Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Kevin Wood]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42330511

Hotel rooms also available. 

[tunnie]

Will never understand it, buy caravan at huge cost. Depreciation of it is just as bad as car, running costs, storage costs, insurance. Get horrible MPG towing and generally rubbish experience to tow, don't exactly enjoy drive with burger van on the back.

Then when you arrive you cook your own dinners, empty your own cr@p, and be side by side with other plastic boxes in a field and pay for the privilege to park   

Vs

A hotel, with pool, room service, en-suite right in city centre or out in country side.

For the running costs of a Caravan for a year, you can buy a lot of hotel rooms. Think I'll stick to Marriott Hotels. 

[Kevin Wood]

Perhaps it's the Wife Swapping/Damp/crapping in a bucket in your wardrobe.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Will never understand it, buy caravan at huge cost. Depreciation of it is just as bad as car, running costs, storage costs, insurance. Get horrible MPG towing and generally rubbish experience to tow, don't exactly enjoy drive with burger van on the back.

Then when you arrive you cook your own dinners, empty your own cr@p, and be side by side with other plastic boxes in a field and pay for the privilege to park   

Vs

A hotel, with pool, room service, en-suite right in city centre or out in country side.

For the running costs of a Caravan for a year, you can buy a lot of hotel rooms. Think I'll stick to Marriott Hotels. 

....and that is the best bit.

[Doctor Gollum]

The only people who hate towing are those that can't

[Kevin Wood]

The only people who hate towing are those that can't

I have no problem with towing.. Just wouldn't personally do it to a plastic bedsit.

[henryd]

The only people who hate towing are those that can't

True that 

[henryd]

The only people who hate towing are those that can't

I have no problem with towing.. Just wouldn't personally do it to a plastic bedsit.

You either love it or loath it,I love it

[Nick W]

Will never understand it, buy caravan at huge cost. Depreciation of it is just as bad as car, running costs, storage costs, insurance. Get horrible MPG towing and generally rubbish experience to tow, don't exactly enjoy drive with burger van on the back.

Then when you arrive you cook your own dinners, empty your own cr@p, and be side by side with other plastic boxes in a field and pay for the privilege to park   

Vs

A hotel, with pool, room service, en-suite right in city centre or out in country side.

For the running costs of a Caravan for a year, you can buy a lot of hotel rooms. Think I'll stick to Marriott Hotels. 

Caravans I can just about understand, although I don't want one.


Now consider the even greater expense and uselessness of a motorhome/camper

[Kevin Wood]

Now consider the even greater expense and uselessness of a motorhome/camper

It must be a major ballache to have to pack up all your stuff, disconnect pipes full of sewerage, etc. just to nip down to the shops for some provisions - or anywhere, for that matter.

I guess that's why they drive around with a Smart dangling out the back.

I must confess to having the occasional desire to get one and just disappear for a few months, though. I guess, unless the journey is the whole reason you're going, though, it's not better than a tent in any way, and very much not better than a westfield and a small tent / hotel.*


*- unless it's raining

[tunnie]

I think those large-ass motorhomes work in America, due to everything being so vast. Taking one of those down to local shop won't be a problem, also huge distances cross-state mean just pulling over and walking back for a meal/rest would be practical.

[2boxerdogs]

Love it got a 26 foot twin axle with every option you could want, Grandkids love it & we both enjoy it also like our foreign holidays in hotels/villas. I also believe a lot of folks haven't got a clue when towing.

[TheBoy]

Will never understand it, buy caravan at huge cost. Depreciation of it is just as bad as car, running costs, storage costs, insurance. Get horrible MPG towing and generally rubbish experience to tow, don't exactly enjoy drive with burger van on the back.

Then when you arrive you cook your own dinners, empty your own cr@p, and be side by side with other plastic boxes in a field and pay for the privilege to park   

Vs

A hotel, with pool, room service, en-suite right in city centre or out in country side.

For the running costs of a Caravan for a year, you can buy a lot of hotel rooms. Think I'll stick to Marriott Hotels. 

As much as I have no desire to stay in a caravan, I think on reflection, I would prefer that to hotels.  I've yet to ever go to a hotel that I've enjoyed, except by artificially getting so plastered I can't remember it.

