i need help from a veteran!

[stephy]

Hey everyone im new to the whole caravan thing but iv'e always wanted one since i was 12. now iv'e finally decided its time for me to buy one.

i know i want about a 12ft at the max.but my problem is i don't have a car that can tow anything let alone a caravan. Before i even buy one i'd like to know how much most 10-12ft caravans weigh? and what my minimum towing braked capacity should be?

do i have my head in the clouds hoping to be able to tow a caravan with a car like this ?

www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?R=7937888&__sid=128CFCC2E9B1&__Qpb=true&Cr=0&__Ns=pCar_RankSort_Int32|1||pCar_PriceSort_Decimal|1||pCar_Make_String|0||pCar_Model_String|0&keywords=&__N=1216%201246%201247%201252%201282%204294965579%204294965570%20901&seot=1&tsrc=allcarhome&__Nne=15&trecs=11&silo=1011

also here are some photos of caravans i fancy:

www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://tigerprint.typepad.com/.a/6a00e008d91f9d88340120a5800444970c-800wi&imgrefurl=http://tigerprint.typepad.com/tigerprint/2009/08/index.html&usg=__MHZeXe4_VPGhvwkAmtYvwh1-2pU=&h=489&w=685&sz=479&hl=en&start=43&zoom=1&tbnid=VU-GfrB1qn_IOM:&tbnh=159&tbnw=203&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmicro%2Bcaravans%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26biw%3D1680%26bih%3D838%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C233&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=1180&vpy=541&dur=1324&hovh=190&hovw=266&tx=179&ty=154&ei=F951TNnIKo6GvAPai4XHBg&oei=C951TMPHPJDouAOboa3qBQ&esq=2&page=2&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:43&biw=1680&bih=838

www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://muchos.co.uk/members/buskitten/Tiny%2520totty%2520Caravan%2520002.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/showthread.php%3Ft%3D583731%26page%3D3&usg=__GSpGqjVkYQ-HpwXGHR7TDv2WTkk=&h=375&w=500&sz=58&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=WwmClMAPLUA10M:&tbnh=132&tbnw=199&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dvintage%2Bcaravans%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26biw%3D1680%26bih%3D838%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=560&vpy=370&dur=10898&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=174&ty=77&ei=aN51TJfVGZv4vAOI7OTlBQ&oei=aN51TJfVGZv4vAOI7OTlBQ&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=35&ved=1t:429,r:16,s:0

www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://tinyhouseblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/reelsuite.jpg&imgrefurl=http://tinyhouseblog.com/tag/vintage/&usg=__6dDMTVB_idlQAZTfJrXQbuKbjdw=&h=576&w=768&sz=157&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=9CdExuB9yVyYwM:&tbnh=132&tbnw=199&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dvintage%2Bcaravans%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26biw%3D1680%26bih%3D838%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=311&ei=aN51TJfVGZv4vAOI7OTlBQ&oei=aN51TJfVGZv4vAOI7OTlBQ&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=35&ved=1t:429,r:24,s:0&tx=170&ty=68

www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.snailtrail.co.uk/images/polly3_000.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.snailtrail.co.uk/snails_for_sale.htm&usg=__XCUVYNTEKPMAxgXMrfNq5ZXhFBY=&h=464&w=630&sz=43&hl=en&start=35&zoom=1&tbnid=ob6jkRsIBM4c6M:&tbnh=139&tbnw=205&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dvintage%2Bcaravans%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26biw%3D1680%26bih%3D838%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C821&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=1379&vpy=340&dur=3697&hovh=193&hovw=262&tx=200&ty=112&ei=_d51TPoLh66-A8j1nbAG&oei=aN51TJfVGZv4vAOI7OTlBQ&esq=2&page=2&ndsp=32&ved=1t:429,r:21,s:35&biw=1680&bih=838

[curtis]

Hi Stephy.

Nice looking car - I have always like the stying of these.

I noticed the ad shows a braked tow capacity of 850kg. This means that if the caravan has its own brakes the car will tow a maximum of 850kg.

We has our '66 Franklin Freeway (12'9" long) weighed last week end and empty it weighed in at 860kg. Once it gets loaded up with all our goodies (bedding, food, kitchen utensils, annex etc) I reckon is could easily weigh another 200kg on to of that - maybe more.

Soooooo at 850kg you would be limited to a very small and light caravan, maybe up to 600kg max so that you can put all your stuff in it and still tow. At a guess - and it is only a guess - 10 ft is about it - or a teardrop.

Good luck
Dave

[DC3Td]

Hi Stephy. I own an aluminium teardrop. It is approximately 9'6"L x 6'2"H x 5'6"W. I towed it a few times around the block with my then 1600 twin port beetle. (see my avatar) Towed quite well actually. But one has to consider long distances,hills etc which i did at the time & didn`t want to attract unneccessary engine damage. Having said that though, another forum member Andrew tows his Slumber Coach teardrop with a beetle without issue.I have no idea as to weight of my caravan.(not on road as yet) Perhaps Reddo/Willyn might remember weight as they being former owners. cheers gordon

[Franklin1]

G'day stephy,

10ft vans will weigh anywhere between 500 to 700kgs unladen weight. 12ft vans can be between 600 and 800kgs unladen. As curtis has said above, you then have to add the weight of everything you carry in the van while it is being towed, eg. food, clothing, bedding, cookware, etc, etc. This can easily add another 400kgs to the unladen weight. I think the Hyundai car you've linked above would be better suited (and look more appropriate) to towing a teardrop.

The other option you have is to forget all about cars and braked towing limits, and go and buy that ninety dollar "special" van down the road from you. You could always get it converted to look like this...




Just tell your Dad you bought a horse, and it came with a free caravan! ;D

cheers,
Al.

[stephy]

thanks guys this is helpful but still i dont really like tear drops

see thing is i cant afford another second car so whatever car i get will have to be my everyday car oh dear. i did see another car i liked that was nice and sporty looking that could carry around 950kg mabey i'll just have to find a light weight caravan.

[philouise]

Hi, we have a 1992 toyota celica coupe with tow bar fitted.

Excellent ladies vehicle with lots of storage room in the boot when the back seats are folded down.

Celica's can tow 1200 kg and we have a 10 ft Franklin van which weighs 740 kg empty and is allowed to go to 1000 kg when full.

We haven't towed the van with the celica, only a box camping trailer. We tow the van with a newer Holden Astra Hatch (leased) but celicas have ample power.

Cheers.
Phil.

[stephy]

your a geniuos.

theres a 1995 celica that looks similar to the 2000 coupe AND it can pull 1200.


there just a tad more expnsive...which is weird.

[philouise]

G'day Stephy.
A reason for the price difference could be that our '92 celica has the pop-up headlights and by '95 the headlights were changed to "normal" and i think that was a preferred style.
Phil.