Towing

[smallribber]

So I about to be made redundant at the age of 54. I have a Land Rover Disco a 2 berth Caravan and my little 3.4 m valiant. I suspect the answer to this is no way but can anyone think of a way I could tow the caravan and the valiant and be legar. The weight is no problem and I can deflate the valiant as it has a solid floor

Dennis

[beamishken]

We used to car top a 3.8m rib on a regular basis when we had a caravan
The console was made to clip in and either went in the van or back of the car 30hp engine was the same a folding dinghy trolley served as transport once on site
I used several lwb shoguns and even a swb one year
Boat was carried the right way up on a modified roof rack with 2 bunks to support the chines, tubes were deflated to reduce windage
We used to head to Cornwall from Durham for annual holidays like this and several other short breaks throughout the year.
We had to pick sites which had direct water access as you had no way of road transporting once the boat was assembled but we always found somewhere suitable
The rig used to look a bit hillbilly ish but once we got the boat off and set up at the site people were amazed we could transport a "proper boat" and a caravan

[paintman]

AIUI towing two trailers simultaneously is only permitted for 'showmen' with commercial vehicles.
From another website:
"Towing 2 trailers is only permitted if the tow vehicle is a goods vehicle
registered with DVLA as a Showman's Vehicle which is a taxation class. You'd
have to show them that you were a circus/fairground owner/operator. AFAIK it
used to only be permitted at certain times and days even with the showman's
plate-though that may have changed.

Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 (c. 22)

"showman's goods vehicle" means a showman's vehicle which—
(a) is a goods vehicle, and
(b) is permanently fitted with a living van or some other special type of body or superstructure forming part of the equipment of the show of the person in whose name the vehicle is registered under this Act,
"showman's vehicle" means a vehicle—
(a) registered under this Act in the name of a person following the business of a travelling showman, and
(b) used solely by him for the purposes of his business and for no other purpose,"

[paintman]

Further to the above there is a post on the site below which may be of interest albeit the post is over 4 years old. I've no idea whether it would be worth pursuing & I suspect the total length would be over the maximum legally allowed.

"VOSA say any person wishing to tow multiple trailers would need to submit a detailed email to them, they would pass this on to the Construction and Use Team who would then verify the details and determine if it was legal and safe for the public road.

Anyone wishing to should email ttsenquires@dft.tfi.gov.uk

The Info needed is as follows:

Vehicle Details (Make/Model/VIN Mumber/Reg Number)
Driver Details and License Number (to check entitlement)
Trailer 1 details (length, width, mass, hitch,braked/not)
Trailer 2 details (length, width, mass, hitch,braked/not)

Apparently it is not Illegal so long as the conditions are met under the construction and use regulations.
Fair and circus operators tow multiple trailers as we all know."
https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/questio...1093554AAknJ57

[smallribber]

As the Rib Trailer is very small indeed it might be doable. On the other hand it might just be easier to have my wife follow in her car with the rib

Dennis

[beamishken]

It may be technically legal but you'll find that the cost of buying/modifying & getting a trailer certified would make it as good as impossible.
It's not like your just going to hang a tow bar on the back of a standard caravan
All the showmans stuff run specialist trailers with linked air brakes etc
It's never going to happen for leisure use

[jonp]

Most people tow caravans with their boats on top of the car or 4x4 here Side Boat Loader - #RSBL | Rhino-Rack

Also this way Rear Boat Loader - #RBLW | Rhino-Rack

Im sure you could modify such a device for a small rib.
Jon

[Pete7]

The solution is to sell the caravan and buy a motorhome if you only need two berths. Then you can tow the inflatable or even a bigger rib but that leads to ruin as many on here will testify.



Pete

[smallribber]

Originally Posted by Pete7

The solution is to sell the caravan and buy a motorhome if you only need two berths. Then you can tow the inflatable or even a bigger rib but that leads to ruin as many on here will testify.



Pete

Heck our caravan cost £3500 have you seen the price of camber vans

[GuyC]

Originally Posted by Bigplumbs

Heck our caravan cost £3500 have you seen the price of camber vans

Going off topic but sell the disco, buy a van and put the insides of your caravan in it. The world will then be your lobster.

Camper vans are ridiculously expensive but the labour that goes into a van, the kit and the van itself very quickly add up to make it eye wateringly expensive.

[jeffstevens763@g]

Side loading roof rack Barnett marine do them check weights out first with Laurence at Barnett my mate uses one he says a piece of p ssss to load.

Cheers

[HDAV]

Originally Posted by GuyC

Going off topic but sell the disco, buy a van and put the insides of your caravan in it. The world will then be your lobster.

Get a crew cab transit tipper and do some Tarmac or landscaping jobs on your travels too......

[smallribber]

Originally Posted by GuyC

Going off topic but sell the disco, buy a van and put the insides of your caravan in it. The world will then be your lobster.

Camper vans are ridiculously expensive but the labour that goes into a van, the kit and the van itself very quickly add up to make it eye wateringly expensive.

The Disco is the best vehicle I have to tow so many things. I can assure you I am keeping that

[cptsideways]

Demountable camper on a pickup would do the job, or motorhome but a rwd one for launching, older Hymer Mercedes S's are ideal (if slow) & not That expensive