Obviously, rather than a caravan, I'd rather use my tent if the weather is warmish - its more spacious, more comfortable, cheaper, and not restrained to silly speed limits.

[Bigron]

How fast does your tent go then, TB? 

Ron.

[Doctor Gollum]

How fast does your tent go then, TB? 

Ron.

130... ish

[2boxerdogs]

Wouldn't call our towing limits silly a ridiculous statement.

[Doctor Gollum]

Wouldn't call our towing limits silly a ridiculous statement.

I would... Trucks in the US can physically top a ton

[TheBoy]

How fast does your tent go then, TB? 

Ron.

130... ish

I think the current tent has only been in the Battlebus, so was limited to about 90 until that DTM fella fixed it

[TheBoy]

Wouldn't call our towing limits silly a ridiculous statement.

I am saying its silly to be limited to such silly speeds.  The solution is not to raise towing limits, but to ban caravans.

Problem solved.

[2boxerdogs]

Wouldn't call our towing limits silly a ridiculous statement.

I am saying its silly to be limited to such silly speeds.  The solution is not to raise towing limits, but to ban caravans.

Problem solved.

.



Another utterly ridiculous statement, am I suprised , not one bit.

[2boxerdogs]

Wouldn't call our towing limits silly a ridiculous statement.

I would... Trucks in the US can physically top a ton

. 



Only  a couple of things , our roads are in a shocking state probably the worst in Europe, and we cannot compare our roads to those in the USA.

[Bigron]

Er, have you ever been to Houston?.....

Ron.

[Andy B]

Wouldn't call our towing limits silly a ridiculous statement.

I am saying its silly to be limited to such silly speeds.  The solution is not to raise towing limits, but to ban caravans.

Problem solved.

.



Another utterly ridiculous statement, am I suprised , not one bit.

Don't take Jamie too seriously 

[tunnie]

Wouldn't call our towing limits silly a ridiculous statement.

I am saying its silly to be limited to such silly speeds.  The solution is not to raise towing limits, but to ban caravans.

Problem solved.

.



Another utterly ridiculous statement, am I suprised , not one bit.

Don't take Jamie too seriously 

He is too soft. Personally I think all caravans should be burned. Immediately. 

[Doctor Gollum]

Wouldn't call our towing limits silly a ridiculous statement.

I would... Trucks in the US can physically top a ton

. 



Only  a couple of things , our roads are in a shocking state probably the worst in Europe, and we cannot compare our roads to those in the USA.

Why not?

A three/four/five lane dual carriageway/motorway is the same the world over

Hell, even the Belgians have a higher speed limit than the UK, and everyone knows that the Belgians can't drive for shit

[Kevin Wood]

Hell, even the Belgians have a higher speed limit than the UK, and everyone knows that the Belgians can't drive for shit

.. and they have pot holes you can lose an Omega in.

[henryd]

Wouldn't call our towing limits silly a ridiculous statement.

I am saying its silly to be limited to such silly speeds.  The solution is not to raise towing limits, but to ban caravans.

Problem solved.

.



Another utterly ridiculous statement, am I suprised , not one bit.

Don't take Jamie too seriously 

He is too soft. Personally I think all caravans should be burned. Immediately. 

Probably find a nice self combusting Zafira to start them off

[Sir Tigger KC]

Er, have you ever been to Houston?.....

Ron.

Jeez the roads there are utter shite, making ours like driving on billiard tables!   

[Auto Addict]

Will never understand it, buy caravan at huge cost. Depreciation of it is just as bad as car, running costs, storage costs, insurance. Get horrible MPG towing and generally rubbish experience to tow, don't exactly enjoy drive with burger van on the back.

Then when you arrive you cook your own dinners, empty your own cr@p, and be side by side with other plastic boxes in a field and pay for the privilege to park   

Vs

A hotel, with pool, room service, en-suite right in city centre or out in country side.

For the running costs of a Caravan for a year, you can buy a lot of hotel rooms. Think I'll stick to Marriott Hotels. 

As much as I have no desire to stay in a caravan, I think on reflection, I would prefer that to hotels.  I've yet to ever go to a hotel that I've enjoyed, except by artificially getting so plastered I can't remember it.

