8ft wide caravans - our experience so far
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- čas přidán 21. 07. 2024
- In this video I share our experience of travelling, camping and using an 8ft wide caravan.
If you also own a wide caravan, please add your experience to the comments below so those who are genuinely interested can also gauge your opinion and if an 8ft wide caravan would suit them.
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CHAPTERS
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0:00 Introduction
1:33 Our towing experience
6:25 Storing an 8ft wide caravan
7:39 Campsite manoeuvres
9:51 Conclusions
We changed from a Lunar Quasar 546 to a 8ft wide in 2018. I agree with everything Dan said, it really isn’t that much wider than a standard width caravans. You very quickly get used to it. We’ve done thousands of miles with it including trips to France on the Euro tunnel. I was really concerned about getting it on the train in one piece, but it was fine. I took my time and gave myself plenty of room to get lined up to go in the train carriage. If you’re worried about the width, don’t be, you’ll very quickly get used to it.
I’ve taken my 8ft wide van to France on euro tunnel with no problems. The extra space inside these caravans make such a huge difference considering it’s such a little difference in size especially if you have a transverse bed as you can easily get around them at night.
We have recently bought a Bailey Pegasus Grande Brindisi and I find it ties more stable , yes I need extended wing mirrors & worried about the width But if your front end goes through your back end follows . It’s amazing the feeling of extra space inside and I would whole heartedly recommend to go 8ft wide. It’s that feeling of more space when you pass each other in the van , the feeling of not being on top of each other , feels more like an apartment on wheels 😂
I like to think of it as not overall width but ( from a 7ft 6 van) only 3 inches each side of centre. Unbelievable difference inside . Room around a transverse bed to walk round , and more roomy in the lounge. Also as the wheelbase is wider it doesn’t run in the ruts made by narrower vehicles.
I have been towing an 8ft wide van now for a year my experience is this
1. Tows great
2. Overhanging trees and bushes are an issue on narrower wheels, I have yet to see an 8ft wide van without scratches down the door side, mine included.
3. You do have to watch the wheels on curbs etc as it does like to cut the corner
4. That extra bit of space inside absolutely makes all the difference, far more than you ever think it could.
5. I’ve had no issues at the storage pitch
6. On some of the older sites I have found the van to be wider than the concrete pad.
All said and done however I love it and wouldn’t go back
We have upgraded to a 8ft wide Alicanto Grande Porto and as a lady towing the caravan I thought it was fine, a twin axle is more stable.
Dan I would love to see a video on a step by step guide on the heating system, same for hitching up, connecting the water and pros and cons with the onboard water tank when do you use it etc etc. I know you have done some brilliant videos with the basic stuff but I would love to see it on a new caravan as things are different, love the videos
Thanks for this Dan we will be going from a bailey phoenix 642 too a Evora this video helps clear the mind
Hi Dan , thanks for the video. We tow a 2021 Coachman Laser 575 Excel (8' wide on a single axle). This is our first caravan. So far we have towed in UK Herefordshire, Devon and Cornwall and abroad in France Dordogne (Ile de Re, Langedoc and Provence) and across Spain to the Mediterranean coast at Tarragona and Valencia. In June we're heading down to the Cote D'Azur for 3 weeks. With single exception of the a choke point on the A381 leaving Modbury CAMC towards the A38 we've had no issues safely towing our caravan. The issue on the A38 was caused by unfortunate timing meeting an HGV with an overhanging load on the narrowest section of road. When I'm towing in the UK I keep the caravan about 20cm off the kerb (dependent on potholes) by lining up a marker on the dashboard with the edge of the kerb. No issues driving on the right in Europe because I adjust the drivers side cars mirror to see the kerb and using the extension mirrors to rearward visibility. Absolutely no issues manoeuvring on campsites. Love the additional interior space and the fact we can walk around the transverse island bed with it extended.
Picking up my first 8 footer the weekend…can’t wait!!! 😊😊
Totally agree with you - we changed to an 8ft wide last year and it has been so great to have the extra space especially as we have two large dogs who take up a lot of floor space !
Thanks for the video looking at upgrade challenger grande 650l next yr, sets my mind at ease !
Recently bought a Bailey Porto and had all the concerns you mentioned but you are absolutly right in everingthing you talk about, all my worries have gone and its far more stable to tow than our previous single axel, i have read the comments and agree love the van and the video.
