Hello,
We are hoping to get into caravanning in time for next year. We have owned an old van several years ago but only managed one local weekend away in it before it met its maker...
Our major concern is a really tight budget for both a tow car and caravan of approx 2-3k for the car and 2k for the caravan. We are hoping to get the car in the next few weeks and the van in January when they are hopefully a bit cheaper and, as we are both mature students it ties in well with our income dates. My licence is pre 97 so that's fine, my wife has an auto only licence but is aiming to practice in a manual and taking her B+E test in a manual thus killing 2 birds with 1 stone.
We have 2 teenage children with the youngest pushing 6ft so thought a 5 berth with 2 doubles may be our best layout. I have been looking at 4wd cars but as long as it is manual I am not too fussy. We had thought of sleeping in an awning but are hoping to get away as much as possible throughout the year so this may not be suitable on chillier weekends. I have found a storage location close to me at Heathrow Airport that charges £40+vat per month which I felt was reasonable considering the convenience of the location being less than 5 miles away.
My main reason for posting other than to introduce ourselves to the site was to get peoples opinions on possible tow cars and caravans and any handy advice that may not be shown in the already extensive features and tips section of the site.
Personally I wouldn't consider towing with a manual. Automatic is so much easier and smoother. I gave up on manual gearboxes back in the early 1980s.
There should be plenty of decent cars and caravans around at that budget. I would also probably spend a bit more on the car and a bit less on the caravan. When I bought my caravan 3 years ago I found that there was very little difference between a £2,000 van and a £1,000 van. In fact some we saw at over £1,500 were actually in worse condition than the one we bought for £500.
Hi Mark,on that budget I'd get a Ford Mondeo ( Standard fayre for driving and mechanics etc) and a cheap trade in caravan from a reputable dealer. If you've a mind to, The Netherlands is awash with older reliable caravans. The Dutch don't care about having new models with all the bells and whistles. Obviously make sure about towing weights etc etc..
Why do you need a 5 berth with 4 of you, or am I missing something ?? What are you studying ??
As a driving instructor, I thought that bit about killing two birds with one stone did not sound right. So I asked a fellow instructor who does B+E tuition and he says that "she is not entitled to take the test in a manual as her B license is only for an auto. The +E is an add on to the B licence so if you passed your test in a B auto that's all you can drive for the B+E classification" So if you want her to drive manual towing, she will need to do the normal test in manual first. Thought it best to give you the heads up before you get too far down the road. Anyway, we tow with an auto now, having thought we never would, and find it great. No problems at all.
------------- Alan
2016
February C&CC Theobalds Park
March C&CC Salisbury
May C&CC Adgestone IOW
July Le Clos Auroy, Auvergne France
August C&CC Polstead
August C&CC Oxford
October C&CC Lauder
Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 23/8/2016
Personally I wouldn't consider towing with a manual. Automatic is so much easier and smoother. I gave up on manual gearboxes back in the early 1980s.
There should be plenty of decent cars and caravans around at that budget. I would also probably spend a bit more on the car and a bit less on the caravan. When I bought my caravan 3 years ago I found that there was very little difference between a £2,000 van and a £1,000 van. In fact some we saw at over £1,500 were actually in worse condition than the one we bought for £500.
Thanks for your reply.
I wanted a manual as my wife only has an automatic licence and would need to take a B+E test anyway so the miser in me thought 'why not do the B+E test in a manual which would convert her automatic licence to a manual one at the same time?'
I do see your point about the difference between a £1000 and £2000 van and will look at some in that price range too.
Quote: Originally posted by naturalblonde on 23/8/2016
Hi Mark,on that budget I'd get a Ford Mondeo ( Standard fayre for driving and mechanics etc) and a cheap trade in caravan from a reputable dealer. If you've a mind to, The Netherlands is awash with older reliable caravans. The Dutch don't care about having new models with all the bells and whistles. Obviously make sure about towing weights etc etc..
Why do you need a 5 berth with 4 of you, or am I missing something ?? What are you studying ??
Good luck with it all
Rob
Thanks for the reply,
I had looked at the Mondeo and it is high up on my list of possibilities for just the reasons you state. I am wary that the costs involved with a trip to The Netherlands may outweigh the savings at this end of the market. The only reason we are considering a 5 berth is that as far as I understand the bunks in most vans are limited in space and my daughter may be too tall.
I am studying Criminology and Sociology and my wife is Studying Public Health.
Quote: Originally posted by Alan Chilestone on 23/8/2016
As a driving instructor, I thought that bit about killing two birds with one stone did not sound right. So I asked a fellow instructor who does B+E tuition and he says that "she is not entitled to take the test in a manual as her B license is only for an auto. The +E is an add on to the B licence so if you passed your test in a B auto that's all you can drive for the B+E classification" So if you want her to drive manual towing, she will need to do the normal test in manual first. Thought it best to give you the heads up before you get too far down the road. Anyway, we tow with an auto now, having thought we never would, and find it great. No problems at all.