Obviously, rather than a caravan, I'd rather use my tent if the weather is warmish - its more spacious, more comfortable, cheaper, and not restrained to silly speed limits.

I have pictures to prove TB has towed and stayed in a caravan!

[Steve Brookman]

I still love caravanning.

Parents did it whilst I was young.

Took it up again nearly 17 years ago-bought my first Omega to tow it. S155 JVV-2.5 auto GLS estate. Excellent tow car!

Replaced the 2.5 after about 8 years with a T reg 3.0 Elite estate-used it tow again.

Still towing but now use my Range Rover-very good but the Omega estates - especially the 2.5 was nearly as good.

Steve

[tunnie]

Wouldn't call our towing limits silly a ridiculous statement.

I am saying its silly to be limited to such silly speeds.  The solution is not to raise towing limits, but to ban caravans.

Problem solved.

.



Another utterly ridiculous statement, am I suprised , not one bit.

Don't take Jamie too seriously 

He is too soft. Personally I think all caravans should be burned. Immediately. 

Probably find a nice self combusting Zafira to start them off

 

[TheBoy]

Wouldn't call our towing limits silly a ridiculous statement.

I am saying its silly to be limited to such silly speeds.  The solution is not to raise towing limits, but to ban caravans.

Problem solved.

.

Another utterly ridiculous statement, am I suprised , not one bit.

I do like a nice, well reasoned debate


As for UK v European roads, you want to try some European roads.  And for the most part, I think our motorways and major trunk roads are mostly usually in good condition.

Granted, some of our smaller roads, and certainly a lot of town roads aren't great, but you're have to be a pretty ignorant caravanner to make extensive use of them, getting in everyone's way.  But similar Euro roads aren't any better, including those French tree lined lanes, which was probably idyllic 50 years ago, but now the trees have grown, and their roots break up the road surface, on reflection was a poor idea.  Still, nice safety barriers to protect empty farmers fields from drivers who get it wrong, as a dirty great trunk isn't moving much.

[STEMO]

In order to be allowed to go out and about towing a burger van, it should be compulsory to have a vehicle capable of accelerating at a reasonable pace and powerful enough to get up inclines without slowing to 35. They are fine on motorways, but you don’t want to get stuck behind a 1.6 focus towing even a small van on a country road.

[Andy B]

In order to be allowed to go out and about towing a burger van, it should be compulsory to have a vehicle capable of accelerating at a reasonable pace and powerful enough to get up inclines without slowing to 35. They are fine on motorways, but you don’t want to get stuck behind a 1.6 focus towing even a small van on a country road.

Over the years I've had various d1ck heads that just had to get in front of me, to find that the slow caravan in front of him was also stuck behind some other kn0b head not towing. And I've embarrassed a few drivers at a Traffic light Grand Prix when towing when their lane ran out long before they got passed me. 

[2boxerdogs]

In order to be allowed to go out and about towing a burger van, it should be compulsory to have a vehicle capable of accelerating at a reasonable pace and powerful enough to get up inclines without slowing to 35. They are fine on motorways, but you don’t want to get stuck behind a 1.6 focus towing even a small van on a country road.

Over the years I've had various d1ck heads that just had to get in front of me, to find that the slow caravan in front of him was also stuck behind some other kn0b head not towing. And I've embarrassed a few drivers at a Traffic light Grand Prix when towing when their lane ran out long before they got passed me. 

.



That's more the problem, people are more obsessed with mpg than having a car that's up to the job .

[henryd]

In order to be allowed to go out and about towing a burger van, it should be compulsory to have a vehicle capable of accelerating at a reasonable pace and powerful enough to get up inclines without slowing to 35. They are fine on motorways, but you don’t want to get stuck behind a 1.6 focus towing even a small van on a country road.

Over the years I've had various d1ck heads that just had to get in front of me, to find that the slow caravan in front of him was also stuck behind some other kn0b head not towing. And I've embarrassed a few drivers at a Traffic light Grand Prix when towing when their lane ran out long before they got passed me. 

Yep me too,can't beat tractor fuel for lots of torque

[2boxerdogs]

In order to be allowed to go out and about towing a burger van, it should be compulsory to have a vehicle capable of accelerating at a reasonable pace and powerful enough to get up inclines without slowing to 35. They are fine on motorways, but you don’t want to get stuck behind a 1.6 focus towing even a small van on a country road.

