New and in need of help! towing
Hi
I have just bought my first caravan. I have spent ages searching for information on towing weight ratios and I am getting more confused. I want to do a course but they don't have any until June and I want to go somewhere a.s.a.p. I need a tow bar first, the best price I have seen is Towbars express on line £438.37, is this good?
Next towing, bought a 1994 Lunar eclipse in the handbook it states Max design weight kg1150 and ex-works weight kg 865. I presume the first figure is the caravans weight?
We have a Peugeot 3008 automatic diesel.
I would really appreciate some help with finding out where to get the info I need. Thank you in anticipation of help/advice
Comments
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there is a review of this car in this months mag.(page 96/97 ) gives a kerbweight of 1480kg and 85% ratio is 1258kg so if your van is max weight of 1150 then your safe to tow. just take it easy for the first few times and stay relatively close to home till familiar with everything. happy towing.
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I need a tow bar first, the best price I have seen is Towbars express on line £438.37, is this good?
There are 3 basic types of towbar. Two bolt flange, swan neck & detachable, whether the quoted price is good or bad depends on what you were quoted for.
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Online is a way of getting an idea of price but also check locally for tow bar 'specialist' who may be more convenient and even price match.
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Thank you for your replies. I have booked a fitting of the tow bar (£350 all in) and found out the max tow weight so I am feeling a lot calmer. The next issue will be driving it for the first time!!!
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Talk to local professional driving instructors to arrange one to one towing instruction quicker than waiting for a Club sponsored course.
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Hello and welcome 😃
You can always book a course privately with local instructor , possibly using your own vehicle and caravan to gain your confidence 😉. Never towed but my licence allows it would want advise on hitching safely etc as well as towing myself. Wouldn't want to loose out on my investment on the first outing!
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When having the tow bar fitted advise the company that your caravan has the two 7pin plug leads (i think at that year) black for caravan road lights and grey for internal caravan electrics,as they will these days fit a 13pin socket as standard so you will need an adaptor cable 13pin to the two 7pin sockets
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Don't forget to tell your insurance company.
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There is loads of advice and video on the Advice and Training tab above that is worth a read.
Towing is relatively simple - just remember how long your unit is and so take corners more steadily as the van does cut across the apex of a curve and remember that accelerating away (at lights, overtaking etc) is slower - well it is with 1500kg on the back!
Don't worry. take your time and enjoy your new hobby/way of life.
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Good adavice I always did/do but last two times they weren't bothered at all but said they would make a note of it - there should be no increase in premiums btw
sorry CY - do you mean towing or fitting a towbar I did both and they weren't interested
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Our instruction in towing consisted of my father in law (experienced caravaner) following us for about 30 minutes on our first tow, and he gave the advice listed above as well.
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Thanks for all the great advice. Much appreciated. Initially the most difficult part will be towing from the back garden along the side of the house with only about 2inches on either side! through 2 gates.
I told the insurance company, they were apathetic.
Thanks again
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If its that tight, investment in a motor mover could be a wise investment. They do allow you to get in tight spaces slowly and easily without any panic. Plus it reduces the need to reverse with the car and we have had to do so on some really tight pitches abroad!
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£345 looks very cheap for a towbar fitting, I would want to know the make involved and check to see what others say about the fitter.
Do make sure he knows you are towing a caravan as they require two extra cables as against a standard trailer. Not sure how old the car is but it might need programming to make the electrics work and if the car is under guarantee a Peugeot specific part. Not my subject really but I did have to fit the makers own part to preserve the guarantee.
As far as towing goes I would give it a go. It is not difficult and for hitching and pitching there are very good videos on you tube. Just take it easy and allow more room on slow bends. Towing mirrors are a legal requirement so get a decent pair.
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I am a woman who tows alone. I have to admit, it was terrifying when I first hitched up and set off. Now, it's ok.
I make a checklist for hitching up and tick it off before I hit the road- because a hitch up #*!@ up is the first way to caravan disaster!
Buy a motor mover. Its too stressful without.
Go slow. Don't let anyone rush you. They won't be paying for your caravan repairs.
I get myself to summer festivals with friends. The more you go, the more you meet.
It's actually very nice having the caravan to yourself. Have fun!
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If your caravan has an Alko chassis you need to make sure you have a tow bar with a swan neck ball fitted, and you do need to remove all the paint from the ball with emery paper, then clean it with brake CLEANER before you use it to tow your caravan, regardless of the make of chassis. There mustn’t be any paint, or anything greasy, on the tow ball -very important.
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Not really correct there Lornalou. A 2 bolt flange tow bar will come with a tow ball NOT suitable for an Alko hitch unless specifically advised. An Alko suitable 2 bolt tow ball has a longer neck to give added clearance under the ball unlike a standard 2 bolt tow ball. Swan neck & detachable bars do have the required clearance though.
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Hmm! Just looking at this thread via my profile because I made some comments earlier on. It’s showing that my last comment has had the content removed. I just want to say, the comment was not Deleted User by a moderator (as far as I know) because I Deleted User it myself, having realised I’d made an error in my reply to another poster.
Definitely don’t want a reputation for having posts removed because they’re rude to other forum members, or contentious in some way. Just saying 😕
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