Twin axle vs Single Axle
I've been towing single axle caravans for over 26 years but I am beginning to wonder if a twin axle might suit me better. My main concerns about getting a twin are two fold:
Manoeuvrability: I know that everyone says that twin axles are less easy to manoeuver onto a pitch and I have a particularly difficult reverse onto my "home" pitch which I need a mover to accomplish. So, if you have a mover fitted, possibly one for each
wheel, are the monoeuverability issues solved?
Getting level: I've seen numberous twin axles that are no where near level on a pitch, probably because a lot of the CLs I like to use are not the most level of places! However, there are now automatic leveling systems available so do these solve the problems
of getting the van level?
I would be really interested to hear other members views on the benefits, or otherwise, of twin axles.
Comments
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If you have a huge heavy van there is no doubt that a T/A is best. Stability is much better than a single axle. ----An underslung fresh water tank can be fitted with ease
The trade off is in moving the van in tight spaces and in particular if you want to turn the van around in its own length. Even with a motor mover the maneouver can be challenging.
Best of luck in your choice.
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Provided you have the car to tow it a twin axle should be more stable. A motor mover will cure any manouvering problems, it should be no harder than with a single axle.
The point about slopes is valid in that you will rely on one axle on some slopes but not sure it is a problem.
The extra axle adds some weight and you will get some tyre scrub on bends which will increase fuel useage though.
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Please excuse my naivety, but where does one really have an option of choosing between a single or a twin once one has decided on the layout that suits one's taste and requirements? I can't think of any examples where that is the case, and certainly not
of the same manufacturer. Surely the question single/twin is therefore rather acedemic.1 -
We have a T/A.....Sterling Searcher....1900kg MTPLM
It tows very well, very stable.
Levelling is no problem, we carry a long decking board plus several short boards.
Mover is essential for us, but we only have a 2 wheel one to save weight. It does what we need.
If you have difficult access, a 4 wheel one will be better. It will turn almost twice as well as a 2 wheel one.
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Please excuse my naivety, but where does one really have an option of choosing between a single or a twin once one has decided on the layout that suits one's taste and requirements? I can't think of any examples where that is the case, and certainly not
of the same manufacturer. Surely the question single/twin is therefore rather acedemic.These days you can often get the same layout on a single as on a twin, but the twin is of course a bit longer and therefore more spacious. So you need to make the choice.
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We found no difficulty in levelling our twin axle when we had one - boards for lateral levelling and initial longitudinal levelling wasn't difficult with the jockey wheel; all reinforced with corner steadies. But manoeuvring by hand was very difficult with
the weight and a determined reluctance to swivel on the wheels. We carried a heavy duty nylon strop to haul the tow bar around with the other end attached to the car (all pre motor mover days) Our last three vans have been single axles.0 -
These days you can often get the same layout on a single as on a twin, but the twin is of course a bit longer and therefore more spacious. So you need to make the choice.
But size is not a criterion which determines whether a caravan is a single or a twin. Weight is. I don't know of any single axle on the market over 2000kg (yet, although they are apparently in the pipeline).
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We saw a caravan arrive on site the othe day and it looked massive! I automatically assumed it was a twin, but the next morning I saw that it was a single axle (Swift Conqueror, I think). I'm sure it was far longer than what used to be twin axle a few years ago. Surely it cannot be right to have all that weight on one axle?
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Thanks for the replies!
Whilst I agree that layout is probably the most important thing, some of the layouts and space I would like are really only available in twin axles. But I'm not sure the comprise on manoeuvrability is worth it.
can anyone comment on how a twin with movers on each wheel compares to a single axle?
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I have just changed from a single axle to a twin. This was to give us more space inside, especially in the wash room. Both have been fitted with Reich motor movers
My single axle used to turn in it's own length as the wheels would turn in opposite directions. Apparently you can't do this with twin axles, when you have a mover fitted to all 4 wheels, and therefore the turning circle is much larger. At the end of the
day I can park it in the same place as the single axle, it just takes a bit longer!As an aside I replated the caravan to take account of the weight of the motor movers.
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can anyone comment on how a twin with movers on each wheel compares to a single axle?
Nothing like each other. A single axle can be spun round in it's own length, a twin needs a series of turns & shunts to take the side ways load off the tyres.
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These days you can often get the same layout on a single as on a twin, but the twin is of course a bit longer and therefore more spacious. So you need to make the choice.
But size is not a criterion which determines whether a caravan is a single or a twin. Weight is. I don't know of any single axle on the market over 2000kg (yet, although they are apparently in the pipeline).
The UK manufacturers seem to favour a T/A set up for their longer, and of course heavier, vans.
I think the longest UK built single axle is round 7.6m, while the T/As are 7.9+m. Ours is 7,95m, others are 8m+.
