Towing 8ft wide caravans

Mine is a shade under 8ft (93 inches or 2.36m) to be precise. 2.55m includes wing mirrors!

peedee

So in essence we are all agreed that the average width of a motorhome is 2.55m if one includes the mirrors which BTW, according to by the laws of physics, would denote actual gross width. Some motorhomes are smaller and some are bigger hence the average.

Yes mirrors can be folded in but who does that?

I'm toying with an upgrade from my Lunar Clubman SE which has a given width in the specs of 7ft 8" to an 8ft wide caravan.

Like many who have posted, I too research the sites we will be visiting and the route to be travelled and would continue to do so. 

We are currently in Southern Spain having arrived in mid January due to return to the UK in mid April. Virtually every motorhome on site is in excess of 8ft width, as are the many German made caravans. 

A common theme amongst the posts on this thread is the extra stress one might incur by towing a wider vehicle when negotiating narrow roads with the inevitable what if comments versus extra space and quality of living. Surely that is just the nature of caravanning and is part and parcel of the whole experience/challenge.  

As this post was first aired in 2020 I would be interested to hear from others who own and tour with 8ft wide caravans. Have sites increased the size of the entrances to accommodate increased width etc?

I'm simply seeking actual experiences of what's good and what's not so good from people who actually own 8ft caravans. Thanks.

I will no doubt be very unpopular with my comments - just think about it,  if your tow car with towing mirrors fits through a gap then so will your caravan at 8’0” wide…. Lots of delivery vehicles drive everyday along narrow roads and how many signs do you actually see with width restrictions for less than 8’0”. And if towing a caravan 4” wider than your current van stresses someone out then I suggest they need to question whether they are safe towing anything. 

Forgive me for asking 'Another David' but do you own an 8ft wide caravan and are you able to comment on the pro and cons of such caravans from a users perspective ?

You cannot compare the flimsy sides of a modern caravan with a white van or wagon. A van driver isn't bothered if he ends up with scratches down both sides. Scratched plastic windows are my biggest concern. 

I made the same point on page 1. There’s no comparison at all👍🏻

We've ordered a Bailey Alicanto Evora this week, so I'll keep an eye on this thread.... and then I'll let you all know how I get on with an 8ft wide van sometime after June/July, when we're expecting to take delivery.... 😀

David

We have had a Swift Eccles X880 since June 2020 done Scotland twice ,Wharfedale most weekends into the Peak District and love the van .Yes sometimes patience is a virtue ,stopping and waiting to pass parked cars ,cyclists etc but never had any real worries .

Only time I have had to get out the car and look was the bridge going onto Brora site in the Highlands that looked tight but we got over ok ..

Overall its down to personal taste and needs for us to enjoy our hobby , each to there own .

Dave

Patience applies In those situations whether the van is 7’6”, 8’0” or whatever width it is! So I still don’t get why it is such an issue save for very very rare situations. We would like an 8’0” caravan but our parking at home is a struggle with width so the additional inches are an issue purely in that context.