Caravan width - help please advice requested

I can see your dilemma, bigger must be better, but there’s another side to the coin. We’ve had a twin axle van in our time, though before the era of 8’ wide. And goodness me, did it impress. Huge to view on site, roomy inside and a user payload to delight anyone. Towing was a joy too. But it was all but impossible to move by hand, a motor mover being essential. It most definitely had a downside when access small CLs, which are our back to nature favourites, was wanted. Fuel consumption too, rose substantially. So all in all, we took stock of the pros and cons, replacing it with a smaller and simpler single axle van. With the awning up, and a pet, we’re not short of space, though in fairness, big vans don’t require awnings so often.

So I can understand your ‘what’s not to like?’ thoughts. However, things aren’t always as straightforward as they seem. 

Emilys Dad ...Yes at some point in the future my wife will be looking to learn and be trained (not by me!, of course) to tow the caravan that we buy. Which I guess is where her anxiety comes from ...so pretty understandable I suppose!! as she's driven her whole life but never towed before. I should be pleased that she wants to learn and be trained as a lot of people might not have the confidence and/or desire. 

Jenny C Thanks for your comments and you're are of course absolutely right, in my experience too, many things like this are rarely as straightforward as they seem. In our future travels we will also want to access the more off the beaten track sites to better export and try to find some of those lesser know and hidden gems. Although for me I'm pretty old and stuck in my ways and prefer a twin axle van not just for the smoother towing but in case of a blow out, single axles are just a step too far for me.

Asda 160 - good luck with getting yours out of storage and shame about you being up North in Derbyshire ...

Happy & Safe Travels Everyone, thanks again for your helpful comments and thoughts ...even before we have a van it makes me feel like a part of the community, really appreciate it.....also pretty strange that I don't like and/or interact with the social platforms ....firstly because I'm not really sure or take the time to understand how they work....and secondly I'm not really one to share with the world ...what I'm having for breakfast !! ...thanks again gang! 

EmilysMum won't even drive my tow car & wouldn't entertain the idea of towing a garden trailer let alone a caravan.

What's this training you speak of? 🙄 Hitch the trailer & you're off 😉

I think your wife has made a good decision!   It  leaves you more site options and removes some stress.

We bought a twin axle Swift Group van back in 2008, after I retired, and still have it.  Really like the rear washroom with big walk in shower, these days showers seem to be much smaller, and the very generous payload, so we are hanging on to it.  With such good on board facilities, we rarely use site facilities these days.

We do have a 3.9m lightweight porch, which we put up in summer if staying 4+ nights, but as Jenny said, there is plenty of room in the van when we do not use the porch.  For many years we toured using a roll out Fiamma Zip, which was ideal in sunnier climes, but when it finally fell apart we decided not to renew it.

 My tip would be to get a weight upgrade to cover the mover......you will need one....check first that an upgrade is possible.  Ring the manufacturer to confirm if necessary if buying pre-loved.

Ours has an 85kg upgrade, MTPLM now 1900kg.   We also tow with a Touareg, best towcar we have ever had.

KjellNN....Many thanks for your comments and for sharing your experience....we have as you've suggested asked the dealer to uprate the weight and get a new plate ...he's agreed. How lucky are we?, as at yesterday Sat. 14th May we actually ordered and purchased an in stock new Swift Challenger 650 .....10 year warranty for water ingress, brilliant...ours has the end bedroom, middle toilet and shower and front lounge that converts into two singles or another double ....haven't given much thought yet to an awning but looking to start with a porch awning....as you say anything larger would be for longer stays of 4+ days ...our new van will be ready to collect on the 11th June, we're both pretty excited and ready to start our own Caravan adventures soon. Re the VW Touareq I also use ours to run a small car & van transportation business and regularly two a 3.5 Tonnes trailer and as you say it's the best towing vehicle I've also owned, should be just great for our new van. Cheers and Happy Caravaning. Steve M

Hi Steve, we tow a 2021 Coachman 575 Excel which is 8 feet wide. Since collecting our van we have toured in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, South Devon, Cornwall and central and southern France. The additional width makes a huge difference on the internal space in the caravan but little difference towing. Only once did we have to 'breathe' in on an A road leaving Modbury CAMC site and only because we met a large truck with a crane attachment on a corner. No issues accessing any CAMC sites or CLs. Accidentally towed it through a Carrefour carpark having missed the access road to their filling station. We tow with a Discovery Sport D200. Caravan total weight is 1800kg.

Hope that helps!

Hi Roger McNair, many thanks for taking the time to comments and tell me of your experience....I have to say I'd agree with you ....but ....sadly my 8ft dreams are over....7.5 ft is the way to go my wife says, as it was a deal breaker for her!...we purchased a new Swift Challenger 650 just yesterday ....roll on June so we can try her (the wife's named her Agatha) out ...by the way great outfit photo, thanks again, your input much appreciated. Cheers Steve M