Have to agree with you Dan. Picked up our 8 footer from Lancashire. I was half way to Scotland when I remembered it was wider. No difference, 👍
Hi Dan, last year I swapped from a 2 berth Bailey Ranger to a Bailey 8 ft Brindisi. I too was very nervous about the extra size - 8 inches width & 4 feet length for me. But by the second trip, I felt very comfortable. I've even taken it on some very narrow lanes round the back of Skiddaw due to the A66 being closed by an accident. But the space inside is awesome. The space at the end of a transverse island bed is really good, unlike some non 8 footers we looked at. I always say that it feels like a holiday cottage once we are pitched up
Hi. We returned to caravanning after a 20+ year break, we went for the Bailey Alicanto Grande Porto, like you I was full of anxiety and perceived issues about the 8ft Van. I went on a CAMC Towing Course as a refresher and from the moment we hit the road, like you all anxieties and perceived issues disappeared. I find that with proper route planning, and watching excellent video's like yours, we are able to plan well enough ahead to avoid most issues. Manoeuvring and siting as yet hasn't caused any issues, and luckily my storage works a bit like a ferry with a drive in and out arrangement (I know i'm very lucky) also like you 110kg nose weight seems to be the sweet spot and the extra space makes life so nice. Keep up the good work.
Our first van is an 8ft wide twin axel so I guess it helps as we didn’t have the experience of a narrower van in the past.
Key point you made was the mirrors and if they go through then the van will follow.
I did get a specific sat nav so I was able to put the dimensions of the van in to it, last thing I wanted was to be taken down a small track. Been using it for 15 months now and so far it’s all be good.
Twin axel for stability I found as a new to towing was a help, just more stable towing which has given me more confidence.
Hi Dan I remember the first time I drove an HGV. It was a six wheeler horse box with accommodation for 6 Police Horses, a kit room, kitchen and crew area then the cab. I sat behind the wheel and felt like I was about to drive a room on the road. Within 10 minutes I was driving through the Mersey Tunnel. All my fears and anxiety just disappeared, it was great. I’m sure with big vans people will feel the same.
I agree with everything you have said, our latest van is a Swift Challenger 580 SE Grande, I honestly can’t tell the difference from towing our Vigo. My motto, like yours is ‘ if the mirrors go through so will the van’, that has done me well in 12 years of towing.
Thanks for another great video Dan 👍
Thank you for that video, making clear how you feel about your 8ft twin-axle. Appreciate it! We rented different models before buying and fall in love with 8ft twin-axle soon. As you mentioned it tows like a train, following the ruts, is more wind stable and do not „dance“ as much. We choose symetric length before and after axle so it minimized clear out. With this my wife feels comfortable in towing so we share driving. Where the mirrors go, the caravan will follow.
Of course handling a heavy caravan is more advanced in terms of maneuvering/levelling so if you can afford it, just add movers. This adds up to less anxiety because in worst case you could just unhitch. And if its set up you enjoy every hour the great living space which maybe reward you some maybe anxiety minutes.
Brilliant and informative video. Many thanks.
Our first 8’ wide van was a Messina and we changed to the Evora last November, love the Evora and the space it gives you inside and like you I was initially apprehensive about towing 8’ wide but you quickly get used to it. Don’t think I’d ever go back to a single axle now though, twin axle are so much more stable on the road.
Last year we changed from our Bailey Unicorn 3 Vigo to an Evora.
Like you, I was a bit apprehensive about the extra width and length, and like you, after a very short time towing I was just as comfortable as with the narrower van.
Also like you, I have found the change from single to twin axle to have been far more significant than the larger size. When towing, everything just feels much more stable. The first time we were overtaken by a lorry, I was poised to make the steering adjustments that had always been required with the Vigo, and was astonished that none were needed. The one thing that I do very slightly differently is taking sharp turns a little bit wider to allow for that extra length and the way that the twin axle steers.
Having said all that, last year when towing down fairly narrow single track winding roads in Cornwall, I did find myself trying to read the road a bit further ahead and more critically assessing passing places. (In part this was as a response to the waves of silent concern and occasional yelp of alarm from the passenger seat).
The extra space inside is astonishing!
Hi Dan, My 1st 8ft van is the Evora and had it almost 1 year now and i can say it is no harder to tow than all other vans i have had in the last 30+ years, was a little worried at first but i just try to plan my navigation to avoid narrow roads if i can but that's how i have always done it, i tow with a Full Size Range Rover so it's a bit of a beast but well worth it. Love he vid's 🙂
Another great video!!
We have the Porto S1 and the most obvious difference between it and our previous Unicorn with was 7foot6 wide is the internal space. The extra wide makes a huge difference internally. More space in every area is amazing!
As mentioned in the video towing etc is the same as any other twin axle.