Thanks for the reply, I had received different advice and in fact the .Gov website states that this is possible. https://www.gov.uk/car-trailer-driving-test/car-rules
If you look at the table towards the bottom of the page it states that this will convert her auto licence to a manual one. I am still sceptical about this and will contact DVLA for clarification as the accuracy of the site may be a little wayward.
I would always use a manual!
Those instant/quick decisions, which an auto does not necessarily make ... e.g. overtaking an artic, going uphill, and a quick change from 5 to 4 does the job more efficiently, where an auto might keep you in 5 'cause it's theoretically OK ... 4 gives more acceleration.
Just an example.
Quote: Originally posted by Alan Chilestone on 23/8/2016
As a driving instructor, I thought that bit about killing two birds with one stone did not sound right. So I asked a fellow instructor who does B+E tuition and he says that "she is not entitled to take the test in a manual as her B license is only for an auto. The +E is an add on to the B licence so if you passed your test in a B auto that's all you can drive for the B+E classification" So if you want her to drive manual towing, she will need to do the normal test in manual first. Thought it best to give you the heads up before you get too far down the road. Anyway, we tow with an auto now, having thought we never would, and find it great. No problems at all.
Thanks for the reply, I had received different advice and in fact the .Gov website states that this is possible. https://www.gov.uk/car-trailer-driving-test/car-rules
If you look at the table towards the bottom of the page it states that this will convert her auto licence to a manual one. I am still sceptical about this and will contact DVLA for clarification as the accuracy of the site may be a little wayward.
Interesting. Yes the site is not known for its accuracy (Caravan length debate) It might be worth contacting DVSA (as opposed to DVLA) as they are the Agency who conduct the tests, and they may refuse to take test out if licence is B Auto and Car is manual, and that is a big test fee to lose. (Two Agencies, different roles, similar initials, how to confuse the public!)
------------- Alan
2016
February C&CC Theobalds Park
March C&CC Salisbury
May C&CC Adgestone IOW
July Le Clos Auroy, Auvergne France
August C&CC Polstead
August C&CC Oxford
October C&CC Lauder
I had the Mondeo 2.0TDCI with the tiptronic 5 speed auto box. It was fine for towing the caravan but only if I used the manual changes system. Very easy to change gear and the box was bullet proof with no dual mass flywheel.
However, fuel consumption really suffered on round town driving and this made it £250 or so road tax.
I can see some logic in converting the auto to manual licence in a B+E test. If she can manage the stick and the clutch with the van on the back she should be safe to do so without it as well. Having to take the whole driving test again seems a lot for what is only a very small part of the skills required.
Quote: Originally posted by Kelper on 23/8/2016
I would always use a manual!
Those instant/quick decisions, which an auto does not necessarily make ... e.g. overtaking an artic, going uphill, and a quick change from 5 to 4 does the job more efficiently, where an auto might keep you in 5 'cause it's theoretically OK ... 4 gives more acceleration.
Just an example.
Just personal choices, I think Kelper.
If I want to make the manouevre you describe with my Volvo automatic, I just use kick-down. Makes the change down instantly, certainly much quicker than I could do it, and I was for many years a professional driver. With an auto, power delivery is instant and gear changes seamless, making them ideal for towing, in my opinion. I also detest all the clutch work in traffic. Auto is just so much more relaxing. You still have the option to use the gears in an auto if you want to, and with a torque converter auto like mine, you have a wide range of gear ratios not just 4/5/6 fixed ratios.
Still, as I said, just a matter of personal preference really.
I think a proper auto is nice but a double clutch thingy is not a proper auto ,we had a passat dsg box and it was not good problems galore.but we also had an old merc with a proper auto and it was brilliant
Yes, I am a bit wary of the DSG gearboxes yrret. I like my old Volvo, with a conventional torque-converter auto. A 4-speed auto with a torque-converter gives the effect of having at least 8 gears, due to the controlled-slip effect. Great for pulling away uphill with a load on or a caravan/trailer in tow.
Thanks everyone for your replies. After finding out that trying to get an answer from DVSA was about as sensible as a chocolate fireguard and reading some opinions here, we have decided to stick with an automatic.
I do agree about the semi automatic boxes as I have had a fiesta with one and the changes do not fill me with confidence.
It looks as though we will be going for a Zaria diesel auto around 9 years old. I want the elite model as I understand it has a towing stability aid built in and the suspension rides higher than the SRI which is the other model that has that feature. This leaves us just over 1300 kg for a caravan that would mean my wife will not need to do a B&E test😀. I'm hoping this is a reasonable mltpm for an early 90's 4/5 berth.
Thanks again for all of your replies and I certainly feel this will be the first of many posts here.
You are welcome, mjl7972. This is a great forum, and I have learnt a great deal from others on here. Ask just about anything, and someone will know the answer. A lot of very helpful folks on here.
Just a little tip. If you post the area where you live (just the county will do) you may find someone who can help nearby. They will have local knowledge of suppliers at least.
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Topic: Newbie advice needed please.
