Just following a couple of old threads, I see that there appears to be quite a few new members getting into the caravanning scene for the first time and there seems to be quite a few threads relating to advice on what rigs other people use when towing a similar 'van to their brand new purchase. I guess this goes beyond just curiosity and adds to the angst that they are feeling about towing a house on wheels, when compounded with the question of their own ideas of what they think may be the right choice of tug. More often than not it comes down to a liking for a particular vehicle and trying to justify to yourself and at the same time attempting to use that logic to convince a less than enthused spouse that it is most definitely the correct selection and you are not about to squander your hard earned on what seems to her to be an impractical choice of tow vehicle. I know I had the same trepidation being a lifelong lover of the Land Rover Defender, but The Dragon's statement when the issue was somewhat optimistically raised, was something like " over my dead effing body". I got away with the battle over choice of 'van, but lost the war on the purchase of Britain's finest oil puddle maker. I knew she was right, I just didn't want to admit it.
A new 'van is a big purchase and obtaining the wrong tow vehicle because you just didn't know the complete facts, over and above what the salesman wanted to tell you in order to increase his monthly bonus, could be one very serious and costly mistake. A forum such as this site has such a lot to offer by making it a relatively simple exercise to list a few basic facts and figures in a tabulated form that allows members to add in a non- biased way and devoid of any emotion and brand loyalty, some basic decision enhancing and thought provoking evidence based on real time, real world experience. It may be that those with a less stoic and sensible life's partner may still purchase a bloody silly vehicle to do the job, but at least there can be no excuse for getting it totally and inexplicably wrong.
Not sure how to do it, or whether it has already perhaps been done, but some form of spreadsheet that people can add to that includes mileage( both day to day and towing), size of van, towing capacity, reliability issues, cost of add-ons, servicing etc. could just save a fellow forum member a seriously large wad of folding stuff and perhaps avoid a verbal matrimonial punch-up.
This is perhaps something that only a site moderator can do and perhaps will take a little effort to produce, but looking at the ever expanding ( no pun intended) member base, which sits in excess of 2100 right now, is probably a very worthwhile exercise. Don't mind assisting, just don't know where to start.
What do you guys reckon?
A new 'van is a big purchase and obtaining the wrong tow vehicle because you just didn't know the complete facts, over and above what the salesman wanted to tell you in order to increase his monthly bonus, could be one very serious and costly mistake. A forum such as this site has such a lot to offer by making it a relatively simple exercise to list a few basic facts and figures in a tabulated form that allows members to add in a non- biased way and devoid of any emotion and brand loyalty, some basic decision enhancing and thought provoking evidence based on real time, real world experience. It may be that those with a less stoic and sensible life's partner may still purchase a bloody silly vehicle to do the job, but at least there can be no excuse for getting it totally and inexplicably wrong.
Not sure how to do it, or whether it has already perhaps been done, but some form of spreadsheet that people can add to that includes mileage( both day to day and towing), size of van, towing capacity, reliability issues, cost of add-ons, servicing etc. could just save a fellow forum member a seriously large wad of folding stuff and perhaps avoid a verbal matrimonial punch-up.
This is perhaps something that only a site moderator can do and perhaps will take a little effort to produce, but looking at the ever expanding ( no pun intended) member base, which sits in excess of 2100 right now, is probably a very worthwhile exercise. Don't mind assisting, just don't know where to start.
What do you guys reckon?
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