We wouldn’t now go back to a “standard” width caravan.
If going for a wider van and you store it at home the 1st thing to is check your driveway width
We have a Bailey Pegasus Grande Brindisi. We love the extra space, on that part it is a fantastic caravan. On the road it has been generally fine, I do notice we tend to catch a few more potholes on the narrower roads but now pack carefully.
Interesting vlog, cheers, our caravan stays in our drive way which is extremely handy, and an eight footer wouldn't fit, plus we seem to be staying on grass at CSes these days which don't seem to be very keen on twin axles, especially in the winter.
Hi Dan, great video!
We had a 7ft4 twin and have just recently changed to an 8ft wide twin . We picked it up from Burnley last week and drove it back straight to site in sunny Suffolk. Unfortunately because of the traffic we didn’t arrive until 830 in the evening with the site then in total darkness. I initially was very nervous , especially coming out of the dealership through two metal gate posts and then down a skinny road . It was a tad nerve wracking to begin with but it didn’t take long to get used to it and I felt like a seasoned pro by the time I’d got to site 😂 . We wouldn’t go back to a smaller van, that small amount of extra width makes such a huge difference inside the van. 8ft all the way now 😁👍🏻.
Thanks for this vlog, we've just bought an 8 foot wide Coachman laser xtra 575 caravan but unfortunately we can't tow yet as we are waiting for our tow car. My hubby is nervous about the extra width but this vlog has helped put his mind at rest. 😊
We are on our first caravan holiday as I speak, just one night to get use to setting up our van. It’s our first van and my first time towing anything. We have a Elddis rambler 6 berth that’s 22f long and 8f wide. We’ve had it over a year but was always scared to take it out 😂 but once I bit the bullet it’s not as bad as you think. It’s so smooth and I don’t know what I was ever scared of. Looking forward to the memories we are now going to make 😊
Hi Dan, here in New Zealand 8 ft wide, have been a standard size for many years. It has only been in recent years when we started importing caravans from the UK that the narrower ones have appeared on our roads.
Hi Dan
We upgraded to an 8ft TA in January but in November '23 after we did the deal on the van we almost got wiped out by an HGV in our Pamplona on the way back from Wells which we would have if it was an 8ft wide van so we were thinking of cancelling our order. We decided not to and it's been the best decision we've made. Its surprising how much 6" gives you (so much room) you don't know your towing it you've just got to be carefull on B roads. In general as long as your aware of your position on the road especially roundabouts it's perfect. We have moved to a larger plot at our storage site but the 4 sites we've visited so far we've encountered no issues. Happy caravanning, Gaz
Hi Dan. We went from our first van a twin axle Lunar Delta which I think is 7’6” to our new Bailey Brindisi single axle which is 8’ wide. I too was nervous but 3” wider each side didn’t seem too bad theoretically. Of course the longer mirrors for the 8’ wide helped enormously and if anything, the near side caravan wheel is somewhat closer to the kerb at times but nothing major. I think if I focus on driving like I always did with the Lunar, wide cornering etc, it’s no different. Absolutely love the space inside albeit I can’t put my feet up on the opposite side anymore! 😂
We’ve just bought a Swift Elegance Grande 845 and I had the same concerns as you even though Im an ex HGV driver (silly, I know, but when its your money you’re towing behind you, you have a different view of it). As you said, its all in your head. Within 2 miles of leaving the dealers, it was not really any different to towing our last 7ft 6in van. As for the space inside, WOW !!! The wife and I can move about without getting in each other’s way. If anyone is thinking about changing to 8ft, just do it and don’t worry about the voices in your head giving you negative thoughts.
In the United States of America we have 8 ft 6 wide RVs they are so spacious inside and there is absolutely no trouble towing them on the highways or in the campgrounds I highly recommend them
Our tow vehicles are a lot more reasonable though. Some of the vehicles that the Brits use to tow these trailers wouldn't be rated to tow anything in North America. My tow vehicle is 8 feet wide (F450), so an 8'6" trailer is really not an issue.
We have a Bailey Pegasus Grande Messina. It's our first caravan so I cannot comment what it's like with a single axle. It pulls a treat and I do not have any problems with towing at all. I like you thought it was going to be enormous but I just relax as soon as i'm on a motorway. Going to Anglesey on Thursday on a CL and cant wait.
We have just upgraded oir Bailey Phoenix +644 to a new Pegasus GT75 Messina. So gone from a 7ft6 single axle to an 8ft twin axle. I was nervous on our first trip out a few weeks ago, but it was no problem at all. Even through the windy b roads to a site in the Forest of Dean. Off to North Wales in few weeks!
