Do no caravan manufacturers think about us poor people without B +E licences! As a family of five were looking to get into caravanning but have found very few vans available to us because of the weight restriction. I had hoped that the new bailey vans that are replacing the lightweight GT60 would be lightweight but the ones I saw today were anything but. I got to admit that as one of the little ones has cried all night for the last two nights I now beginning to think that I should have stuck to two!!
There are very few lightweight caravans around, but the Freedom range are and there's also a german make (I think, can't remember the name)that are also very lightweight.
There are also ones like mine, but I wouldn't recommend it for a family of five, even with the awning!
Perhaps you need to put in for the B&E licence. Bet its costly too.
Another alternative is maybe a trailer tent as some of these are lightweight and fold out into lovely spaces!
Although not restricted by my license I think there is a definate niche for more lightweight 'vans. Personally I would like to see narrower 'vans. Our 7ft4 'van just fits down our drive, but a 7ft 'van would make life easier. Sadly to get the spec we want we need to stick to the wider 'van .... unless some enterprising manufacturer brings out a nice narrow, top spec 'van, ideally this would be nice and light too!
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If you look for something older from the 1990s, they were a lot lighter than the newer ones.
It's a ridiculous situation. I know someone who can tow a caravan with a Vauxhal Omega legally, but cannot use his Frontera. Which would be the safer outfit?
Am I the only one who doesn't actually want all the heavy extras they put in the new vans? If enough people ask their dealers and ask the manufacturers about lightweight vans, they will soon bow to demand and build them. Given that the trend for new vans is for them to get heavier, one can only assume that the bulk of their clientele want the extra facilities. However, as more and more people are getting the newer licences, the time must be coming for the caravan manufacturers to consider lightweight, low spec vans for the younger caravanner.
As things are, very few people will go to the trouble of taking an additional test to see if they like caravans. There was a time when people would buy an old caravan to try it, but they won't be taking a driving test as well. Therefore, as the older caravanners give up caravanning for ill health or even death, the next generation won't be taking it up unless the manufacturers change their ethos or the law is changed for something more sensible.
Quote: Originally posted by Trick on 30/7/2010
We have a F/C at the moment but fancy a bit more creature comfort. Looked at the B+E and was startled at the £1000 asking price!
I take it that includes lessons. Sure I read that the cost excluding lessons was around £140
Realistically, if you've got experience of towing, do you really need lessons?
I thought you only needed the B+E licence for a GTW of 3500kg or more - am I wrong?
If so, surely there must be loads of van/car combos that would be under that?
My Santa Fe is about 1900kg and the van (5-berth) is 1500kg max - ok, only 100kg under but it's a German (thus heavy) van and the SF is pretty hefty. A Mondeo estate is lighter and there are several lighter 5-berths around, aren't there...?
BTW, the Adria range is pretty light...
------------- 'In later life, you will be more disappointed with the things you didn't do than with the things you did.' - Mark Twain
Do no caravan manufacturers think about us poor people without B +E licences! As a family of five were looking to get into caravanning but have found very few vans available to us because of the weight restriction. I had hoped that the new bailey vans that are replacing the lightweight GT60 would be lightweight but the ones I saw today were anything but. I got to admit that as one of the little ones has cried all night for the last two nights I now beginning to think that I should have stuck to two!!
Hi, Have you thought about Folding Caravans,solid sides and hard top roof, and weight from 750kg to 900kg, folds down to a bigish trailer,Gobur Caravans inMelton Constable? Norfolk, and Campers and Leisure LTD Dorset, they have a range of folding and pop top caravans,
We have a 5 berth Adria Altea with a MTPLM of 1200kg. It's 2005 and not all singing and dancing but we kind of like it's lack of fuss! But I know just what you mean about the severe lack of lightweight 'vans out there.
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Topic: Lightweight Vans anyone??
