CRV Towing Jayco Campervan
Submitted: Monday, Aug 17, 2015 at 08:51
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934
Newbie here. Just wanting to
check that my (extremely poor) understanding is correct.
We have a 2006 CRV auto. Looking to buy a Jayco campervan. It will be a Swan or a Dove (or similar), and will probably be around mid 80's (looking to spend under $8000). The van will only be used over the summer holidays, where it will be towed 200 km's max (mostly along freeways) to the Mornington Peninsula.
Whilst I realise the CRV is not an ideal tow vehicle, given that towing will be minimal, and on freeways and sealed roads, I think it should be ok.
Max towing capacity for Auto is 1200kg's, with a 120kg ball weight. Based on newer model Jayco specs, the Swan (unloaded) would be within these limits, but the dove is slightly over on towball weight. I have no idea how to find out the weight of the 80's models though.
http://www.jayco.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Camper_Brochure_Round11.pdf
Does it sound reasonable to tow one of these with a CRV (in my scenario)?
I assume that these older models have override brakes, not electric. Is there any cause for concern with 30 year old override brakes (again, in my scenario)? Anything I should look out for?
I appreciate any advice from the experts.
Reply By: 934 - Monday, Aug 17, 2015 at 10:00
Monday, Aug 17, 2015 at 10:00
Thanks guys. From what I've gathered from some brief web searching, the older Jayco swans were actually lighter than the newer, fibreglass ones. Whether the 'older' portion of this statement applies to the period I'm looking for I'm not sure.
Thanks for the info re ATM weight. I knew that there would be additional weight when loaded, but wasn't sure how much. I've come across some rough figures of 300kg, which includes gas and water. Does this sound about right?
We won't be taking any water, and probably won't be loading much inside the van either, so hoping I can get it to 200kg's or less, which might just get it into the legal limit. I am assuming this ATM weight limit is variable, and if caught, the actual weight of van and contents will be determined, rather than some arbitrary figure (e.g. 300kg) added to the tare weight?
Knowing nothing about brakes and vans in general, I'll be getting an inspection done on any purchase. At this point I'm just trying to work out if it's feasible and legal to tow with our current car before getting too far in, as changing cars is not an option at this point.
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Follow Up By: Sigmund - Monday, Aug 17, 2015 at 10:14
Monday, Aug 17, 2015 at 10:14
For two people easily allow 200 kg.
You'd be surprised how it adds up.
Don't forget your vehicle has a payload limit too. Luggage, bodies, ball weight etc.
There is a legal weight and a practical weight which is usually much less.
Do you want to be revving the guts out of the engine up every steep slope? Or taking it 20-30 kms slower than the column of cars backed up behind you?
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Follow Up By: 934 - Monday, Aug 17, 2015 at 10:47
Monday, Aug 17, 2015 at 10:47
For previous trips in a tent we've been able to fit everything inside the car, so beyond the gas bottle, we won't have much or anything to add to the van. But I hadn't considered the overall payload limit of the car. This is getting tricky.
As for the practicality of towing (hills, holding up traffic etc.), 95% of the journey is 2 lane freeways on flat ground. There's only about 20 km's of single lanes with hills.
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Follow Up By: TomH - Monday, Aug 17, 2015 at 14:11
Monday, Aug 17, 2015 at 14:11
The ATM is the MAXIMUM loaded weight the camper can be and is stamped on the Compliance plate.
Whether you load it to that or not is another thing but your tug cannot legally tow more than 1200kg as you say then thats all the camper can weigh regardless..
If its Tare(unloaded dry weight ) which will be on the Compliance plate
is, say 1150kg You will only be able to load your lunch and a gas bottle to stay legal.
I think you have a boy trying to do a mans work in this case.
Your tug will have a GVM limit which when towing has to include the Ballweight. So if the car has a 400kg payload you take off 120kg for the ballweight 200 for you and mum and that leaves you with 80kg for the rest.
Get the idea.
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Reply By: nickb - Wednesday, Aug 19, 2015 at 18:23
Wednesday, Aug 19, 2015 at 18:23
I reckon you will be fine with an older 80s Jayco. Most I have seen are around 800-900kg tare, so by the sounds of it you would have it loaded no more than 1100kg. The crv will tow it easily, you don't need a big 4x4 to tow it. Take one for a
test behind the crv, you will be surprised! A serious seller would let you try it, I know I would if it meant a sale...
The more important issue would be tow ball weight as the jayco camper trailers are known for having high towball weights. My 2005 outback dove has a tare of 1050kg, atm of 1309kg and an empty towball weight of 139kg.
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Follow Up By: 934 - Monday, Sep 07, 2015 at 13:08
Monday, Sep 07, 2015 at 13:08
Thanks. I've found out by reading my physical car manual, rather than trying to find it online when I'm at work, that my max tow weight is 1500 kg's, not 1200kgs. I'm confident that I'll be under this. The tow ball weight is still 120kg, and I have about 500kg of payload in the car, so I should have enough there too. Looks like the towball weight on the swan is much less than the dove (96kg for base swan on current models) so I should be ok there too.
But now that I understand all of these weights I feel more comfortable with what I'm doing.
Thanks
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