Hello all
I am sat in my tent on a lovely campsite in Bexhill. It has been so cold but now the sun is shining!
Whilst being here, we are surrounded by caravans and lots of people looking warm inside them. We have been weighting up the pros and cons of switching from big tent to caravan.
It is very early in our searching but our basic needs are a four berth that isn't too big and a car that we will need to tow with! We currently have a Zafira 1.8 petrol but believe this won't be powerful enough to pull anythingsufficeint.
I have been looking at tow cars on site, the most popular being the Nissan Navara. There is a Zafira here pulling a massive caravan but that is diesel. Is a diesel car better?
Like I say, at the moment, we have very little experience in this field so any advice would be appreciated.
Oh, and would it be safe to securely fasten four bikes in the caravan whilst towing?pp
We would book ourselves on towing courses as our only experience is with a little camel trailer. We are both pre 1997 passes, my husband rides a powerful bike every day to London and I am a very careful Institute of Advanced Motorist so we are very road worthy in those areas. Thanks x
------------- Center Parcs April 2015
Chestnut Meadows Bexhill August 2015
Once in lifetime trip to Florida Oct 2015!!!
Ditch the Zafira. We started off with a 1.8 petrol like yours - it wouldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding. It was an 07 plate. Thankfully we were able to chop it for a 53 plate Hyundai Terracan.
Happy hunting - look and look and look! (the looking is the best part....)
Quote: Originally posted by chilephilly on 31/3/2013
Ditch the Zafira. We started off with a 1.8 petrol like yours - it wouldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding. It was an 07 plate. Thankfully we were able to chop it for a 53 plate Hyundai Terracan.
Happy hunting - look and look and look! (the looking is the best part....)
Likewise here too and found the Zafira 1.8 petrol under powered and that was with a small 2 berth caravan weighing in at only 1,000 kgs. In comparison diesels are much better for towing as they produce more engine torque for towing plus the kerbweight is slightly heavier too. The last 3 cars I have had have all been diesels plus they are more economical fuel wise too.
We pulled our caravan(Swift Conqueror) fixed bed with our 1.9 CDTi Zafira.It was OK, but not a fantastic towcar for this caravan.It was nowhere near as good as our Vauxhall Frontera Olympus 2.2 Dti.
We are ex campers (I think most are) and we are sitting in our new caravan right now on our first outing. Warm as toast with all the luxuries of home......... Ditch the tent you won't look back.
We have a swift 2 berth and tow it with a Citroen xsara Picasso 1.6 hdi, a little under powered so I'm looking for a ford mondeo 2.0 tdci.
I'm off to my fridge for a cold beer
Thanks all, that gives us some ideas.
Paul-we have lovely cold beer too. Only difference is, ours is in the living area, along with cold parents, cold children, cold chairs...!!!
Enjoy your warm caravan! Even more tempted now.
------------- Center Parcs April 2015
Chestnut Meadows Bexhill August 2015
Once in lifetime trip to Florida Oct 2015!!!
Admire your tenacity for tenting in this cold easterly wind. Good luck with your search for a van tho think it's a bit ambitious to expect your Zafira to tow a 4 berth with all the kit. A 2l diesel would probably be a far better tug, plenty to choose from. Likewise plenty 4 berth vans out there, don't forget to check for damp !
Bikes: best place for them is on the roof of the car. Too much weight in the van or on the rear of the car will make for an unstable outfit.........Mick
We're just in the process of taking delivery of our first caravan (4 berth Swift Charisma 560). Last year finished us off soaked through in the tent! Changed car from 2.0 litre astra diesel to newer more powerful and heavier Cmax 2.0 TDCI. If your unsure about cars weight power etc...www.parkers.co.uk lists all this information.
We love camping holidays and used a good sized tent etc. After snow with the tent last Easter and powercut, plus lots of pitching/striking in rain over last 5 years OH wanted a caravan. Got it last October and been 3 times. It is great as season Is extended and is very comfortable. Just got a second hand awning so there'll still be some canvas which I like 😀 - difference is you don't have to pitch it in the rain as its not got your bed in it! Aim to use awning like we did with tent canopy. Was anxious about towing but I did a day and half course which was great. Our 1.9 dti vectra estate seems to pull a lightweight adria 6 birth ok so far. I think you'll like having a van so take a look at some. Still the main thing is being on a site and the great people you meet and that's the same whatever your staying in.
You could also consider a trailer tent or folding camper. Bit of a 'best of both worlds' option and you could hold off changing the car for longer as well as saving on fuel consumption when towing.
Good morning! I have enjoyed reading through your replies whilst tucked up warm in my sleeping bag!
When towing a caravan, I know the awning is hidden away somewhere, as well as the gas bottle and carriers for water etc but is there anything else I can pop in there, if not the bikes? Just trying to work out where chairs etc go? The carrying of the four bikes is proving very troublesome but I guess if we get a car rather than a high car, we would be able to lift four bikes onto the roof.
I know some people take microwaves, do they need to go in the back of the car?
Also, with leisure batteries -I understood they were used to provide lighting and power to fridge etc but hubby says they are simply there as a back up and you would still need ehu wherever you stay. Is that right?
Sorry for all the questions but I really am a novice ans must find out as much as I can. I would assume it is a lot more expensive that going in a tent too, in terms of servicing, storage (although we have a big drive, it is on a slope up to the flat part) , chemicals for the toilet and other things we haven't yet considered.
I do love camping and, even though I am quite shy, I seem to start conversations with everybody!
1man1dog -- I won't be giving up camping altogether! I plan on keeping my small tent so I can still take the children by myself. Not sure I would want to tow unless another competent tower was present!
Thanks again for taking the time to reply.
------------- Center Parcs April 2015
Chestnut Meadows Bexhill August 2015
Once in lifetime trip to Florida Oct 2015!!!
Davecoaches-funny you should say that! I can't see my little trailer at all and always say I only know it is still attached because the indicators make a different sound when I use them. I don't like how it attaches either, I would prefer a more definite clunk and lock. It never fills me with much confidence and I spend the next five minutes lifting it up and down to make sure it is definitely on!!
------------- Center Parcs April 2015
Chestnut Meadows Bexhill August 2015
Once in lifetime trip to Florida Oct 2015!!!
Quote: I know some people take microwaves, do they need to go in the back of the car?
It can either travel in the car, or on the caravan floor.
Quote: Also, with leisure batteries -I understood they were used to provide lighting and power to fridge etc but hubby says they are simply there as a back up and you would still need ehu wherever you stay. Is that right?
Yes, hubby has it right. We always find pitches with EHU and manage just fine without a leisure battery
Quote: I won't be giving up camping altogether! I plan on keeping my small tent so I can still take the children by myself. Not sure I would want to tow unless another competent tower was present!
There is also the option of buying a smaller caravan, that you may be happy to tow, and using the tent for the children to sleep in.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: The decision has almost been made..