Yes there definitely worth it the extra width is distributed down the whole of the van and it gives extra space not just in the floor but also in washroom and bed area it's took a long time for British caravans to go 8ft and there's no going back
Totally agree with you Dan, we bought an 8ft wide Bailey Pegasus Grande SE Brindisi last year moving from a 2 berth Bailey Pegasus 462. I found the Brindisi really easy to transition to with no real discernible difference regarding size when towing, I actually found the heavier van to be more stable and and a smoother tow than the smaller one. Like you the only thing I had to change was my pitch at the storage yard as the Brindisi was both longer and wider than the 462. For me the benefits of the extra living space far out way any minor negatives that the 8ft van might have.
Totally agree, Dan, went from my first caravan, and having never towed anything before, a 2 berth Elddis Affinity 520 purchased in 2021, to the new 8ft Crusader Aurora last July. I still consider myself a novice tower. Like you were, I was so apprehensive... not an issue at all, the extra width is negieble but the difference inside is huge. As you said, if you're considering it, do it if I can anybody can. 😊
We have an 8ft twin axle Bailey and find it so much more stable when touring. The twin axle makes for a much smoother ride too. The only thing is a motor mover becomes a must have. The extra width isn't that noticeable when towing, but makes a huge difference to the living area. Our transverse bed works so much better with the extra width.
Hi Dan, we have the 8ft wide Porto 2020, we came from a much smaller van and i have to be honest i love everything about it and in terms of towing i was nervous but its actually not that bad and i find the stability is fantastic. the extra space is worth it for us as a family and when we go out on our own, I do watch a lot of you tube videos about approaches to sites and check google maps just to be sure.
We've changed from a single axel 7'6" Swift to a twin axel 8ft wide Buccaneer. Agree with all your comments, towing no problem, reversing is slower but van doesn't react as quickly. We all love the extra space inside.
Have to agree with all you say, we upgraded to an 8ft wide twin axle caravan last September and love the extra space it brings inside. As luck would have it, we found ourselves on more narrow roads and tight spots in our first few months with the caravan than we did with our previous smaller one, and didn’t have any issues with getting through safely. I would agree the twin axle feels more stable, although we’ve struggled to get the nose weight down to the 100kg limit on our towbar - it was always the opposite with our smaller single axle caravan. Only issues we’ve noticed is it takes a bit more time to turn with the motor movers, and despite having my extension mirrors on maximum, I can’t see a car behind that is close, so we’ve just had a Falcon rear camera fitted, as you did, and that’s solved the problem. All in, don’t notice much difference towing, but the extra space inside just seems massive.
Hi Dan...we bought an 8' Lusso twin axle after owning a Bailey Jive 570/6 7'6" caravan before that and never had an issue towing. I always use Google maps to view the route as if you're driving both with the Bailey and the Lusso. 1st trip with the 8' was from NE to Dorset during that heatwave in Summer 2022 followed by trips to Waleswood (3 times) , Hawick in the borders , Hornsea and Linwater (Edinburgh). Our next trip is to Donkey Creek Farm in Fylde.
The only road so far I wouldn't take on again is the A83 from Tarbet to Glenbarr on the Kintyre peninsula which was not a journey I'd want to repeat even though the caravan on that trip was 7'6" often due to lochs on one side of the road and mountains on the other and double length log carrying HGVs coming around narrow bends with no where to go so often I just stopped until they passed...journey back from Glenbarr much easier as used the Ferry back to the mainland.
The 8' is noticeably roomier as is the extra 1/2 metre or so in length (7.98m).
One place we did manage to negotiate towing the 8' due to a series of events was York City centre with its bus lanes , parked cars , pedestrians , 1 way roads etc etc ..not something I'd want to do again but made it in and out unscathed.
Hi Dan, great review as always. I was also a little apprehensive when we went from our 7’ 6” Swift to our 8’ Buccaneer. The only thing I find which is a pain in the bum is getting it on our driveway. The reason being I have to turn the caravan 90 degrees on the quad motor movers. The single axle would simply pivot around no problem, but with a twin axle it takes a lot longer moving back and forwards to turn it.
We bought a new Pegasus Brindisi (side bed) and took delivery in January 2022. Since then we've done over 4K miles including touring through Portugal and Spain. We still can't quite believe the extra space over our previous Swift Challenger. As you say, £20 on mirror extensions and 20 miles later you've forgotten about the extra six-inch width.
We did find our mpg dropped slightly and put that down to increased wind resistance, partly due to extra width but also Baileys have the aerodynamics of a brick.
