I think if yours is a newer shaped Astra then they are capable of towing heavier weights than the old shape, shame I had to change the car really as the Astra really was super reliable and great in every other way but towing up hills.
If I were you Susie, I'd try & buy through a dealer, you may pay less buying private but you wouldn't have the warranty to go with it.
I don't know what your budget is but when I bought my first van you could get a starter pack from the dealer to go in your van which included everything you needed to hitch up & go.
Just beware of the dealers trying to tell you that you can pull anything on the forecourt with your car. They're there to sell but you'll find a genuine one if you put your cards on the table regarding budget, car & experience.
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Topic: First Van and Towing