Over the years I've had various d1ck heads that just had to get in front of me, to find that the slow caravan in front of him was also stuck behind some other kn0b head not towing. And I've embarrassed a few drivers at a Traffic light Grand Prix when towing when their lane ran out long before they got passed me. 

Yep me too,can't beat tractor fuel for lots of torque

You are certainly right my old Terracan used to tow with ease, haven't tried the Jeep yet my cousin is bringing the correct towbar over from the USA in the spring but I really don't forsee any problems with the power that's got !

[biggriffin]

The only people who hate towing are those that can't

I can, reverse them as well, but I will never buy own one of the poxy things, even if I buy a transit van,.

The owners should be made to take a test with them,(lorryist's with trailer entitlement, exempted) no matter how long they've held a licence, and they should also be mot'd.

[Andy B]

The only people who hate towing are those that can't

I can, reverse them as well, but I will never buy own one of the poxy things, even if I buy a transit van,.

The owners should be made to take a test with them,(lorryist's with trailer entitlement, exempted) no matter how long they've held a licence, and they should also be mot'd.

A youngster already has to take a test if they want to tow anything substantial  ..... the MOT has been done to death & was kicked into touch a few years ago.

[Andy B]

The only people who hate towing are those that can't

I can, reverse them as well, but I will never buy own one of the poxy things, even if I buy a transit van,.

The owners should be made to take a test with them,(lorryist's with trailer entitlement, exempted) no matter how long they've held a licence, and they should also be mot'd.

Maybe they should be made to take a further test of when not to sit in the middle lane of a motorway for mile after mile ....

[Doctor Gollum]

Middle lane hogging applies across the board...

A side effect of dumbing down the car test. Which in turn is why you need a separate test(s) to do anything useful 

Anyone can drive well or badly. But it takes a special type of idiot to sit at 50 in lane one on a motorway in a car or drive with their fog lights only because they can't see and have failed to grasp that a) it's dark and b) a) notwithstanding, they haven't turned the switch far enough to switch the headlights on... Both of which causes them to slam on the brakes at every potential hazard because they can't actually see the road stnuc.

Rant over

[Andy B]

Middle lane hogging applies across the board...

A side effect of dumbing down the car test. Which in turn is why you need a separate test(s) to do anything useful 

Anyone can drive well or badly. But it takes a special type of idiot to sit at 50 in lane one on a motorway in a car or drive with their fog lights only because they can't see and have failed to grasp that a) it's dark and b) a) notwithstanding, they haven't turned the switch far enough to switch the headlights on... Both of which causes them to slam on the brakes at every potential hazard because they can't actually see the road stnuc.

Rant over

You mean DRLs 

[2boxerdogs]

The only people who hate towing are those that can't

I can, reverse them as well, but I will never buy own one of the poxy things, even if I buy a transit van,.

The owners should be made to take a test with them,(lorryist's with trailer entitlement, exempted) no matter how long they've held a licence, and they should also be mot'd.

.



Don't see any problems with reversing a caravan , piece of piss just common sense & confidence even SWMBO can park ours up.

[Andy B]

......
 even SWMBO can park ours up.

My SWMBO has only driven my car once in over 5 yrs  .... & that was only around a caravan site .... no chance of towing and as for reversing a caravan, she only goes backwards in her car if she really really has to.

[2boxerdogs]

......
 even SWMBO can park ours up.

My SWMBO has only driven my car once in over 5 yrs  .... & that was only around a caravan site .... no chance of towing and as for reversing a caravan, she only goes backwards in her car if she really really has to.

.   





Mine drives the Jeep at every opportunity says she prefers it to her Forester, but dislikes the Merc to drive.

[Andy B]

......
 even SWMBO can park ours up.

My SWMBO has only driven my car once in over 5 yrs  .... & that was only around a caravan site .... no chance of towing and as for reversing a caravan, she only goes backwards in her car if she really really has to.

.   

Mine drives the Jeep at every opportunity says she prefers it to her Forester, but dislikes the Merc to drive.

