Twin axle vs Single Axle

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can anyone comment on how a twin with movers on each wheel compares to a single axle?

 

Nothing like each other. A single axle can be spun round in it's own length, a twin needs a series of turns & shunts to take the side ways load off the tyres.

If I remember correctly, a T/A with 2 wheel mover has a turning circle of about 17.5m, while with a 4 wheel mover it is 10.8m.

Posted a link to a video a couple of weeks back, will see if I can find it.

Here.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OrOMZ3ovr8

These days you can often get the same layout on a single as on a twin, but the twin is of course a bit longer and therefore more spacious.  So you need to make the choice.

But size is not a criterion which determines whether a caravan is a single or a twin. Weight is. I don't know of any single axle on the market over 2000kg (yet, although they are apparently in the pipeline).

The UK manufacturers seem to favour a T/A set up for their longer, and of course heavier, vans.

I think the longest UK built single axle is round 7.6m, while the T/As are 7.9+m.  Ours is 7,95m, others are 8m+.

I've been towing single axle caravans for over 26 years but I am beginning to wonder if a twin axle might suit me better. My main concerns about getting a twin are two fold:

Manoeuvrability: I know that everyone says that twin axles are less easy to manoeuver onto a pitch and I have a particularly difficult reverse onto my "home" pitch which I need a mover to accomplish. So, if you have a mover fitted, possibly one for each wheel, are the monoeuverability issues solved?

Getting level: I've seen numberous twin axles that are no where near level on a pitch, probably because a lot of the CLs I like to use are not the most level of places! However, there are now automatic leveling systems available so do these solve the problems of getting the van level?

I would be really interested to hear other members views on the benefits, or otherwise, of twin axles.

We chose our 'van based on its layout. It happened to be a twin. If the same layout had been available as a single we would just as easily have gone for it, but I am pretty sure it wasn't.

this is our third twin though and I have to say overall I prefer how they behave on the road, all ours have been very stable.

As for movers? We have a Powrtouch Evolution on the front wheels and yes obviously the turning circle is greater but this is  no real great hardship. You soon get to learn how to manage this. I can easily park our 'van on its storage pitch in minutes, the same on site.

the only real disadvantage to having two wheel drive is to do with traction. If I am moving our 'van in reverse and the rear wheels rise this can lift the front wheels slightly and they lose traction. If the rear wheels were also driven this wouldn't happen. I now carry some small pieces of wood to slide under the driven wheel, it then climbs onto this and regains traction. I have only had to do this once.

levelling is not an issue, I just carry two Milenco aluminium levellers. Again a bit of practice needed but no,problem now.

T/As:

-are-very stable during towing, and usually come with shock absorbers as standard.

-tend to cause more pitching of the towcar,since the van cannot rotate freely about a single axle. This effect is more noticeable on short wheelbase cars.

-levelling is slightly more of an issue, requiring either 2 ramps or a Lock n Level (if you don't want to carry heavy levelling boards)

-fitting of 4wd movers will almost certainly require removal of the jacking points (use Lock n Level instead), and:

-require any underslung spare wheel carrier to be re-located with a kit, or the wheel alone to be re-located to the car or inside the van

-with a mover you will never achieve anything like the turning circle of a single - you just need to allow for a bigger turning circle, and shunt bacla and forth a bit

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-require any underslung spare wheel carrier to be re-located with a kit, or the wheel alone to be re-located to the car or inside the van ....

I have a Coachman 620/4 twin axle with all wheel movers and the spare wheel is still in its under slung carrier 

We have just gone from a fairly heavy single to probably the lightest t/a on the market - both weigh 1586kg MTPLM and both had payloads over 250kg so the twin mover still left plenty of weight. The t/a is the Sprite Quattro EW (dealer version) and the previous van was a 2010 Moonstone. Towing comparisons are difficult insofar as we also changed the car between vans although I had shockers fitted to the t/a -they were not part of the spec. Levelling is slightly more of a time consuming task and not being able to spin it in its length has required me to change my parking routine by the house but not a major issue. I do think the fashion for t/a's seems to be of a British thing and wonder when UK manufacturers will start using the longer single axle Alko chassis that Adria use and which gets good towing reports, Will certainly help reduce weights significantly. 

Sorry, can't help with your first 2 questions, but the EP levelling system would level the van with ease and also make wheel locks easy to fit. Buccaneer now fit this system as standard

These days you can often get the same layout on a single as on a twin, but the twin is of course a bit longer and therefore more spacious.  So you need to make the choice.

But size is not a criterion which determines whether a caravan is a single or a twin. Weight is. I don't know of any single axle on the market over 2000kg (yet, although they are apparently in the pipeline).

Write your comments here...Hi Lutz you have just let me down!! I believed that you knew everything or at least knew where to look.Just a thought what will be the tyre pressure needed on a single axle 2000 kg. poeple panic when they have to put in 65psi.

Steve