Buy a Touring Caravan

Scepticle about towing a caravan, well hundreds of thousands of people are very happy to do it regularly. There are the obvious differences to towing, the extra length means you need to take a lttle extra care cornering, smooth braking and accelerating is required. Reversing a large unit always seems scary when you first attempt it, but with a l;ittle guidance you can soon master it.
There are courses you can go on which will teach you how to tow safely and many are very relaxed giving you an enjoyable day of learning and masses of confidence.
It is recommended by the Caravan Club that the weight of the caravan with its contents should not exceed 85% of the car’s kerb, or unladen weight.
Most car manufacturers tell you the maximum weight a car can tow, though this is simply it’s pulling power, not a guide to outfit stability and safety.

Towing Legally
All drivers who passed their driving test after 1 January 1997 and have an ordinary Category B licence you can drive:

All drivers who passed a car test before 1 January 1997 retain their existing entitlement to tow trailers until their licence expires. This means they are generally entitled to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8.25 tonnes MAM. They also have entitlement to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750kgs MAM.

Drivers who hold subcategory C1+E - limited to 8.25 tonnes MAM, may apply for provisional entitlement to the new subcategory C1+E, in order to take and pass the test which will increase their combined vehicle and trailer entitlement to 12 tonnes MAM. It is not necessary to gain subcategory C1 entitlement first but drivers have to meet higher medical standards, and pass both the category C theory test and the subcategory C1+E practical test.

The optimum ‘noseweight'- (that is the weight of a laden caravan pushing down onto the car's towball) is around 7% of the caravans laden weight, always check what your car manufacturer states the limit is for your car.
It is a fact that over the years caravans have become longer and heavier.
Extra space can be obtained by buying an awning so you don't necesarily have to buy the longest caravan if it's space your looking for. The longer your caravan the more expensive it will be to take onto ferries for those foreign excursions.

Single Axle or Twin Axles?
The heavier and longer you caravan the more stabil it will be with two tyres on each side of the van. However most caravansare adequately supported by one axle. A twin axle caravan does not necessarily stand level and may have a heavier noseweight than that of a single axle.
On site it is easier to manoever a single axle but on the road there is more tyre in contact with the surface on a twin axle.

Check the amount you can carry in the caravan (payload allowance) in the handbook. Mass means weight.

Payload information includes:

What Birth Caravan
Decide how many people you’re likely to take on holiday with you. How many will need to sleep inside the caravan and how many will be able to sleep out in the awning. It is all very simple if you’re a couple who will
always be touring on your own. You simply need to decide if you prefer a double or two single beds.
Bunk beds are great for children they love them. A very popular choice in caravans these days is a fixed bed at the rear and front seating that can be concerted into beds at night, some will also have a central cafe style dinnette whch can convert into bunks. Cushion depth in seating if it going to be used as abed at night.
Most caravans now have all mod cons when it comes to kitchens and bathrooms, with fridges, freezers, microwaves, shower cubicles and flushing toilets. The choice is yours however, you may feel that you wish to opt for any older caravan as you will always be using on-site facilities and believe a bathroom would be a waste of space and weight.

Take a look at layouts at a dealership and try to imagine how you would live in the caravans on a daily basis, find out what you believe is the most practical layout for your family before you buy.