Apparently my R Class is too big & has a 'funny' gear selector  (it's on the column) 

[2boxerdogs]

Got to admit that mine is an excellent driver, her dad was a real car nut having everything from V8 Fords to Aston Martins really miss the old boy ,he passed away 12 years ago , but she shared his passion for big motors which suits me fine!

[YZ250]

In order to be allowed to go out and about towing a burger van, it should be compulsory to have a vehicle capable of accelerating at a reasonable pace and powerful enough to get up inclines without slowing to 35. They are fine on motorways, but you don’t want to get stuck behind a 1.6 focus towing even a small van on a country road.

I agree, and in the twenty five years of towing various new caravans, I have been known to overtake dawdlers on single carriageway 'A' roads with the van on the back. I should never be in that situation but some drivers are just too slow. Mrs YZ says "you're not seriously going past are you" as I select 'sport' or manually downshift, to which I reply "don't spare the horses, we're coming through".    It makes them look twice when they see over twenty five feet of caravan coming past.
I do honour the speed limit though (well, sort of) as I'm well aware that things can get messy really quick.

[Lizzie Zoom]

Got to admit that mine is an excellent driver, her dad was a real car nut having everything from V8 Fords to Aston Martins really miss the old boy ,he passed away 12 years ago , but she shared his passion for big motors which suits me fine!

Us woman have no trouble driving big vehicles no more than men if we want to. You just get used to the dimensions and the vehicles turning circle and away you go

[Doctor Gollum]

No, I mean fog lights

Drls are front only, so easy to spot by way of zero rear illumination

I see that a lot too, but the two examples were from my commute to work this evening 

[2boxerdogs]

Got to admit that mine is an excellent driver, her dad was a real car nut having everything from V8 Fords to Aston Martins really miss the old boy ,he passed away 12 years ago , but she shared his passion for big motors which suits me fine!

Us woman have no trouble driving big vehicles no more than men if we want to. You just get used to the dimensions and the vehicles turning circle and away you go

. 



I just think it's sensible for her to be able to tow the caravan ,for example I was taken ill two years ago in Yorkshire while we were away for a few days (gallstones) no way was it safe for me to drive home she did it easily in fact the 4x4 drives better when towing.

[YZ250]

Will never understand it, buy caravan at huge cost.
I'll give you that one. 

Depreciation of it is just as bad as car....
Not too bad actually, I've always had pretty decent PX against new purchase, provided you do roughly under four year old exchanges. 

Get horrible MPG towing.....
Buy a vehicle that's crap on fuel anyway and you barely notice.   

Then when you arrive you cook your own dinners...
The same applies to renting a cottage. 

empty your own cr@p
A short walk to the disposal point as opposed to hauling bloody great big suitcases around for miles. 

A hotel...

Ah, I believe these are the places full of lots of rooms that you pay decent money for and spend hardly any time in them. You feel obliged to get up early'ish for breakfast and when you return to your room you have to get out again before the maid/cleaners arrive. You then sit by the pool, have lunch, more pool time/sight seeing, followed by evening meal. You don't want to spend your holiday in a room so you go out again, returning later in the evening to go to bed. You may even get to socialise with other guests in the early hours when you pop out to the corridor to ask them to shut the f**k up and to stop bellowing in the corridor. 

with pool......
Contrary to public opinion, some caravan sites do actually have swimming pools. 

Just to put the above into perspective. 

[Viral_Jim]

You are certainly right my old Terracan used to tow with ease, haven't tried the Jeep yet my cousin is bringing the correct towbar over from the USA in the spring but I really don't forsee any problems with the power that's got !

Drifting slightly OT here, but can you tow (and be insured) with an SRT? My understanding, or to be more accurate, my father’s understanding when he looked at one to replace the P38 RR was that they basically had no approved towing weight in the uk so you couldn’t tow with them on a standard insurance policy.

[henryd]

You are certainly right my old Terracan used to tow with ease, haven't tried the Jeep yet my cousin is bringing the correct towbar over from the USA in the spring but I really don't forsee any problems with the power that's got !

Drifting slightly OT here, but can you tow (and be insured) with an SRT? My understanding, or to be more accurate, my father’s understanding when he looked at one to replace the P38 RR was that they basically had no approved towing weight in the uk so you couldn’t tow with them on a standard insurance policy.

