Towing With A Caravan Cover On

[ATB]

All

 

I've got a Bailey Ranger 550/6 and one of the best things I've bought for it (apart from the motor mover :o ) is a full breathable cover for when it's in storage. It really makes a difference and I only have to wash the van once it's been somewhere and not when it's just come out of storage.

 

The only downer is that the van is so long (23 feet) that it takes a while to get the cover on and I need to use a set of step ladders for the task. The cover is also huge when taken off and there's nowhere to store it at the storage site once I've taken it off.

 

My question is -

 

With my storage site approx. 5 miles from my house on normal urban roads where I'd be lucky to hit 30 with or without the caravan hitched up, do people think I could tow the van with the cover on?

 

If I could then I could take off/put on the cover at home and dump it in the garage when not in use, plus I wouldn't have to cart the step ladders to and from the storage site.

 

The cover is elasticated and goes down to the bottom of the van and is secured (very securely!) with webbing straps which run under the van from one side to another. The A-Frame and hitching gear is all still exposed at the front so no problems there.

 

I can't see a problem, but wondered if anyone else could think of anything I should watch out for?

 

TIA

ATB

[RADIOTWO]

All

 

I've got a Bailey Ranger 550/6 and one of the best things I've bought for it (apart from the motor mover :o ) is a full breathable cover for when it's in storage. It really makes a difference and I only have to wash the van once it's been somewhere and not when it's just come out of storage.

 

The only downer is that the van is so long (23 feet) that it takes a while to get the cover on and I need to use a set of step ladders for the task. The cover is also huge when taken off and there's nowhere to store it at the storage site once I've taken it off.

 

My question is -

 

With my storage site approx. 5 miles from my house on normal urban roads where I'd be lucky to hit 30 with or without the caravan hitched up, do people think I could tow the van with the cover on?

 

If I could then I could take off/put on the cover at home and dump it in the garage when not in use, plus I wouldn't have to cart the step ladders to and from the storage site.

 

The cover is elasticated and goes down to the bottom of the van and is secured (very securely!) with webbing straps which run under the van from one side to another. The A-Frame and hitching gear is all still exposed at the front so no problems there.

 

I can't see a problem, but wondered if anyone else could think of anything I should watch out for?

 

TIA

ATB

 

Hi ATB

I have just tried my cover on the van which I bought last year, but in the instrutions it states "Do NOT tow the caravan with the cover fitted"

 

But my concern is how can the rear lights be seen?

 

Radiotwo

[Andrew T]

At the risk of stating the obvious, what about visibility of lights and Reg?

[ATB]

Good popint about lights and reg! WHat if I were to lift it up at the back a bit (wahay!)

[adrianf.]

At the end of the day it would probably be fine on such a short trip but..............

what would plod have to say about it.

I know where my money would be.

[whitty]

bugger it i'd take the risk but then again i'd burn the caravan and get a hotel room !

[ATB]

bugger it i'd take the risk but then again i'd burn the caravan and get a hotel room !

 

Different strokes Whitty, different strokes...

 

I'd have to get a lot more than 1 hotel room with my brood - it's one of the the many things I enjoy about my van ;) . We spent February half term on a farm 30 seconds from Newbury Park tube station and had great days out in London for

[Grumpy]

ATB

 

Farm sounds good, what is it called?

 

Cheers

 

Nick

[AndeeeH]

On seeing a caravan being towed with a cover on Plod's first thought would be 'someone has just half-inched a caravan and is making a quick get-away'. They would then return to their station and wait for someone to report a stolen caravan. :lol: ;) :lol: Andy.

[ATB]

ATB

 

Farm sounds good, what is it called?

 

Cheers

 

Nick

 

Aldborough Hall Farm - in the middle of Ilford!

 

Aldborough Road North, Ilford, IG2 7TD. 0208 590 5882

 

Turn right off the A12 as you head into London, sign posted 'Aldborough Hatch' - drive past houses and pub on RHS and turn immediately right into farm entrance. Great view of the site on Google Earth if you bash in the postcode.

 

It's a caravan club CL, so members only.

 

Thanks

ATB

Edited April 21, 2007 by ATB

[ATB]

On seeing a caravan being towed with a cover on Plod's first thought would be 'someone has just half-inched a caravan and is making a quick get-away'. They would then return to their station and wait for someone to report a stolen caravan. :ph34r: :ph34r: ;) Andy.

 

Well, I didn't do it in the end, but I did discover a neat trick for anyone like me who struggles to put a cover over a 23 foot caravan -

 

Open the sliding sunroof - stand on the kitchen and fridge worktops inside with your body poking out of the sunroof and drag the cover on and over you - you're high enough up to pull it easily over the whole roof and avoid things like the aerial and gas fire vent - works a treat with no step ladder needed!

[28vr6]

The only draw back to towing with the cover on is the windows will suffer from scratching by the cover flapping in the wind even if the cover has soft material on the inside they do pick up dust and dirt which will scratch the soft perspex

[big_kev]

As long as the cover is secure it would be no different than towing a trailer with a cover on.