 | Home > Camping, Caravanning and Holidays > 8' wide caravans. |
 
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| doublea Member Since: 12 Jul 2011 Location: Aberdeenshire Posts: 494   
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Does anyone pull one of these with a defender?
Mrs Doublea has determined that we need one, but it's me that will be driving and reversing said behemoth. The proposed van is 8'*26'5 with a mtplm of 1800kgs. The current one is 7'2*21' and mtplm is 1287kgs. I'm a little concerned at the bulk both in terms of maneuvering and the drag when towing. I usually use her 90 but on longer trips we'll probably take my 110. Tales of woe and reassurance both welcome! Current Steeds: 2015 110 UW in Grasmere Green 2003 BMW F650 the Hack 2000 Elise 1992 Ducati 888 (no longer in bits, yahoo) 1990 TDR 250 (in bits again) 1988 TDR 250 (no longer in bits) and for sale |
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8th Feb 2017 10:40pm |
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| nosnibod Member Since: 15 Aug 2007 Location: West Midlands Posts: 365  
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One thing to consider; a Defender is very narrow by modern standards and even with the widest mirrors you can get for a Defender (Milenco Grand Aeros on extended arms) you won't be able to legally see down the side of a 8' wide van. With our old 7'5" wide van it is just about possible and when we recently looked for a new van we ruled out the 8' wide ones as a result and bought another 7'5" one.
Oh and meant to add. Our new van - a Swift Elegance 580 at nearly 1.7T - tows very nicely behind our 2.2 110. Very stable and plenty of torque and even without a remap it pulls as well as our old Td5 110 that had a stage 1 remap. Dave Gracie - 2015 110 XS County Station Wagon |
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8th Feb 2017 11:16pm |
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| Orangesofa Member Since: 10 Oct 2014 Location: Somerset Posts: 214 
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I would check the law carefully as I seem to think the tow car has to have a GVW over 3.5t to tow the 2.3m wide vans. That is not to say people don't tow with smaller but to the letter of the law, it is illegal which may limit resale if you purchase one unknowingly.
Ignore that - law changed in 2010....  Phil |
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9th Feb 2017 3:11am |
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| pjb Member Since: 08 Apr 2009 Location: Sunny Oxford Posts: 1244 |
Sorry not 8ft wide but have a Lunar Delta RI 26ft says 7ft8" wide but think that includes side lights as above use extended mirrors & can just see down both sides with the normal mirror arms at 90 degree angle.
Tows perfectly behind a 110 2.2 even through tight places like Bibury  2020 P300 HSE |
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9th Feb 2017 9:16am |
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| gilarion Member Since: 05 Dec 2013 Location: Wales Posts: 5084  
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Its a continental thing! And with the ever increasing popularity of 8ft wide Hobby vans from the continent it has the Sterling group and others worried. Now yes the extra inches do make a difference (oh! Matron) but an eight foot wide van is a monster and as most ordinary size caravans can struggle down our winding country lanes, then a wider trailer will struggle more.
Now in my opinion this is the real reason why manufacturers are building wider vans. It is all to do with the ever increasing popularity of touring caravans being sited seasonally or permanently on sites, and to grab a share of that ever expanding market touring caravans are being built wider with ever increasing weights and extras, knowing that these caravans are probably bought to be sited permanently rather than towed.. For those who like Welsh Mountains and narrow boats have a look at my videos and photos at.. http://www.youtube.com/user/conwy1 |
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9th Feb 2017 2:30pm |
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| Wild Card 90 Member Since: 03 Dec 2014 Location: Gerlingen Posts: 1060  
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My son used our 90 to pull a 7.5 x 2.5 meter Hobby to his yearly wakeboard event last summer. He got on with it fine. The rental company supplied him with extended mirrors. As previously mentioned, the Defender is a narrow vehicle these days.