I agree with your experiences and also own an 8ft wide cvan. If you are confident and experienced towing a standard width cvan, then moving up to an 8ft should present no problems. The extra space gained inside can not be understated. As 8ft wide cvans are heavier, when matching to a suitable car, the chances are the tow car will need to be a larger type car. A larger car with a high towbar weight limit, and 8ft wide cvan makes for a good combination. Only thing I have noticed is increased buffeting by HGVs (single axle cvan) and need to allow a little more room when cornering.
I own a 8ft wide Pegasus Grande SE Messina I totally agree with you Dan "No problem to tow" What I will say is on country lanes it can be a bit tight if you meet a large vehicle coming the other way. I have the westfalia towbar with dedicated electronics when you connect the van to the car it turns the car ESP into trailor stability which gives fantastic tow experience with the Alko ATC. Inside the Messina the bed is at the back, it gives plenty of room around the bed. Bailey state you get 20% more space with 8ft wide.
We have had an 8ft wiide challenger since 2020 have never had a problem either with towing or sites,being an ex lgv driver probably makes towing easier for me.I think your comment about the cat's whiskers is excellent advice.
I find that an 8ft wide van is more stable to tow.
I have had my 8feet TA Bessacarr van for a year and 2 months now, and have towed 3500 miles in the UK with it. My last van was 7feet 6 inches. The extra width makes next to no difference when towing. It is nearly a metre longer so tight LH turns need a fraction extra forward motion before turning but again very little really. The towing experience is better and like you said smoother.
However moving it onto a pitch is different. I am "hit and miss" when reversing the van. Sometimes perfect and sometimes all over the place, so I use a quad mover when pitching the van. My previous single axle turned on a sixpence using the mover, however now turning takes planning and a wheel often drags during the turn. I often take many maneuvers to achieve the turn. This being said I love the additional space the 8feet gives and ease of towing and wont be going back to a smaller van.
Great, informative video, thank you!
Went from a Lunar Lexon (twin) at 7'6" to a Bailey Pegasus Grande Messina (twin) at 8' wide.
Lunar was same width as the car, so driving through towns was 'easy'. Also the tracking width of the van tyres same as car. So edge of road was easy found and 'predictable'.
When changing to the Messina had to adjust to the fact that now the van was wider than the car, but more so, that the wheels of the van were no longer 'tracking' the car tyres. Especially on single track roads need to be mindful where the van tyres are.
Our first, and only, caravan so far is an 8 footer, a Bailey Pegasus Grande Messina. We loved the space and thought the layout was perfect so didn't want to compromise on getting a smaller caravan. I was though very apprehensive about towing such a unit. I found a dealer with an 8 foot van for sale, who did towing courses. And he provided a tow car (cost extra) on the day as we'd need to upgrade our car too if we were to take the plunge. A half day towing course later, with an 8 foot van and I was very happy to go ahead and have not looked back since. The only thing I've found is the Milenco mirrors - due to the extra long bars and the size of the mirrors there must be considerable drag on them, especially at 60mph. So much that I have had the outer brackets moving on the car mirrors early on. I now tighten them absolutely as tight as I can by hand, still worrying about whether I'm going to crack the moulding on the mirror (not yet), but they stay put. No more surprise stops on the M6 to sort them out thank goodness. Keep up the good work Dan!
hi Dan et al, having just upgraded to the 8ft Bailey Alicanto Grande 2 Lisbon, i agree i was extremely anxious the first couple of runs out.. the main change is that I am planning our routes a lot more in detail to avoid narrow B roads, this does mean we are tending to do more miles but would prefer to be less stressed about meeting another oncoming wide vehicle . Bizarrely we are having more of an issue getting the noseweight right as its still a single axle but has the rear bed which means we cant tow with very much under the bed anymore & more kit is packed in the car
Was initially dubious about towing 8ft vans but for the last 2 years have operated a towing business in Scotland and tow many 8fts (Wilson Caravan Towing). Can honestly say I find these easier in comparison to the smaller widths. A lot of the towing is in the Scottish Highlands so can be windy A and B roads.
We have just bought our very first caravan and its an 8ft wide
I love my 8ft wide van tows lovely with my 3litre V6 Tourag 👍
We are on our second 8ft wide caravan.
The first was a Coachman Vip 540. This current caravan an Adria Alpina Rio Grande is a very big single axle caravan. Going from a standard size to a 8ft is the suck on motorways caused by overtaking lorries, that's been the only noticeable diffrence. The Adria at 8.2 long is big at 2t.
