 | Home > Camping, Caravanning and Holidays > Buying a caravan,,Single or twin axle??? |
 
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| munch90 Member Since: 26 Oct 2013 Location: guildford Posts: 3558  
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They seem to be making quite big vans now with single axle , just dont look right to me i know vans have got lighter but twin axle must be more stable , but as you say harder to move when unhitched ( but could fit motormover )
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26th Jun 2015 9:05pm |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8580 
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Single axle easier to manoeuvre both on and off tow ball
Twin axle more stable when towing. Think carefully about layout. We use caravan as base at shows so going straight through door and being able to go into bathroom without going to other end of caravan is important to us. Swift/Sterling group of caravans? Would suggest you do not touch them with someone else's bargepole. They fall apart being towed down the M1 Get a Dixon Bate shock link, makes towing more relaxing and saves the caravan from self destructing! Brendan |
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26th Jun 2015 10:19pm |
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| RoddyK05 Member Since: 08 Apr 2015 Location: Inverclyde Posts: 633  
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Our 'van is a single axle, approx 23' shipping length. As there are only the two of us plus the two dogs we opted for a fixed bed layout which works really well for us. When the wife goes to her kip it's just a case of pulling the concertina door/blind shut and that's it. I can sit up and drink beer, watch the telly with headphones on or write my blog etc and she doesn't get disturbed. The front 'lounge' are is ideal for the dogs as they get a big comfy bed each which they make the most of.
As for moving the thing about, I am fortunate that I can just stick it out on the drive then unhitch, same at sites - I have never had to move the 'van about manually so I can't comment on that. I believe the twin axle tows with better stability than a single ( but have no proof ) but a properly loaded single axle tows easily enough and should be stable. Good luck with whatever you choose, it's a great way to spend the holidays. Having just seen Leeds post, I will remember to steer clear of the M1 with my Sterling caravan. Had it from new and is about 11 years old, never fallen to bits yet though 
 Click image to enlarge |
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26th Jun 2015 10:22pm |
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| RoddyK05 Member Since: 08 Apr 2015 Location: Inverclyde Posts: 633
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Get a Dixon Bate shock link, makes towing more relaxing and saves the caravan from self destructing!
Brendan[/quote] Brendan, do you use such a device? When I moved from the Disco to the 90 I was concerned about the shock loading being transferred to the caravan so I phoned my local Indispension dealer. He admitted he had never used one, but also said he had never sold one?? Is it a worthwhile ( albeit very expensive ) investment? Cheers, Roddy. |
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26th Jun 2015 10:34pm |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8580
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We bought a brand new Swift caravan about October time. Used it once locally, then in February went to Caravan and Camping show at the NEC. First day at the show, spent a lot of time on Swift stand trying to sort out the things which were not working/fallen apart. Lets say toilet, shower door fallen off, shower head at self destroyed, oven door fell off, heater would not work etc etc. This Swift caravan had been towed for less then 150 miles!
At less then 3 years old less then 5,000 miles the towing equipment self destructed and it cost us £600 to get it recovered on a low loader. Swift and Dickinson wheedle so much they make back street cowboy garages look like little angels! Older Swift caravans might be a bit sturdier. New ones? 
Do we now use a Dixon Bates shocklink? Yes it makes towing more relaxing and the Coachman caravan we now have has not fallen apart. I was at Dixon Bates or Bradleys in Bingley yesterday to buy a new shocklink, however they are out of stock at this moment, probably will have more back end of next week. It will be one of the first mods done to new 110 Our argument is £400 for a shocklink is cheaper then a £600 recovery bill and a £1,000 bill to get the caravan towing equipment sorted out. It does make the towing more comfortable. Also makes hitching up caravan easier if you have an Alko hitch which has a big handle on as it moves towball backwards by about 3" so helps clear the spare wheel. Yes I was sceptical about the shocklink, but Andy who assists us at shows uses one on his 130 and convinced me to get one. Brendan |
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26th Jun 2015 11:03pm |
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| RoddyK05 Member Since: 08 Apr 2015 Location: Inverclyde Posts: 633
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Cheers for that Brendan, I'll look into getting one now, especially if I dont need to remove the spare wheel from the rear door to hitch the thing up! Yes, the Alco can be a bit of an annoyance, but wouldn't be without it either. Is ithe shocklink 4 hole fixing, can I get a plate to attach it to a Dixon Bate adjustable height bar?
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26th Jun 2015 11:14pm |
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| lohr500 Member Since: 14 Sep 2014 Location: Skipton Posts: 1315 
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Given no restrictions on matching caravan to tow vehicle weights, on balance, I would go for a twin axle.