In the summer months over here, you see amazing sized caravans and boats being towed south on the motorways. 2.50 is the maximum towing width, without getting a specific transport permit.  Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge 1998 Tdi 90 SW, 2008 Td4 90 SW, 2012 2.2 90 SW, 2" raised Trailmaster/Terrafirma Heavy Track Raids, 255 MTīs, Recaro CSīs, anorak, wellingtons |
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9th Feb 2017 4:59pm |
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| Stacey007 Member Since: 25 Sep 2015 Location: Cheshire Posts: 3693
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^ No issues on the motorway at all, length and size does not really matter, it the roads off the motorways...
Narrow country lanes.. the roads around the Lake Districk, high peak, Devon... Scotland, All Small 
Click image to enlarge AARRRGGGGHHHH  |
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9th Feb 2017 5:18pm |
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| Iggle piggle Member Since: 10 Sep 2014 Location: Wales Posts: 378 
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It's strange that this should pop up on here!
We are looking to returning to caravaning after 5yrs without one & are looking at the new Elddis 8ft vans, I've been told I've got to keep my hands in my pockets until the caravan show |
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9th Feb 2017 10:29pm |
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| Stacey007 Member Since: 25 Sep 2015 Location: Cheshire Posts: 3693
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^ Its the Elddis 8ft one we loved
866
Really nice inside and loads of space... http://www.elddis.co.uk/elddis/Avante/avante-866 |
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9th Feb 2017 10:38pm |
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| Iggle piggle Member Since: 10 Sep 2014 Location: Wales Posts: 378
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The 866 is a clever layout & ideal for younger kids, but one thing that I was totally hacked of with was making the front double bed every evening & morning,
We do like the 840 but not seen one in the flesh yet & concerned about the narrow access to the fixed "French" bed (what ever that is!) |
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9th Feb 2017 10:50pm |
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| Stacey007 Member Since: 25 Sep 2015 Location: Cheshire Posts: 3693
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^ We have kids so different needs for now
However when just the two of us Fixed for sure |
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9th Feb 2017 10:51pm |
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| gilarion Member Since: 05 Dec 2013 Location: Wales Posts: 5084
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Just out of interest does anyone know if the motor mover manufactures have started making caravan motor movers suitable for any 8ft wide caravan? Now I realise that the motors themselves will fit any width but the torsion bar that places the motors against the wheels are up to now designed for standard width caravans. I would think an 8ft wide van 21 plus feet long would be a sod to move without a motor mover.
I have a Powertouch mover which in my opinion are the best. For those who like Welsh Mountains and narrow boats have a look at my videos and photos at.. http://www.youtube.com/user/conwy1 |
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10th Feb 2017 2:06pm |
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| doublea Member Since: 12 Jul 2011 Location: Aberdeenshire Posts: 494
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Thanks for all the replies. It was the elddis 866 that caught Mrs Doublea's eye. The replies have settled the matter and the standard width vans are now getting the scrutiny - bailey Palermo is her current favourite...
I agree that there is a tendency for some folk to go for seasonal pitches, perhaps this is where the manufacturers see the demand. I want to go different places and the roads to these places can be smaller. We hope to go to Cornwall in the summer and the west or north of Scotland. I can see that size is less of an issue on the motorway or continental roads but our nearest motorway is over 100 miles away. Current Steeds: 2015 110 UW in Grasmere Green 2003 BMW F650 the Hack 2000 Elise 1992 Ducati 888 (no longer in bits, yahoo) 1990 TDR 250 (in bits again) 1988 TDR 250 (no longer in bits) and for sale |
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10th Feb 2017 10:48pm |
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| Stacey007 Member Since: 25 Sep 2015 Location: Cheshire Posts: 3693
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Cornwall roads can be VERY narrow, with passing points quite a long way apart
While an 8ft wide van would I think be clipping each side of the hedge even a 7ft 6 you would be stuck meeting someone the other way
Lovely place though, stayed at some great sites (we had our van stolen 2 weeks before our summer holiday and the Caravan club had to re schedule for a tent we had to buy quickly and rearrange..) cannot get much better than this view
Click image to enlarge |
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10th Feb 2017 10:57pm |
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