We have an Alaria Ri which is 8ft wide. No issues towing (the discovery is wide anyway).
No regrets owning an 8ft. Seems more stable on the road than our previous 7’6” Bailey single axel.
Inside space is massive though.
A real tardis trick.
Hi Dan, we now have an Elegance 850 and before that a Unicorn Pamplona. Agree with everything you have said but I have a warning! Going from a single axle 7'6" to a TA 8' you have to seriously look at your car's towing capability due to the extra weight. So, your recommendation to " just do it" is not a good idea without looking at the whole outfit and potential extra cost of a new tow car! My tow car is a newish VW Touareg with air suspension so the whole outfit is level and have no issues towing.
BTW, I use the 4 x wheel motor movers to reverse the van onto a pitch, so much easier as it can turn almost like a SA van.
Loving your videos Dan, new subscriber. Have you ever toured to Pembrokeshire?
8ft will be on my radar for the future 🙂
I’m on my third Twin axle, I now own an Avante 868. Coming from a Unicorn Segovia I agree with everything Dan has said. My only comment is for B road driving, I have towed the same roads now with all my caravans and I personally noticed the 8ft wide unit overhangs the white line on some narrower B roads. My previous unicorn would have been on the white line, the 8ft is over it. But this really depends on the road, as mentioned A roads, motorways no issue.
I also find reversing no issue, it’s the length in tight spots that’s more of an issue but twin axles turn slower so are easier in my opinion.
If your trading up to a twin axle from a single and only ever use motor movers to pitch your van then you will really notice the difference. A single axle will spin on the spot, a twin will not and needs more turning circle.
Hope that helps.
Stuart.
We had an 8' wide Avante 860. Totally messed up on first trip ended up towing it down Winterage Lane in Kent at night on the way to Dover 😬 took out my nearside towing mirror but the van survived with bramble rash which polished out luckily. TBH when in France I found the length of a large twin axle more problematic than the width. BTW we now use co pilot as Sat Nav.
I went from a 6 bearth motorhome to a lunar elite. They are both 8 ft wide and van has a double axle. The width is not a problem it just follows you of course. The length of mine is 7.8 mtrs and this needs to be considered but the motorhome was 7.3 so not a big difference. The huge difference is the internal space. Because there is no cab then there is upto 30% more in the van. As we can use the car to travel around it is a no contest for me. My car is a Volvo xc40 t5 twin engine inscription pro. We have been up some very steep hills as the sat nav takes us on the shortest route with no problems. With the battery the power is 260hp, plenty. Ee love this method of holidaying but also go on a few beach holidays as we are retired.
hi dan i bought a bailey rimini 8 ft wide having never owned or towed a caravan before i found it very daunting when i picked it up at the dealers after a couple of hrs i got the hang of things so if i can do it with no experience at all anyone can just take your time and keep calm
Interesting stuff ... no particular thoughts for or against BUT won't have one as it wouldn't fit down my drive ... just manage with 7ft 6
I've had a Hobby 720UML since 1999. It's covered 100,000 miles behind my Landcruiser. I have never encountered a problem with its 2.4m width.
Can’t say I have had any problems towing our Bailey Alicanto Porto, and it’s better towing a twin axle. I did purchases Snooper Satnav that plans the route based on the dimensions of what you are towing, this has saved us from the car Satnav taking down narrow roads and does provide some peace of mind.
We bought an 8ft wide, twin axle as our very first caravan. My hubby says it's fine to tow, just take it steady and give yourself a little bit more room.
We upgraded to 8ft 2 years ago, the additional space inside is brilliant, but I do think towing on smaller roads including some A roads is more difficult, mostly by other drivers hugging the white lines. The van totally fills most roads, try towing in Cornwall with one, frightening, but saying that I wouldn’t change back
My transition to the 8ft wide Adria Isonzo was via smaller caravans so I guess I wouldn’t recommend buying a wide van as a first caravan. The space is great inside and makes a real difference regarding space around beds etc. they are a bit imposing at first and we have learned to watch “approach videos “ to suss out the roads approaching the site. Bob Earnshaw videos are good for this. I’m sure there are times when I can get through a gap but don’t want to scratch the side of the van - so I wait! 😀. On site isn’t a problem typically as we tend to go to CAMC sites so plenty of space. We keep ours on the drive and it fits well. There are comments saying that large caravans are banned from some sites but we haven’t found a problem. So in summary it’s a resounding YES from me.