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I've been towing single axle caravans for over 26 years but I am beginning to wonder if a twin axle might suit me better. My main concerns about getting a twin are two fold:
Manoeuvrability: I know that everyone says that twin axles are less easy to manoeuver onto a pitch and I have a particularly difficult reverse onto my "home" pitch which I need a mover to accomplish. So, if you have a mover fitted, possibly one for each
wheel, are the monoeuverability issues solved?Getting level: I've seen numberous twin axles that are no where near level on a pitch, probably because a lot of the CLs I like to use are not the most level of places! However, there are now automatic leveling systems available so do these solve the problems
of getting the van level?I would be really interested to hear other members views on the benefits, or otherwise, of twin axles.
We chose our 'van based on its layout. It happened to be a twin. If the same layout had been available as a single we would just as easily have gone for it, but I am pretty sure it wasn't.
this is our third twin though and I have to say overall I prefer how they behave on the road, all ours have been very stable.
As for movers? We have a Powrtouch Evolution on the front wheels and yes obviously the turning circle is greater but this is no real great hardship. You soon get to learn how to manage this. I can easily park our 'van on its storage pitch in minutes, the
same on site.the only real disadvantage to having two wheel drive is to do with traction. If I am moving our 'van in reverse and the rear wheels rise this can lift the front wheels slightly and they lose traction. If the rear wheels were also driven this wouldn't happen.
I now carry some small pieces of wood to slide under the driven wheel, it then climbs onto this and regains traction. I have only had to do this once.levelling is not an issue, I just carry two Milenco aluminium levellers. Again a bit of practice needed but no,problem now.
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T/As:
-are-very stable during towing, and usually come with shock absorbers as standard.
-tend to cause more pitching of the towcar,since the van cannot rotate freely about a single axle. This effect is more noticeable on short wheelbase cars.
-levelling is slightly more of an issue, requiring either 2 ramps or a Lock n Level (if you don't want to carry heavy levelling boards)
-fitting of 4wd movers will almost certainly require removal of the jacking points (use Lock n Level instead), and:
-require any underslung spare wheel carrier to be re-located with a kit, or the wheel alone to be re-located to the car or inside the van
-with a mover you will never achieve anything like the turning circle of a single - you just need to allow for a bigger turning circle, and shunt bacla and forth a bit
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-require any underslung spare wheel carrier to be re-located with a kit, or the wheel alone to be re-located to the car or inside the van ....
I have a Coachman 620/4 twin axle with all wheel movers and the spare wheel is still in its under slung carrier
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We have just gone from a fairly heavy single to probably the lightest t/a on the market - both weigh 1586kg MTPLM and both had payloads over 250kg so the twin mover still left plenty of weight. The t/a is the Sprite Quattro EW (dealer version) and the previous
van was a 2010 Moonstone. Towing comparisons are difficult insofar as we also changed the car between vans although I had shockers fitted to the t/a -they were not part of the spec. Levelling is slightly more of a time consuming task and not being able to
spin it in its length has required me to change my parking routine by the house but not a major issue. I do think the fashion for t/a's seems to be of a British thing and wonder when UK manufacturers will start using the longer single axle Alko chassis that
Adria use and which gets good towing reports, Will certainly help reduce weights significantly.0 -
Sorry, can't help with your first 2 questions, but the EP levelling system would level the van with ease and also make wheel locks easy to fit. Buccaneer now fit this system as standard
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These days you can often get the same layout on a single as on a twin, but the twin is of course a bit longer and therefore more spacious. So you need to make the choice.
But size is not a criterion which determines whether a caravan is a single or a twin. Weight is. I don't know of any single axle on the market over 2000kg (yet, although they are apparently in the pipeline).
Write your comments here...Hi Lutz you have just let me down!! I believed that you knew everything or at least knew where to look
.Just
a thought what will be the tyre pressure needed on a single axle 2000 kg. poeple panic when they have to put in 65psi.Steve
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Thanks for the replies!
Whilst I agree that layout is probably the most important thing, some of the layouts and space I would like are really only available in twin axles. But I'm not sure the comprise on manoeuvrability is worth it.
can anyone comment on how a twin with movers on each wheel compares to a single axle?
When we got our first twin axle van last year we used a twin mover on 1 axle only, for the amount of moving and corners we need to get around at home this was no good, flattening the battery before finishing the move. We invested in a new quad mover and
it it fantastic, we use the mover to reverse off the road onto the drive, stright reverse up the drive 4 cars lenght and then around a right angle bend to its storage point. The single had to rock back and forth to get around the corner but the quad moves
it around in 1.Towing is more stable than the sinxle axle vans ive owned, loads more space inside. BUT we do consider wher we take the van 7.9 meters long with a large 4x4 onthe front is a big outfit, for some no problem but for us we like to plan to ensure we dont get
any problems on route, (im a LGV trainer) ill take an artic down a lane but would not put my pride and joy into a hedge for anyone!!Overall looking at the + v - not much difference for us, I cannot say ill always have a twin or single, its what suits at a specific time.
