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15th January 2020, 10:34 AM #1Senior Member
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Single versus tandem axles on caravans
G'day all
After 3 decades of my wife saying "don't even mention it" she now wants to go on weekend caravan trips.
I have been towing trailers off and on etc for decades and prefer long drawbars and single axles (weight appropriate) with safe weight distribution.
But caravans seem to have short drawbars.
Is there opinion on whether a single or double axle is safer to tow, considering the we are looking at a trailer up to about 19 feet & <2 tonnes empty.
Tow vehicle will be a recent 4x4 type diesel ute.
Thanks
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15th January 2020, 01:56 PM #2GOLD MEMBER
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Re the tow vehicle, do some very careful research about that, many Utes literally break the chassis just behind the cab due to weight on the towbar. Also total weight is an issue with these vehicles, don't believe the sales man when he starts trotting out numbers is my advice and get some advise from others who know what they are talking about.
ute chassis broken - Google SearchCHRIS
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15th January 2020, 06:06 PM #3Senior Member
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Bl**dy hell. There seems to be a lot of Nissan & Mitsi's in that lot Thanks for the link.
I have been researching. I found this link informative
Everything you need to know about towing heavy trailers | Practical Motoring
It does make reference to distance of hitch from rear axle ie shorter the better, which would be ONE of the contributors to broken chassis.
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16th January 2020, 04:24 PM #4
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16th January 2020, 06:14 PM #5Senior Member
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Thanks ian
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16th January 2020, 10:39 PM #6GOLD MEMBER
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Plus the fact (as far as I know) tandems tow a lot better (stable) than single axled units. Especially when the wind/suction from passing semitrailers going in the opposite direction.
KrynTo grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.
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17th January 2020, 10:58 AM #7GOLD MEMBER
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Surely it's the distance from the towing hitch point to the front axle of the trailer that matters rather than the length of the draw bar?
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17th January 2020, 02:08 PM #8
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18th January 2020, 12:46 AM #9GOLD MEMBER
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There is no maximum length of a caravan as such, the limiting factor is that the combined length of the towing vehicle and towed vehicle (caravan/trailer, etc) must not exceed 19 metres in length.
Probably the reason for shorter caravans, is that the modern vehicle has a lower towing rate than what used to be available, hence we don't see too many of the larger caravans anymore.
I found this on Google, it has a towing capacity database that will sort you out. Select your towing vehicle from the dropdown menus below and also – just to be sure – check your car's owner's manual as well.
The big question is: how much weight can my vehicle tow? Towing capacities can range from 640kg (unbraked) and 1200kg (braked) in a compact AWD SUV, to 750kg (unbraked) and 3500kg (braked) in many large SUV wagons and dual-cab utes, through to the 6989kg (braked) towing capacity of a Ram 3500 pick-up.
KrynTo grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.
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19th January 2020, 02:39 PM #10
not putting down whats already been said, my 2 bobs worth is RACQ technical, The RAA tech guys down this way are usually very helpful, if its a real dicey issue (Ive been known to ring up 3 different times and (luckily) got different people each time, giving their thoughts)
Just yesterday returning home I came across a 'van down on its drawbar and a funny looking Mitsi ute looking like someone had stood on its middle and it snapped. The owner driver was rather stroppy, but even I knew he was towing more than it was designed for, was tempted to leave him, but waited for tow truck arrival (mate of mine) and he fair ripped into the driver for stupid weight ratio.I would love to grow my own food, but I can not find bacon seeds
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19th January 2020, 05:05 PM #11
As Aldav said the drawbar is irrelevant, it's the distance to the axle that matters. A drawbar really only has to be half the width of the towing vehicle. A much longer drawbar will give you slightly bigger angle before it hits your bumper but it's hardly any difference.
The 16mm pin is in shear, the towball is in bending. The towball will probably yield and snap long before the pin.
I thought the really long vans went out of style because vanparks stopped catering to them. They have more recently offered specific extra large sites for the new big rigs.
One of the traps for vans is the total weight of the rig. My ute is a 1 tonner and has a 2300kg bar. If I put the full load in the tray then hooked up a 2300kg trailer I'd be overweight. If your van is heavy and you load up your ute with people luggage tinny whatever you can be illegal.
Tandems add weight and make the trailer harder to turn at low speed, singles are limited in load capacity (I thought it was 1500kg ?) and more prone to sway in side winds and hobby horsing.
I've always been astounded at how badly caravans are designed and built. They use the most labour intensive and leak prone construction you can imagine to make a flexible structure that starts tearing itself apart from day one. They also show no understanding at all of aerodynamics.
Anyway...I'm just a startled bunny in the headlights of life. L.J. Young.
We live in a free country. We have freedom of choice. You can choose to agree with me, or you can choose to be wrong.
Wait! No one told you your government was a sitcom?
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