Pretty sure the srt8 can tow but with reduced capacity to do with the centre outlet exhaust *compromising the hitch

* if fitted 

[2boxerdogs]

You are absolutely spot on has a reduced rate of 3500 lbs which is fine for my needs , was going to tow with the Subaru but after speaking with my cousin he is getting the towbar kit shipped over with a furniture consignment in the spring ,Jeep UK quoted me a ridiculous amount for the kit.

[Nick W]

You are absolutely spot on has a reduced rate of 3500 lbs which is fine for my needs , was going to tow with the Subaru but after speaking with my cousin he is getting the towbar kit shipped over with a furniture consignment in the spring ,Jeep UK quoted me a ridiculous amount for the kit.

Will an American kit meet the UK requirements? Your MOT tester is supposed to check!


And American spec towbars look really sketchy to me.

[henryd]

You are absolutely spot on has a reduced rate of 3500 lbs which is fine for my needs , was going to tow with the Subaru but after speaking with my cousin he is getting the towbar kit shipped over with a furniture consignment in the spring ,Jeep UK quoted me a ridiculous amount for the kit.

Will an American kit meet the UK requirements? Your MOT tester is supposed to check!


And American spec towbars look really sketchy to me.

If it's a dealer supplied hitch should be same for everywhere surely.

[2boxerdogs]

According to Jeep UK it is an approved item & will meet MOT requirements ,  when you look around at some of the vehicles towing over here you really wonder if they are inspected on the test.

[Sir Tigger KC]

Will an American kit meet the UK requirements? Your MOT tester is supposed to check!


And American spec towbars look really sketchy to me.

Their towing weight regs are obviously very different to ours and I was quite shocked when I first went over there at some of the car/trailer combos you see going around. 

Especially some of the huge trailers towed by the big pick ups! Yee haa! 

[2boxerdogs]

In the manual the towing capacity is stated at 5,000 lbs that is of course for the USA.

[Sir Tigger KC]

In the manual the towing capacity is stated at 5,000 lbs that is of course for the USA.

5000 lbs = 2268 kgs which dosn't seem much for a 4x4? 

[biggriffin]

The only people who hate towing are those that can't

I can, reverse them as well, but I will never buy own one of the poxy things, even if I buy a transit van,.

The owners should be made to take a test with them,(lorryist's with trailer entitlement, exempted) no matter how long they've held a licence, and they should also be mot'd.

.



Don't see any problems with reversing a caravan , piece of piss just common sense & confidence even SWMBO can park ours up.

.

Have watched many a caravanist, try to reverse into a space bigger than there moosive, pikey house and fail, then the wife gets out, lots of arm flailing, and then they give up and leave, also some lorryist's aren't that good, maybe reversing is becoming a dying art form.

[2boxerdogs]

Motor movers, have eliminated that fun.

[aaronjb]

In the manual the towing capacity is stated at 5,000 lbs that is of course for the USA.

5000 lbs = 2268 kgs which dosn't seem much for a 4x4? 

IIRC that's the reduced capacity as noted earlier specifically for the SRT v8 variant; the diesel has a 3500kg capacity.


Also, BG - driving is becoming a dying art form, reversing is just part of it.

[Viral_Jim]

According to Jeep UK it is an approved item & will meet MOT requirements ,  when you look around at some of the vehicles towing over here you really wonder if they are inspected on the test.

All good then  . Obviously my mistake.

[Gaffers]

I am looking at moving to the US in about a year or so and I have been looking at RVs.  I still could not bring myself to get a caravan but a nice class A motorhome would do it

[biggriffin]

I am looking at moving to the US in about a year or so and I have been looking at RVs.  I still could not bring myself to get a caravan but a nice class A motorhome would do it

   

Y'all going to live in the south, as trailer trash, or become Mobil hobos,in Ya RV

[Kevin Wood]

I am looking at moving to the US in about a year or so and I have been looking at RVs.  I still could not bring myself to get a caravan but a nice class A motorhome would do it

   

Y'all going to live in the south, as trailer trash, or become Mobil hobos,in Ya RV

"Are you the good 'ole boys"
"Yeah, that's right. You're talking to Guffer McGuffey. Lead singer and drives the Winnebago"