Caravan questions

Cranswick,
The Viscount Aerolite caravans have a bit of an adverse reputation in regard to structural integrity.

The chassis was superlight, almost pressed sheet steel, but was suitable for on road use only. there are recorded instances of chassis failure. Their walls and roof construction was basically two thin aluminium sheets bonded to a polystyrene foam with almost no framework in it and held together with pop rivets. The interior fittings, cupboards etc provided a little rigidity.

In plain speak, they have been known to implode/explode when being passed by large vehicles (long high and wide semitrailers) going in the opposite direction. Not a pretty sight.

There are other caravans of the same vintage, including other Viscount models, with either timber or aluminium frames and still coming in at similar weights suitable for your Camry. Most would be a better buy than an Aerolite and most would have over run brakes fitted as standard and be legal with them.

Over run brakes are quite adequate for these lighter vans but electric are better. However retro fitting electric brakes would be fairly expensive in a lower priced secondhand caravan.

Sorry this was a bit long but I hope it helps you.

Disco.

Also check the ball weight of the car and make sure the caravan does not exceed that either.

Cheers Pat

Thanks my car is a 4 cylinder toyota Carmry, l have'nt got a tow bar insatlled yet , it says my towing capacity is 1,200 kgs, can l get a 1,200 capacity tow bar, if l buy a 800 taree van how difficult would it be to tow? how may km's roughly would l be able to travel on a full tank, l think its 800 km's without towing anything. If l put some of the heavy stuff like water containers in the back seat would that help?

How long is a piece of string.

Your fuel usage will depend on lots of things.

Is it an auto.

Where are you going

How many people in the car

How much stuff in the van

Your Toyota dealer or a reputable Towbar retailer can tell you that part of it.

Personally I wouldnt tow at full capacity in a normal car.

Remember you cant just load up the car till it bulges to save weight in the van as the engine still has to move the lot.

Would be a pain in the proverbial to carry your water in the car and gas is technically illegal inside a car anyway.

Perhaps a larger capacity car or a camper trailer is more suited to the cars capacity

There is a weight limit to the car as well and remember

THE BALL WEIGHT IS PART OF THE CARS LOAD

Have a good think about what you really want and whats available thats suitable.
Cheers