I’ve never had my own caravan and we are looking at having a go but we are not sure whether to go for a single or twin axel. We love layouts with a side dinette and want 4 berth minimum; we have a 9 year old and two dogs.
Are there restrictions at campsites, particularly the camping and caravan club and the caravan and motorhome club sites? We are worried that we would be restricted with the sites we want to stay at.
Most club sites don’t care whether you have a single or twin axle caravan. Pitches tend to be a good size and can take most twin axle caravans (as long as they are not the really massive continental ones that you need a huge car to tow). The only thing that is likely to restrict your choice is the car you plan to tow it with. For a novice to caravanning, the recommendation is that the caravan should not be heavier than 80% of the kerbweight of the car and you are asking for trouble if the caravan is heavier than the kerbweight of the car. When you look at the specs of some cars, they will specify a towing limit that is far heavier than the kerbweight but that is just the maximum that the car is able to get moving. It doesn’t mean it is safe! Before you decide what to buy, find out the kerbweight of your car!
Echo what Pixie said above and I would also suggest a towing course if you have never done any towing before, could be really useful. here should get you started.
There are plenty places online to look for car matching weights to caravans to help you. NEVER trust a caravan dealer that tells you your car will be fine to tow (unless you have something really on top of job already) they are just after a sale. You need to do the maths yourself.
Purely from a towing perspective we have always found a twin axle to be more stable on the road than a single axle. You will be fine on most sites, will always be a few that say unsuitable for twin axles due to access etc. We managed fine with a twin and a pickup, just need to be careful and plan routes and follow the site info on best route into site.
Cons first.
You'll have the extra cost of changing 4 tyres EVERY five years instead of 2 (they need changing on AGE not wear, as they deteriorate and risk blowouts).
Servicing is more expensive on a twin axle - twice the time and parts used compared to a single.
Some sites won't accept a twin axle regardless of size. Twin axles tend to plough up the ground on very tight turns!
A twin axle is also usually a longer caravan, and some sites restrict length of outfit they can accept for practical reasons of site access, manoeuvring space and pitch size.
Being a generally heavier caravan, your tow car needs to be legally and physically capable of towing it, and you'll likely be looking at larger engined heavier tow cars than a similar lighter single axle may demand.
It'll be a large van, consider storage when not in use.
Pros
Tend to be a more stable tow (but a single axle properly loaded can be perfectly stable too! - there's an awful lot of us out there who have no issues at all!).
Van tends to be larger with consequential benefits of internal features/layout.
The point of twin axles is purely the load carrying capacity of the chassis/axle/tyres, many a largish van on a single axle is close to the max permissible load for the van chassis, axle AND tyres. The second axle allows larger/heavier caravans to be possible.
Whilst the CAMC and CCC clubs don't have blanket bans on twin axles AFAIK, they certainly do have limitations on van length at some sites (regardless of axles!). You may find your greatest restrictions on twin axle with the clubs privately owned but affiliated (members only use) 5 pitch CL and CS sites as they are often more compact and located in harder to access locations. Don't just dismiss them, they can be wonderful sites in delightful locations, and many people only belong to the clubs to be able to access these sites.
Commercial/private sites make their own rules, so you'll have to check them individually to see their policy on twin axles, but certainly some will reject, and once again van length may be an issue regardless of axles.
I’d be wary of towing any caravan on single track roads with passing places (eg Mull, parts of the NC500) unless the driver is proficient at reversing round tight blind corners when the vehicle coming in the opposite direction can’t go back. (eg continental folks in a RHD hire car freeze up for some reason, 8m long newly hired Motorhomes ditto.) I speak from experience, with us in a 5.3m MH.
Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 23/9/2025
I’d be wary of towing any caravan on single track roads with passing places (eg Mull, parts of the NC500) unless the driver is proficient at reversing round tight blind corners when the vehicle coming in the opposite direction can’t go back. (eg continental folks in a RHD hire car freeze up for some reason, 8m long newly hired Motorhomes ditto.) I speak from experience, with us in a 5.3m MH.
Believe me Fiona, ANYWHERE with single track roads, you will meet people who can't/WON'T reverse for you, even if in a solo car, so you have to reverse the caravan! In Devon, I met a tw*t who couldn't reverse his Mercedes convertible more that two car lengths without running it into the hedge! - he was only 30 yds from a passing place on his side of road! - I had to reverse his car out of the way for him (or reverse caravan 1/4 mile!!!)!
When I first got my caravan, the warden at my storage yard was a Scot, and he enthused about the NC500, almost insisting I 'had' to do it. A bit of independent research convinced me the NC500 proper was no place for a caravan, parts of it were doable, other parts were really only for modest MHs/campers and a caravan was a nightmare vehicle. I'm a fairly competent driver/tower, but really don't seek entry into the Guinness Book of Records for the longest/wiggliest caravan reverse!
As you have already looked at internal layout I really wouldn't get too hung up on single or twin axle, as Monty says, their are pros and cons to either.
Hi Monty, I had a similar experience years ago when I stupidly took notice of satnav and ended up down a single track road. I was fine, until about 30 yards from the end of the road, a knob head turned into it. I stopped, he stopped. I gestured (politely) that he moved back, but he gave me the finger. I got out of the car, unlocked the van door. He came over and asked what I was doing. I told him I'm going to make a cup of tea, would he like one? He reversed shortly afterwards.
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Topic: Twin Axel or Single Axel?
via mobile 22/9/2025 at 6:14pm
