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Towing car with motorhome

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Old Jan 21st, 2018, 00:41   #1
volvoid
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Default Towing car with motorhome

What do people know about towing a car behind a campervan ?
Where to find max trailer weights for motorhomes ?
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Old Jan 21st, 2018, 08:03   #2
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How would you operate it's brakes?
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Old Jan 21st, 2018, 09:28   #3
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The manufacturer should be able to give towing weights, they may advise that you follow the weights calculated for a commercial van.

As for towing a car with an A-frame, I looked into this some time ago and found The car being towed would need to be less than 750kg to be legal. If it is over this the A-frame can only be used to tow to the nearest safe place otherwise you have an over weight trailer without brakes.

Check the link below out and have a chat with the caravan club.

https://www.gov.uk/government/public...van-the-basics
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Old Jan 21st, 2018, 12:47   #4
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From memory in the UK there is some kind of exemption to tow a car behind a Motorhome using an A frame but if you are wanting to tour Europe it is not the same and you need to use a trailer.

You might get away with it! But for how long?

Your Motorhome should have a plate somewhere either under the bonnet or inside one ot the front doors that will give the info you want. It will show the weights in kg as follows

Axle 1 xxxxkg
Axle 2 xxxxkg if you have a third axle it will also be added
GVW. xxxxkg- Gross Vehicle Weight the maximum that the vehicle can weigh.
GTW. xxxxkg- Gross Train Weight the maximum weight of the chicle and trailer combination.

Take the GVW from the GTW to give the max weight of the car and trailer that can be towed.

It might be that the vehicle has been updated by the converter but the plate has not been changed so contacting the converter to check will be a wise move.
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Old Jan 21st, 2018, 13:29   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by canis View Post
How would you operate it's brakes?
A proper conversion to the vehicle will see to that and the car brakes will operate when needed.
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Old Jan 21st, 2018, 14:14   #6
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I have a feeling the law on this is changing and you may need a trailer for the car being towed especially if heading to Europe.

Very few cars will under 750kg gross toyota aygo is 840kg smart car is similar....

Axiom maybe?

So on a trailer you would need a brakes trailer and allow probably 1250kg minimum for small car and trailer. Or car needs adaption for active braking over run or electronic maybe.
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Old Jan 21st, 2018, 15:33   #7
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What about doing a search on The Caravan Club Forum? or has this been tried already?
BTW How big is the car you are thinking of towing? and what sort of 'A' frame?

Regards,Keith
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Old Jan 21st, 2018, 23:21   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by canis View Post
How would you operate it's brakes?
Here's an example:

http://www.smart-tow.com/
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Old Feb 8th, 2018, 20:34   #9
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Sell the motor home buy a caravan.
If you are going to tow a car why pay for a second vehicle. Tax & Insurance on motorhome will outweigh insurance on a caravan and as you are towing anyway why maintain a motor home?

Maybe not what you want to hear but what I would do.
I have a mate with a motor home, he tours with it and uses busses when he parks up, but as he says it's not an easy vehicle to go shopping in. He persevers as he hates towing, I don't mind towing and have a caravan, thus retaining use of the car when the van is parked up.

Paul.
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Old Feb 8th, 2018, 21:29   #10
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Not sure you got sorted ?

A frames are bad newe abroad, certainly the spanish don't like them, and will get a pull

Depending on the motorhome, will goven what you can tow,, the vast majority will be around the 14-1500 kg,, and front wheel drive, any more, and you have to go rear wheel drive, then about 2000kg

I regularly tow about 2800kg, so have to run a Iveco based MH, which give about 3000kg

As Whyman posted, you have to look on the chassis plate, most converters also put a plate on the body,,(normally a bit less that the one under the bonnet)
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