I have a 1998 300tdi Defender and am thinking about buying a decent size caravan. I know the weight can be up 3500kg but has anyone any experience pulling a 4 berth twin axale job? I have looked at a few tow car / caravan match sites but sometimes I put in a caravan and it says 'not a good match'. I don't understand why a beast like a Defender has a problem with any trailer. I have pulled a car transporter with a 2.3 ton Jeep on the back with no problem, so what's this with caravans? I know a twing axle will be more stable and less likely to snake but what else to I have to consider. Any ideas will be gratefully received. TIA.
Kwakerman
Well-Known Member
Caravan match sites work on the weight of the vehicle and the weight of the caravan not the actual towing capacity of the towing vehicle. Generally the Caravan Club recommend the caravan weighs no more than 85% the weight of the towing vehicle for beginners but up to 100% match can also be towed. The reason you get the bad match is due to the weight of the landy, not because of the lack of its towing capabilities, most vehicles weighing the same as a landy would be limited to 1600 / 1800Kg by the manufacture, not the 3500kg we can tow 
And most of them are also one wheel drive - and a front wheel at that
1800 Kg should be pretty easy for a deafner to handle, and be a good quality 4 berth caravan to boot. Post up what you are thinking of buying - there are quite a few on here with tin tents you might find another person with a fender with the same, or very similar .....
1800 Kg should be pretty easy for a deafner to handle, and be a good quality 4 berth caravan to boot. Post up what you are thinking of buying - there are quite a few on here with tin tents
you might find another person with a fender with the same, or very similar .....Please remember that your licence may well knock what you can tow down a great deal.
If you do not have B+E you are limited to 3500kg, minus the maximum weight of your Defender, or a maximum of 750KG unbraked. People who first passed in the last 20 years or so do not automatically get +E on their licence, but must take an extra test. Get stopped or have a bump without the correct licence and that is automatically driving otherwise than in accordance and driving with no insurance. Both allow the old bill to seize the motor and caravan, with all the extra costs that entails, and insurance after a conviction for either of them becomes a very expensive problem.
If you do not have B+E you are limited to 3500kg, minus the maximum weight of your Defender, or a maximum of 750KG unbraked. People who first passed in the last 20 years or so do not automatically get +E on their licence, but must take an extra test. Get stopped or have a bump without the correct licence and that is automatically driving otherwise than in accordance and driving with no insurance. Both allow the old bill to seize the motor and caravan, with all the extra costs that entails, and insurance after a conviction for either of them becomes a very expensive problem.
FlyingPete
Well-Known Member
It's worth noting too that the weights are based on the maximum authorised mass of both. So it doesn't matter if your trailer is empty or filled with bricks- if the MAM of the car + the MAM of the trailer exceeds 3500kg, you can't tow it on a B license. The only exception is if the MAM of the trailer is 750kg or less. In this case you can tow it with a vehicle up to 3500kg- so a combined MAM of 4250kg.
tacr2man
Well-Known Member
Used to tow Bailey like this with Defender V8 and also with Discovery , hardly knew it was there
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bailey-Se...792971?hash=item236d21e40b:g:tP8AAOSwvg9Xeleb
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bailey-Se...792971?hash=item236d21e40b:g:tP8AAOSwvg9Xeleb
NeilB
Active Member
Caravan! If you spent £6000 to get a descent caravan you could go and stay in a £60 b+b 100 times instead. That's two weeks a year for 7 years and doesn't include caravan insurance, maintenance, etc etc........
No towing. Warm bed. Hot showers. Someone else cooks the full English in the morning.....
No towing. Warm bed. Hot showers. Someone else cooks the full English in the morning.....
We tow at the maximum 3500kg weight with our Discovery 2 V8, loads of towing sites say you can't but it's in the ratings, so why not?
We took the trailer to LZ12 a couple of weeks back.
Peter
We took the trailer to LZ12 a couple of weeks back.
Peter
wattfield
AKA Dirk Diggler
Mine was £850, and we spent about £150 on upholstery, paint etc. There are no B&Bs at music festivals!
Oh, it weighs about 650 kg!
And have to get up early and dress properly! Something I ind stressful in the mornings. Thanks for your concern though
pretty much any caravan you can afford and will be comfortable buying will tow OK behind your defender.
No shagging on the breakfast table either though.
Interesting looking setup there.We tow at the maximum 3500kg weight with our Discovery 2 V8, loads of towing sites say you can't but it's in the ratings, so why not?
We took the trailer to LZ12 a couple of weeks back.
Peter
