Pop top caravans around 1000kg tare
Submitted: Friday, Dec 10, 2010 at 15:05
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Janiv
Hi, we are planning a longish trip and have decided to go up one step from Jayco Finch to a pop top which our 2009 Forrester 2.5l will tow easily. Currently looking at Coromal Seka 445/475 - any other ideas? We are
young at heart and fairly fit, but not too sure about pulling beds out day after day!!! (Getting fussy.) We are faily new to caravanning.
Reply By: Member - Julie P (VIC) - Friday, Dec 10, 2010 at 16:02
Friday, Dec 10, 2010 at 16:02
We bought a Coromal Cygnet 4300 (4.3m) pop top, did 4 months in it, had plenty of room - had awning, and if we stayed for a few days, had full annexe to put up, which was easy to do. We found it adequate, as we had weight limitations with our tow vehicle. Don't overload your van - independent
suspension (?) saw a bloke in Mt Isa who had scrubbed out the inside of his van tyres by putting everything in the van, so the car wasn't overloaded - he took out a full heavy canvas awning, and so much other stuff, it was not funny - he then proceeded to put it all in the car, someone said he would have the same problem there as
well. Why not spread the load - makes sense to me.
Anyway - love our Coromal, very comfortable and easy to tow.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: disco driver - Friday, Dec 10, 2010 at 19:15
Friday, Dec 10, 2010 at 19:15
Hi Janiv,
Before you start looking at caravans, make sure that your subaru will legally tow your choice of caravan. Bear in mind that towing over weight may invalidate your insurance among other things should you have an accident of any sort.
From Speci's the Suby has a max tow capacity of around 1400kg and a max drawbar load of 140kg.
Neither of those figures are particularly large so your choices are limited to light weight vans around 4.0m with little extra weight on the drawbar.
If it was me I'd be looking for a van with a tare in the 800-900kg range, this will give a bit more room for "stuff".
It's not a good idea to be driving your Subaru with max tow loads all the time, about 200kg under max would be OK.
Take note of what subaru's are towing in and around where you live and travel.
Good Luck
Disco.
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Reply By: Member - mazcan - Saturday, Dec 11, 2010 at 12:42
Saturday, Dec 11, 2010 at 12:42
hi janiv
one of the magazines did a tow
test with subaru and i'm not sure which one but caravan world /or one of those
or it might have been 4x4 australia // overlander ????
it would be advisable to use a weight distribution hitch when towing to give better stability and control
do a search on google it will probably come up
cheers
AnswerID:
438538
Reply By: Member - Bill B1 (NSW) - Saturday, Dec 11, 2010 at 19:51
Saturday, Dec 11, 2010 at 19:51
Hi,
Ditto on the towing weight. We have a Windsor Rapid, which is like your Finch but the beds have a hard roof. No effort in packing them up at all AND you can do it in the rain.
Mind you travelling the north, you will not see much rain!
Walk around a Rapid while you are looking because they have all the benefits of your Finch - beds on the end (or one bed if you wish), all that living space in between, a poptop roof and the choice of independent
suspension.
We only used the roll out awning over 10 months, no walls needed.
Good quality fittings and nothing has fallen off yet in 25,000 kms.
Bill
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