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.
It's probably due to the fact that it costs more to service a twin axle than a single axle caravan and because there is a demand for extra space etc. the manufacturers are still providing the extra room with lower running costs. Apart from that I can't see any other reason why the makers would want to do it.
Maybe they realise that some otherwise potential buyers cant physically live with a twin axle?
We cant as our property's restricted access forces uncoupled and precision manoeuvring, difficult enough with a mover powered single.
size and weight and manoeuvrability must be behind it they vans just seem to get bigger and bigger they seem to be becoming too big for the sites and pitches are we all getting too tall, too 'large' or are we having more people in a van the number of folk you see having difficulties with the bigger vans seems to be more of an issue these days interestingly the Brits are the ones with twin axles abroad not the French, not the Dutch nor the German
Quote: Originally posted by Bill Terry on 20/1/2011
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.
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.
Quote: Originally posted by Bill Terry on 20/1/2011
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.
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.
I would like to see how they make a t/a lighter, to become a s/axle just by removing an axle, They must be cutting back on a lot of weight from somewhere,and not just by removeing an axle? I just cant see them cutting back on so much weight so you can pull the van with a smaller car.
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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
Hi, would have thought that the single axle, would have a heavy duty suspention to take the weight of the removed axle on the van, up side, a couple of extra feet of space,payload a bit more,less cost for mover,easier to manover than twin, cheaper tyre replacement,and would think they would fit tyrone bands to help with the blow out sinarrio..down side as has been said here, a blow out, a twin axle is more stable than single when that happens (seen it happen in front of me at Glen Coe 2years ago van swayed then driver carried on at 50mph with the blow out, travelled for 2miles, stopped at traffic lights examined tyre then carried on for a further 6mile still travelling at 40-60 mph,before pulling in to change tyre), was impressed by the stability of van, Not by the Idiot that was driving.
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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.
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Topic: Twin are now single axle?
