A bit frightening
We met a very nice, fairly elderly, couple on a CL who had relatively recently taken up caravanning. I say recently but apparently they had bought the caravan three years ago and used it once the first year then didn't use it the following year. This year it has been out twice. It appeared that they were a bit frightened of it because of a lack of knowledge.
It all started off when the chap asked if he could measure the height of my tow-ball. He thought his was too high (there was 25mm difference only) and that it was causing a clunk every time he put his brakes on. I told him it was probably the shock absorber in the tow hitch and nothing to do with the tow-ball height and that he should get it checked out.
Whilst they knew the MTPLM of the caravan they weren't sure what the load capacity was. He even commented that he avoided going home via a route where he knew there was a vehicle check weighbridge. They didn't seem to know the weight of anything that was in the caravan other than the motor mover and the battery. He thought that they may well be over-weight so didn't take any gas bottles with them and relied on the one electric ring in the caravan. They thought they needed two full bottles with them at all times and these would be very heavy. When asked why two he told me that when they used gas for cooking they got through a full bottle in a week. This led me to ask if the gas system had been checked when the caravan was serviced as it sounded as though there was a leak. "Oh, it hasn't been serviced" was his reply. "I suppose I perhaps ought to get it done sometime".
He told me he had a nose weight gauge that came with the caravan when he bought it but he'd never used it.
We then started to talk about tyres. He was told by the person he bought the caravan from that the tyres had been changed before they'd decided to sell it but didn't know just when this was.
All in all, quite a frightening conversation to think that this couple were out on the road with a lot of ignorance and very limited concept of the possible dangers.
Comments
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I’m very afraid those people are probably typical of many😧
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I'm afraid that there are some folk that take part in our hobby that have little knowledge of how things should be done.
On another thread I mentioned an elderly friend/neighbour who wrote his caravan off and seriously damaged 2 cars recently. His caravan came off the back of his car and smashed into the 2 cars. Thankfully no one was hurt in the accident. It would appear the tow hitch was fitted correctly as he had towed some distance from his storage site, how or why it detached we don't know.He has however gone straight out and bought another van 7.4 m long, second hand but he did ask OH to go with him to check it over.
Weight is something many folk take little notice of, or how to correctly load the caravan. We have tried to offer advice but I'm afraid it has fallen on deaf ears. Today they proudly showed me the van now its all ready to go away in. In the top lockers they had jars and bottles, in one cupboard more towels than I have in the house airing cupboard.The strange thing I found was all the ornaments and flower vases she had on the shelves (bluetac) large heavy cut glass fruit bowl in a top locker
trying to suggest that as they are only going away for 1 week do they really need all these things she said "I like to make it cosy" 0 -
Ive never had a caravan and know very little about them, however I have a reasonable 'nose' for when something doesn't seem right...
camped near us recently, a couple (on site with friends who all 'seemed' really experienced vanners...) had a nice Buccaneer Corsair caravan (with enormous awning and side pods, kitchen stuff and loads of chairs and tables) which was being towed by a 2009 Renault Koleos.
now today's Koleos is a far more meaty looking, no doubt heavier vehicle, but the older version looked particularly weedy up against the solid looking Corsair.
knowing that the caravan had a reputation for being well built and probably heavy, I had a quick look at the club's towing page...
Match report
The Club advises that a Renault Koleos Privilège dCi 150 4x4 (2008) should not tow a Buccaneer Corsair Corsair (2012)
Kerbweight ratio: 105%
The caravan's laden weight is more than the car's kerb weight. There is significant risk of stability problems, especially at higher speed. The Police may consider this combination unroadworthy, and it is illegal for drivers with a standard car licence issued since 1st January 1997.Towing limit ratio: 87%
The caravan's laden weight is within the car's stated towing limit, and therefore meets legal limitations.again, I don't know much about towing weights and the different ratios quoted but it seems to me that the car isn't man enough (heavy enough?) to cope with this weight of caravan?
obviously none of my business and wouldn't dream of interfering with experienced vanners..but what does the report 'really' mean....
ps, their pals also had a similar sized caravan (perhaps a tad lighter, not a buccaneer) and a Renault tow car, a Kadjar I think.
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Probably not such a bad match though BB. My experience of CC matching is that it is poor.
Towcar info gives 89% and hill starts on 1:5 possible.
The CC matching for my 2005 x-Trail gives a 96% ratio and is presumably based on the basic MPTLM of 1400kg. In fact my caravan is uprated to 1500kg and has a ratio with car of 87% even with the upgrade. Car weight also verified on weighbridge.
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We too had a similar neighbour, I'm sure his 'van tires had roots in his front garden. He would always set off for Skeggy Sunday evening with all lights flashing in the wrong sequence. " I always like to go at night, there are too many R soles on the road during the day." !!
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Firstly as you have found out the van is within the cars towing limit so no problem legally and second what sort of person goes to the bother of looking up information on someone else's car. Just reminds me why I don't go on club sites.
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I happen to have a long time interest in cars and other technical info on MH and, to a degree, caravans....
the combination looked 'underwhelming' to me and, without any knowledge in the area, I checked the club's website....
that OK with you?
ps, it wasn't on a club site....
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Knock yourself out just don't understand why people are interested in what everyone else is doing instead of enjoying your holiday
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I do think that if you take up caravanning you need to get to know the basics and this man clearly had no idea. With that attitude he is potentially dangerous so if he was willing to listen a bit of help might have been a good idea. Do remember if he loses it non a bend you might be coming the other way at the time.
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There are sadly a lot of things in life that folks take up without having much of a clue. You can only hope that when they become a statistic they don’t take any poor innocent person with them😕
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cheers Alan....yes only interested (curious) from a technical perspective
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I noticed on my recent trip that generally speaking, continental rigs were smaller. Is it a UK thing that "size matters"?
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I recently posted that whilst on site in France my MH buddy commented that the German outfits opposite looked mismatched with the vans looking far too big for the tow cars.
I have to confess that I looked up the details and a conversation then ensued re kerb weights/85% etc etc.
The cars, both Seat Alhambra’s, had manufacturers towing limits that were an exact match for the vans MTPLM.
I now realise that taking such an interest is frowned on so wish to retract all the above.
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me, too....ill be keeping any 'notes' to myself...
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As AD has ponted out there are probably tax reasons for this, also they have easier access to a sunnier warmer climate than we do and tend to live much more outdoors than we Brits/ They thus have no need of big lounges and full kitchens and cooking facilities.
peedee
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And that is what we try to do, weather permitting, but our contact with European campers suggest that they do not use the vans for as long a season as many of us do.
Our Dutch friends had a Burstner City van when we met and it was used for sleeping and some food preparation with all other activities taking place outside.
My wife had to get used to adding extra layers of clothing rather than retreating into the van.
Mind you our recent France trip with temps of 41c meant the last place you wanted to be was inside the van.
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I suspect a lot of Brits moving from a caravan to a MH try and replicate the space they had in the caravan as well, hence why so few move off sites during a stay. Curiously British phenomenon......buy a vehicle built to hit the road, then tether it to a pitch. But if it works ok for them, go for it!😁
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I can fully understand the concern that the elderly couple, and often others, don't seem to understand certain safety aspects but what does it matter how often people use or don't use their vans as long as they are safe to use? Surely it is up to the people owning a caravan or motorhome how often they use it!
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