As first-time buyers which is the easiest caravan to tow?

• Wednesday, 24 October 2007
• Andrew Ditton

We're looking for our first caravan, but are daunted by towing. Are certain caravans easier to tow than others, and if so, which would you recommend?
Hugh McCallion, Burnage

ANDREW SAYS
Join the Caravan Club or Camping and Caravanning Club and enrol on one of their towing courses. All aspects of towing, including reversing, are covered. These sell out quickly, so do book early. Loading and car matching are key. Place heavy items over the axle, and try to attain the recommended noseweight for the van. Seven per cent of the MTPLM is a good figure. The bigger your car compared to your caravan, the more confident you will be. Try not to tow a caravan that weighs in excess of 85 per cent of your car's kerbweight, and certainly no more than the car's maximum tow figure. Stabilisers will also bestow towing confidence, but these should be used in addition to, not instead of, proper loading and car matching. I'd recommend a single-axle and not a twin. Single-axles are easier to manoeuvre, and more manageable on the road. These days there is no such thing as a correctly-loaded caravan that tows badly.