Had a couple of twins in the past and a single. For me the twins towed far better. Much more relaxing on longer journeys. The advantage of a single is ease of moving by hand in a tight spot if you haven't masses of storage space. Moving a twin by hand on anything other than really smooth tarmac is a nightmare, unless you have movers fitted. And fitting two Alko wheel locks on a twin is also not a pleasurable experience 
Not sure which would be easier to sell when its time to get rid. My gut feel says a lower weight single as it widens the customer base to those looking to tow with a lighter weight family car. But that could also mean good deals if you look to buy a used twin. |
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27th Jun 2015 7:23am |
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| Clemmo Member Since: 03 Aug 2012 Location: Mile Oak Posts: 1217 
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Cheers Gents,
My heart wants the twin. ( we have found a lovely van) ... But a reality check guides me to a single. We live in a cull de sac. Whenever we bring the van home I will have to turn in thro 180 manually Best keep thinking!!! Clemmo Make today a little better than yesterday but not so good as tomorrow.... Defender 90 HT............Pangea Green BMW X3 Msport............Carbon Black Mini Electric................Grey. (wow!) MGB Roadster……..........Vermillion 17k miles Honda Benly CD200....Maroon --------McLouis Fusio........7.4m of fun |
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27th Jun 2015 7:50am |
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| DAZ110 Member Since: 06 Dec 2007 Location: East Sussex Posts: 2035 
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I thought Mattt at FCX (Go beyond) had a touring caravan for sale ?
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27th Jun 2015 8:00am |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8580
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Always worth checking your driving licence to ensure you are licensed to tow.
Twin axle trailers are easier to move around if you use the jockey wheel to raise the front set of wheels off the ground then you have a 'single axle' trailer. Just make sure clamp on jockey wheel tube is tight and feet out from under A frame! Shock link is attached to adjustable height tow bar by a slider and two pins. I do have a couple of spare catalogues picked up from when I visited the factory. If anyone wants a copy just drop me your address via pm. Think these normally retail for about £450, if anybody wants one drop me a pm and I will see what I can do. We are definitely getting some for our new Defenders. Just be warned these are not lightweight items so will not come through your letter box. 
Brendan |
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27th Jun 2015 8:42am |
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| ibexman Member Since: 13 Dec 2008 Location: Essex Posts: 2945
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Clemo you have pm
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27th Jun 2015 11:26am |
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| Go Beyond Member Since: 30 Jan 2012 Location: Headcorn, Kent Posts: 6678
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https://www.facebook.com/FCX.ME.uk |
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27th Jun 2015 11:32am |
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| ARC99 Member Since: 19 Feb 2013 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 1831 
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Having towed and used a caravan for over 30 years, towing on a variety of roads from one end of the country to the other and owned single and twin axle vans I have the following observations.
Single axel. Pros As said above easy to manoeuvre with and without a tow vehicle as the wheels independent of each other making it possible to turn in its own length. Van will follow tow vehicle round corners and roundabouts better. Cons. Caravan pitches up and down with ease, even on what appears to be a smooth road surface. It can easily set off into a wing ( tail wagging the dog) when overtaken by the smallest vehicle. on roads used by heavy traffic the wear Patten of the road surface can also set off the swing as will potholes. On reversing will easily. it is very easy for the caravan to jack knife as a small bump in the road can slow the wheel allowing the other to speed up and the van swings. It has been known for them to self destruct some internal fitting due to the violent reactions of due to road conditions. Before any says that it all down to how you load a caravan. Independent tests by qualified professionals have shown the above to be true. Twin axel. Pros. Dose not pitch up and down as much as a single axel caravan. Reversing is easier as the extra tyre causes friction on the road surface preventing wild swinging. less easy for the for the tail waging the dog to be induced by passing vehicles and the uneven road surface. Cons. harder to manoeuvre when not on the tow vehicle but this can be over come by used of motor mover which is fitted to either each side of the caravan or to the hitch. Tendency for the caravan to cut corners and roundabouts, you just have to give these a wider swing like artic drivers do. Normally heavier than a single axel caravan. My personal preference is a twin axel for comfort when towing , lack of the pitching up and down and lack of the tail wagging the dog. I have fitted my last three twins with Alko shock absorbers as an after market product, this helps the factory fitted rubber bushes, these also have stopped items in the van from bouncing around. Now with the 110 being the tow vehicle I have fitted the new generation of the shocklink to prevent the 'A' frame from fatigue fractures. Don't make old people mad. We don't like being old in the first place, so it doesn't take much to  us off.
Richard |
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27th Jun 2015 12:30pm |
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| Mynstral Member Since: 14 Feb 2012 Location: Essex Posts: 119 
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Is there a right way up and a wrong way up to bolt the shocklink adapter plate to the existing tow bar?
Regards Myn Smoke me a kipper I'll be back for breakfast. |
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16th Jul 2015 4:49pm |
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