Towing a caravan, advice please!

[wader3]

Hi, we are thinking of buying a caravan and I'd want the option of towing it with the Stag. I just wonder how a Stag would suit towing a modern van.

When I restored it i wired the towbar with full electrics and it tows a heavy trailer fine, but a wide caravan is obviously a different story and as the Stag is narrow by today's standand, does this make it more susceptible to snaking?

with a kerbwieght of nearly 1300kg would a caravan MRO of 1200 be comfortable I suppose is the ultimate question.

Any caravaners I welcome your input!

[Motorsport Micky]

If I can find it I'll post a photo of my TR4 towing a 7'6" wide caravan, that always gained looks ! The TRs have their 4 cylinder engine long stroke and so the torque is impressive and pulled the caravan fine. There was a fair amount of caravan either side but no problems with snaking so I'd think the Stag would obviously be better in that regard, the caravan had a weight of 1100 which gave about a 100% tow when weighed in against the 1150kg TR but again no problem.
The caravan club recommends (only recommends) an 85% ratio of weight caravan to car but I've been towing 30 odd years almost always at full 100% weight (race car on trailer mode) with modern cars and I wouldn't expect the Stag to be any worse notwithstanding the absence of ABS etc. The standard brake system when working as designed is good and will stop the combo in all normal circumstances...do it.

Micky

[jakesmig]

Back in the '70's and '80's my dad used to tow a caravan and he used the following type of stabiliser which counteracted any tendency to sway.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-GENUINE-STRONGHOLD-CARAVAN-STABILISER-EASY-QUICK-OFF-SYSTEM-SNAKEMASTER-TYPE/332312984393?epid=1905435881&hash=item4d5f65bb49:g:KEAAAOSwxvFZccze

I recall taking the caravan away from time to time and with the stabiliser fitted you could travel at trully ridiculous speeds without any hint of sideways movement. Like Mickey above, I have spent many hours towing trailers around the country and one thing that I have noticed, both towing trailers and looking at others towing, that if the inside wheels run along the ribbed rumble strip at the edge of dual carraigeways and motorways it sometimes induces sway in double axle trailers, so if the wheels of the trailed unit is outside the line of the cars wheel line it is better to move the towing car over slightly to avoid the strip.

John

[Phil S]

previous comments agreed with..the recomended is 85%, but a well loaded caravan driven well is no problem.
your only problem may be fitting extended towing mirrors. these have to extend out to allow a view past the caravan. so you may have to go for the old style that clip over the top of the front wing and the bottom clips in the wheel arch opening. a bit like a tripod affair, as I don't think the Stag door mirrors would support wide enough mirrors to see behind a modern van.
towing mirrors are now law and it's a fine and possible 3 points for not having them.
Cornwall police recently had a weekend blitz and caught 13 people without them.
Phil

[mole42]

A stabiliser is not necessary if the van is properly loaded and the speed not excessive. I’ve driven hundreds of miles with a 15 foot van, a Triumph and no stabiliser.

The problem with older style stabilisers is that they work until they are unsettled by excess speed or poor loading, and when a stabiliser lets go the outcome can be dramatic.

fit uprated rear springs, adjustable shock absorbers and you’re good to go.

[wader3]

Thanks all. Good to know about the 3 points penalty, didn't think it would carry an endorsable fine. Question on the wing mounted mirrors, will they damage the paint?

Does anyone know if the kerbwieght is with or without a hardtop? Already have spax adjustables so looks like it's just the mirrors that will hold me back.

[DJT]

From the ROM

[stag8manod]

When I was racing (Spitfire) and towing it on a large tandem trailer I always had the hardtop on as I considered it helped to support the rest of the Stag body with extra stress the load caused.
Cheers Ian A

[Guest]

If towing a caravan please only do so between the hours of midnight and 4 am, basically when I’m not on the road

[rwdstag]

How very rude
i tow a caravan with a freelander and get held up rather than I hold up
not by stags obviously

[Ritchie6]

If towing a caravan please only do so between the hours of midnight and 4 am, basically when I’m not on the road

It's strange that many caravans often have the name "Swift" or "Whirlwind" on the back but yet you get stuck behind them doing 35 mph.

[davidf]

It's strange that many caravans often have the name "Swift" or "Whirlwind" on the back but yet you get stuck behind them doing 35 mph.

Not if it is towed by a Stag !!!!!! I used to tow a 14ft 4/5 berth all over Europe with 2 adults and 2 children (up to teenage years) in the car. I overtook a lot more cars than wanted to overtake me.

Observations

With modern vans, I would be wary of the recommended 85% weight limit; my 1986 van only weighed about 900kg. Modern vans are much heavier - as you noted.
Stabilisers are great - I had a Scott - quite similar to the one shown above but without a quick release on its clutch. However, always start your journey without it, and test for stability (by see-sawing the steering wheel at a moderate speed on a suitable stretch of road). This proves the loading is correctly balanced (no significant weight far from the 'van axle, and a suitable nose weight - usually about 70kg). Only then do you fit the stabiliser for added comfort. As Mole42 said above, the danger is that a stabiliser can hide an off-balance situation at low to moderate speeds, and then not cope when it all goes wobbly at high speed.

Springs - I fitted the rubber doughnut spring assisters into the rear springs - in fact, I think they are still there. Not noticeable in normal use, but stiffen the springs as the compression increases.

Mirrors - I used the ones that clip to the wing and wheel arch - I can't remember the make (something like Spat?) but I am sure the model was 'Holiday'. Because it has to be so far open to reach from the bonnet recess to the wheel arch, I had to make an extension for the spring between the two arms. My daughter took one look the first time I fitted them and said - 'Oh look, the Stag has grown antlers' - for ever after, they were known as the antlers.

Generally, a brilliant tow car. In the '70s, the Triumph 2000 was highly rated for towing stability; apparently attributed to the layout of the semi-trailing arm rear suspension which (either by design or good luck) moves the rear of the car against the transverse load applied by a swaying caravan. Stag has the same rear suspension, so that helps! As for the engine - the torque is perfect.

Final note - I fitted an engine oil cooler, which was recommended for any tow-car in the '70s. Was it necessary - I don't know, I never towed without it.

[Guest]

It's strange that many caravans often have the name "Swift" or "Whirlwind" on the back but yet you get stuck behind them doing 35 mph.

There doesn’t seem to be a speed limit in France towing a caravan, many come past me at about 80 mph. Quite worrying really!

[Ritchie6]

There doesn’t seem to be a speed limit in France towing a caravan, many come past me at about 80 mph. Quite worrying really!

Was there a woman in the back frying chips as told by Victoria Wood??

[wader3]

Mirrors - I used the ones that clip to the wing and wheel arch - I can't remember the make (something like Spat?) but I am sure the model was 'Holiday'. Because it has to be so far open to reach from the bonnet recess to the wheel arch, I had to make an extension for the spring between the two arms. My daughter took one look the first time I fitted them and said - 'Oh look, the Stag has grown antlers' - for ever after, they were known as the antlers..

Can't find anything suitable and I see there's another thread on here about mirrors. I wonder if cameras on the side of the van would do?