Hope this helps
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I also after caravanning with single axle units for more years than I care to think about am considering trying a twin axle unit.
I note all the comments above, most of which seem good common sense. One thing which as not been mentioned is the axle configurations. I have seen that some have interlinked axles which distribute the load better over uneven surfaces.
Are these worth the extra cost and weight?
Do they help with the bouncing of the tow car, or make it worse?
As anyone done any comparisons on these types, and if so please share
Thanks
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I’ve had single and TA’s, and now have a single.
I never had an issue with levelling a TA, I just used two ramps, 1 between the wheels for the front axle and a second behind the rear axle wheel. It’s was no harder or easier than levelling a single.
My TA had a four wheel motor mover, which was about 65kg, so used a lot of payload. You could not move the van by hand at all, so a mover really was a necessity. I have no issues reversing the van, but sometimes there was just not enough space on some sites due to trees, hedges other vans etc to get the angle necessary ( especially abroad ) to manoeuvre van with car. TA motor movers do the job, they just take longer than on single axles to manoeuvre. Using a single mover on a TA, rather than a 4wd one is a waste of time IMHO. They just don’t have the power to deal with kerbs, slopes and gravel etc.
For me one of the biggest things was a big enough towcar for a TA. We had a Touareg, worked beautifully, but lousy on mpg, tyres, servicing etc. Got bored paying to run a big towcar, and only actually needing it to tow maybe 6 to 8 times a year. Similarly van servicing was more. Much depends on your attitude to van, costs, usage etc. When we changed to a smaller van, 1500kg single axle and Tiguan, our diesel bill fell by £1400 per year, plus tyres, servicing insurance etc, so a fairly significant sum overall.
Also struggled on some sites, here and abroad, who wouldn’t take TA’s, or where access was extremely difficult, duty to overall size, length and manoeuvrability. Often our first check when considering a site was, ‘do they accept TA’s’
Towing was no different, providing you had a suitable tow car.
We loved our TA which was a Barcelona, before changing to single axle Valencia. Same van, about a metre shorter and 300kg lighter, but lower payload. Identical layout with slightly smaller wardrobe and set of drawers missing. We have more than enough space.
We love the new van, and have absolutely no regrets in moving back to single axle, it was definitely the right decision for us, and I would never go back to a TA.
To sum it up, TA’s outfits are more cost and less flexibility for the same holiday IMHO.
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I agree with most of what onepjg says, since I also tow a U3 Barcelona behind a VW Touareg and I hardly know the van is there! It is stable under tow - hardly affected by cross winds or when overtaken too close and contrary to some comments above, I have not found the car is bounced around at all - but then I have the Escape (off-road) model with uprated and raised suspension. For those reasons alone, I would never contemplate returning to a single axle van.
Totally agree on costs, though. I have just had to replace all four van tyres at three and half years old (sidewall cracking) and I only got 25k out of the car tyres, when solo I would expect something approaching 40k.
As far as manoeuvrability is concerned, with an AWD motor mover fitted, it is easy. I have to make a right-angled turn outside our house and come onto the drive over a kerb edge, across grass and gravel onto the drive and the turn is only slightly more than the length of the van. It really isn't a problem.
I debated long and hard before buying a TA - never having experienced one before - but mainly about the perceived problems of fitting twin wheel locks, especially as the MMs prevented access to the jacking points. Lock 'n Level sorted that problem in a flash and makes levelling and fitting the wheel locks so easy. I have now got it down to a fine art and reckon levelling and fitting the locks takes me not much more than five minutes.
For the extra space we have - and other things such as a large fridge and separate freezer - acres of food prep space - on board water tank (essential in winter!) etc etc - I wouldn't ever go back to a smaller van.
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We have just got a Touareg. We towed with it for the first time last week about 600 Miles into France. It has been pretty faultless all the way down. This includes towing in just about the windiest conditions I have ever towed in. Like richardandros ours is the Escape version, I am not sure how much difference that makes to on road driving. Unlike richardandros we tow a 1900kg, 8m, single axle and it is fine.
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Heading south across France in early June this year we shared a campsite one night with a big extended family group of travelling people - Liverpool Irish they said. Towing with expensive Mercedes cars and a van they had nine top of the range continental caravans, mostly new Fendts, but all single axle. Being a very worldly wise group they knew that with caravans like that they could go anywhere, but with twins they would probably be turned away in many places. Trust the professionals.
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I must thank John the OP for starting such a brilliant thread. The responses have been very informative and as newbies to caravaning it has given me a great many things to consider for when (or if) we convert from motorhomes to caravans.
We were looking at buying a new Airstream equipped with quad Reich 3.1T movers but, the van itself weighs around 2,700kg, and as newbies, I think we first need to practice with something lighter and more practical and change thereafter if it becomes our thing.
Some fantastic info on here.
Thanks All,
Andrew
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OrOMZ3ovr8
