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Single or twin axle caravan? XC90Views : 2619 Replies : 22Users Viewing This Thread : |
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Aug 22nd, 2018, 21:32 | #11 | |
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B+E is max train mass 3500kg and trailer cannot exceed weight of tow vehicle. Xc90 comes in at near 2000kg any caravan over 1500kg MTPM and B+E will not cover it. At 70 you loose grandfather rights unless you have a class 2 hgv medical. With an xc70 and landrover discovery towing a 1635kg van I'm seriously thinking of taking a class 2 test. If I have to have the medical I may as well have the licence and then there's no question of is it too heavy for my licence. As for single or twin axil, I ve looked at twin axil but have always baught single. So much easier to manover in a storage yard especially with movers, caravan will pivot around axis if nessesary. Never had a problem towing a single axil, agreed they are slightly less stable but even overtaking a car transporter at motorway speed never caused a moment if set up properly. Paul. |
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Aug 22nd, 2018, 21:52 | #12 |
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Thanks for the replies.
I did the 'trailer test' so have the BE on my licence. I think this allows me to tow over the 3500kg combined limit. |
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Aug 22nd, 2018, 22:02 | #13 |
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Aug 23rd, 2018, 01:37 | #14 | |
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Last edited by pagan8c; Aug 23rd, 2018 at 02:03. |
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Aug 23rd, 2018, 07:03 | #15 | |
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The 70 rule I found out about from a lad with a winnebago that came in at near 7 tonnes, at 70 both he and his wife had to have medicals to retain their grandfather rights, at £150 a time he was intending to sell the bago and buy something sub 3500 kg. It's not something I've seen but it seems from those I've spoken too your licence comes back with those entitlements removed and to regain them you have to undergo the medical each year. With DVLA I always photocopy anything I'm sending them as they are adept at cutting classes, know a few that lost their motorbike entitlement upon renewal and had a fight to get it back. Remember you must renew your licence at 70 as it expires. Paul. |
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Aug 23rd, 2018, 09:45 | #16 | |
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Aug 23rd, 2018, 14:29 | #17 |
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The medical at 70 is £55 with an HGV doctor who does the eye test as well. About 20 minutes and no ecg or treadmill test.
This will retain your "grandfathers' rights" to a C1 licence for three years, you can retain your BE licence just by sending the form back, unless you have admitted to a serious condition, in which case the DVLA will insist on a full medical. |
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Aug 23rd, 2018, 19:26 | #18 | |
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Thanks in advance Paul. |
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Sep 2nd, 2018, 14:48 | #19 |
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Sorry to jump in on this topic, but in reply to the OPs question regarding single vs twin axle ‘vans, there are a few other things you might want to consider.
While a twin axle will be inherently more stable, a correctly loaded single axle should not be unstable and with a properly maintained stabiliser hitch you should have no stability issues with a correctly loaded van and sensible driving. A twin axle van will likely also be significantly heavier, towing with the XC90 won’t give you any issues, in all likeliness, but if you don’t need a heavy van it’s a lot easier to make good progress with a lighter van - and you’ll get better fuel economy too It’s also worth considering that a twin axle van will be more difficult to level correctly on site. I’ve just come off a site that was very hilly, it was hard enough to get the van laterally levelled for a single axle, I would have hated to have to level a twin axle on the same site. That also touches on the subject of manoeuvring the van. Do you intend on having a motor mover fitted or do you hope to be able toise manpower? Single axles are far easier to manoeuvre and can rotate on their axis - something which is much harder on a twin axle van, although I have seen it done with enough brute force and ignorance. Servicing costs will be higher on a twin axle van, too. Twice the brakes, tyres and associated bits and pieces. If you’re having a mover fitted then obviously a device that moves all four wheels will be significantly more expensive than a mover for a single axle van. It probably seems like I hate twin axle vans but if I could have afforded an Avondale 630 when I replaced my van I would have had one without a second thought. Nicely built van with a great layout and all in at 1450kg fully loaded! I agree they can be more spacious and offer some layouts that can’t be achieved with a single axle, though. Some continental vans offer far better layouts than British vans, and they are better built to boot. That’s the route I went and I found a German van with fixed twin bunks at the rear and a fixed double at the front. Checkout Fendt, Knaus, TEC, LMC and other vans, they do make some massive T/As but they do some sensible smaller vans with great layouts too. Hope this helps some.
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Sep 2nd, 2018, 21:06 | #20 |
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Thanks for the reply.
I will be trying to get a motor mover, mainly to make getting it on and off my drive easier. As it will be my first caravan I will probably get something that is a few years old to see how we get on with it. |
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