So, I moved from a 2011 Bailey Pegasus 7 ft 6 inches to an Adria Adora in 2018. Love the additional space in the caravan which feels a lot more than 6 inches.... But, it is more difficult to tow down lanes in UK. European trips have been fine on ferries and euro tunnel. I wouldn't want to tow this heavy single axle with anything smaller than my LR. Conclusion... We use it less in UK... But we love it when we do.
Picked up my Lusso 2 a couple of weeks ago, my first ever caravan so don’t really have anything to compare it to. But having said that I find towing it very straight forward (have been out on various roads a good dozen or so times) and reversing it is much easier than the single axel caravan that was on my training course. Yet to take it to site but I can’t see that being a problem or am I being naive, we’ll see.
Do I regret my choice… not one little bit.
We have an 8ft wide TA. The only issues we have is the fact we live 1 mile down a country lane and risk meeting a farm vehicle at any point. Never had issue in France but We have got stuck on sites in Spain, their access and roads around sites can be tight and their pitches aren’t always generous. I do journey plan in advance and tend to stick to roads I know will not be an issue. Totally got caught in a rut on the m25 the other day, was scary because I had to yank the car out of it.
Had a mh’s since 2008 which we loved but changes in circumstance in health we sold it, had an 18mth sabbatical, we recently bought (feb 1st) an 8ft wide and 8.3 metre long. It’s an Adria. 30+ years since having a caravan. We’ve been a bit selective as to which sites we frequented to hopefully avoid narrow lanes and entrances were used too. This enables hubby to get proportions sorted in his head before we tackle Cornwall in May and getting used to the extra width required on turning. Hubby did a day course to help. We’ve a Hilux so towing is a breeze. Towing length is pretty long. The Adria has a longer towing A frame, which in the blurb is supposed to give a better towing experience. So far it’s been no different(I haven’t towed) to the MH, I did drive the mh which was 7.5 mtrs, 4.5 tons, so had to be selective where we went in that too, however it’s slower due to the speed restrictions. The space we have is great, bigger kitchen, more floor space for the dogs and cat, better bathroom. More wardrobe space too. I’m glad we went for the larger size, but as it was so long ago since caravan we don’t have a true experience of anything smaller.
Hello, can I ask more about how you like your hilux for towing. We are considering upgrading our car and this is something we are looking at. Thank you
To be fair we’ve nothing to compare to. It tows well and loads of space for storage. We’ve the auto, which I’d recommend. Wouldn’t go back to a manual if can help it.
Abit nervous at first but when you get used to it it's not so bad the extra room more than makes up for it
My tow vehicle is 8 feet wide, so an 8 foot wide trailer is not an issue. Both of my trailers are 8'6" wide.
Hi Dan,ive bought the bailey evora aswell,have you had any problems with your van??,we have a list of faults with ours. the front blinds dont open properly stick on the guides and the adhesive for the surround comes away at bottom,also our dometic fridge is faulty as it doesnt chill,the seat cushions are sagging already,been waiting since oct last year to get the parts sorted under warranty,but i agree that the 8ft is much better all round than standard size 👍👍
We have an 8ft Buccaneer Commodore which we tow with a Discovery 4. It's our 3rd twin axle but first 8ft. At 2000kg I think the weight is more of an issue than the width, hence the D4. The width has never been an issue and the stability in towing is excellent. Due to the equipment weight we have little payload allowance so it all goes in the D4 which adds to stability. We tow at about 105kg noseweight and she won't start to "float" until 70mph which of course we never do. All in all I think 8ft is well worth it and we'd never go back.
If the trailer is 2,000kg, you need more than 105kg on the hitch. The minimum weight on a conventional hitch should be 10% of the trailer weight.
Our conventional hitch is a 30' enclosed trailer rated at 14,000 lbs GVW. We tow it at 75+ mph all day long with no issues at 1,400 lbs on the hitch (Ford F450 crew cab).
Hi thanks for the video really helpful, have you found your fuel costs have gone up. Thanks Dave.
That's all very well but see how that fits in villages in Scotland, Wales and Devon, You forget that most of those roads are single track roads made for the skinny Vehicles of the 1930's / 1940's, and If you pull in to a marked out parking bay at the side of the road you most likely will get a Fine for parking out side the Lines, If thats what you want to camp in then fine, But Narrow light Caravans are much better suited to UK Roads, The extra 200mm is the differance in getting through those narrow streets or having to reverse back down the way you came or picking another route, The caravans of the 1950's / early 1960's were 8ft wide and bigger, Advising people to jump in and buy one is all very well but you need to warn them of all of the above, Noting that some of the streets in those places mentioned are even a struggle for a 7ft +/- Caravan, It's a Lovely Caravan you have and good on ya for owning it, But just beware of the above pitfalls.
