We have today decided to purchase what will be our third van and have gone for a twin axle as the layout and size suits our needs. We have never had a twin axle before and any advice from anyone out there who has, with regards to towing and levelling etc would be very welcome. We have had caravans for a while and my husband and I are both happy with towing, but the thought of a twin axle is a bit daunting. Especially as two days after we take delivery we have to take it on the ferry!
Mandy, friends with twin axles tell me that they are much more comfortable tow. They are not as easy to manhandle on site as you have 4 wheels to turn rather than 2.
A motor mover for a twin axle would solve any problems here but as you are not new to caravanning I am sure you will cope magnificently.
If I had the room at home I would have one. - Enjoy!
We got our first twin axle in April this year, funnily enough it's our 3rd van too. We are really pleased with it. It tows very well, as has already been said it is harder to manover by hand but we had a motor mover fitted, and so far it has done the job. The extra space in the van more than makes up for any problems with manovering as it gives us a great layout.
we got our twin axle in January (also our 3rd van) and have found it easier to tow, it hardly moves. I also find it easier to reverse it than a single axle but as others have said it's not something you can manhandle very well, so that's why we got a motormover fitted. My one concern when we ordered it was the extra length and the fear of hitting something but we've worked out that the distance from the back wheel to the end of the van is the same as our old van so that eased my mind abit and I haven't had any real problems so far (except giving my hubby a heart attack coming out of a tight exit on a cs site). I'm sure you'll love the van as much as we do ours so enjoy. The best bit I love is seeing the look on the faces of people we pass when they realise it's a woman towing this massive twin axle van, priceless
------------- -x- Diane -x-
May 13 - Cala Gogo, St Cyprien (didn't go, hubby too ill to travel)
May 14 Ranc Davaine
August 14 Les Sablons
August 13 - Camping Playa Brava, Pals
Hi Mandy, we have had our T/A for 13 months , we bought it for that bit of extra room even though there is just my wife and i ,all our children are grown up , you will find reversing a doddle , i have a mover fitted and its very rarely used , towing is very steady because most T/A want to go in a straight line , thats why they are hard to turn , i dont think you will regret buying one , in fact after your first trip , you will say what was daunting about that
They are fantastic! they follow the car just the same, just watch when pulling out of tight junctions that you dont tail swipe a car or wall etc.. Dead steady on all roads, easy to reverse, levelling a little bit harder side to side. We back further than needed then put one leveller under the front wheel, pull it slightly more forward than level then put 2nd leveller behind the 2nd wheel and let it back for rock steady and level.
Thanks for all your replies. The van we are buying for those of you that have asked is an Abbey Vogue 2 650. Have wondered whether we may need to have a motor mover fitted, but will try our luck without for now and if need be will have one fitted at a later date. Really looking forward to taking delivery next week. And I guess things like levelling will all come with practice the same as it has with our current van.
we used to have a twin axle delta and to was as steady as a rock on the road, when it came to storage we stored it undercover in a big shed with concrete floor and the trick was to wind the jockey wheel up till the front wheels ( front axle ) was just clear of the ground and then it was as easy as a single axle to move about!
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Topic: New Twin Axle