Absoutely, we had a similar situation in a town centre in France where we were squeezing through a narrow gap with our standard width van,. When you are as close as you ever want to be on one side then all the extra 8" is on the other.
Hi Dan..we don't tow but hope to in the future .a question for you.would it make any difference to the towing if the rear suspension on the towing vehicle was upgraded??..thanks.ps love the vlogs
I went from a single axle standard width to a twin axle 8ft wide, and honestly i didn't gel with it, I certainly noticed the width. A lot of the country lanes i drove down just didnt feel right.
But its what everyones feels differently. shame there is no try before you buy.
That was interesting mate. The storage issue is a bit strange. Can't see why storage yards would not accommodate 8' wide vans. 🤷♂️
Hi Dan just started watching carry on caravaning and saw you in the first episode. You've lost a lot of weight since then
Just watched your video Dan. I’m a HGV driver of 42 years, so towing an 8ft wide caravan shouldn’t be a problem. We have a 7’6” Coachman laser twin axle and we’ve been down to Devon a couple of times and I know that the road to Putsborough sands at Woolacombe would be a no go for an 8 footer as it’s only just wide enough for our Coachman. I’d be happy to tow with a 8ft wide caravan knowing the majority of our roads are suitable for such outfits. 😉
What about the road into Croyde bay?
@@stuarttaylor5052
Hello Stuart. I’ve never taken a caravan to Croyde Bay so I’m not too sure.
I had to take my neighbours caravan back to their storage yard as their car broke down. I’m used to pulling a 7’6 twin axel van. I did not even know the neighbours van was 8ft wide until they said after the fact.
Dan, what are your thoughts regarding the much higher cost of 8ft wide vans? Is the space gained worth the higher price?
Was that Brecon caravan site you were driving around? I was there last week
Hi Dan, you didn't mention fuel consumption. This must surely increase with a wider van? Have to say that we've gone the other way and downsized to an Eriba with an inflatable awning. It's an absolute joy (and ecconomical) to tow and we can take it anywhere with little fear of getting stuck.
Check out the last Q&A where I discuss tow cars, specifically ours.
The storage place where we keep our caravan will not take 8 foot vans. We looked at 3 other stoage places and all 3 said no to 8 footers. That would meen our van storage would have to be over 20 miles away.
Hi, I just wondered if you would mind doing a video on detachable towbars? I noticed you have a Witter Detachable, which is what I have on my Mark 4, 2014 Ford Mondeo. I wanted a detachable flange towbar so that I could change the ball if needed but, also the ability to store the neck away.
You mentioned your car could tow 3500kg. My Mondeo is rated to tow 2000kg (2.0l TDCi Auto Titanium X) however, the Witter range of towbars are only rated to 1750kg. I'm not sure why they would make a towbar and for it NOT to be rated to the maximum tow capacity of the car. So now, I have to ensure that my caravan and load are below 1750kg so, I try to keep to below 1500kg just to be on the safe side.
I'm not sure if you have a relationship with Witter that you could ask them as I'm sure this may affect other viewers?
I would love longer caravan
Do caravans in the UK normally have slide outs?
I think worth saying you have to be much more aware of your road positioning on B roads
Am I wrong in saying twin axles I thought were not allowed on caravan stirs unless sited there. Someone correct me if I’m wrong or getting muddled up
This is incorrect, however some (very few) dislike twin axles on grass pitches. But I’ve personally not come across one yet.
Only downside for us is we had to buy a new front cover...😊
Hi Dan I understand that your car can take 150kg, but I have read that the maximum limit on the Alko Chassis was 100kg even though the fitted hitch by Bailey was rated to S150, Is this not the case anymore?
On our previous ‘van it was exactly as you state S150 on hitch and 100kg on a-frame. This van is rated at 150Kg on A-Frame. 👍
Only question is what is the alko chassis rated at as for nose weight I thought they where a 100 kgs maximum
Hi, The hitch is rated at 150Kg. See here for more info.
czcams.com/video/aRONnIXuSt4/video.htmlsi=lLv__MigNG0wxMtt
Yes but what's the alko chassis on the caravan rated at
Totally agree no issue going to 8ft wide apart from first time out at Littlehampton Caravan and Motorhome site. Parked between white pegs was only 8ft wide. Then measured from side of caravan for awning only 300cm to grass for awning and the car was next to the water barrel which had to park tyres on grass. May have been unlucky this time, just watch out going forward. Keep the great content coming.