Caravan Towing Questions

Technical questions and answers about the Mazda Bongo

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g8dhe
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Re: Caravan Towing Questions

Post by g8dhe » Mon Mar 21, 2016 11:00 am

Might be worth checking the type of towbar fixings you have see;
http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 81#p339381
Just a note however recently TowTrust have become aware of the problem with the Bongo and I believe have adapted there design to handle it now.
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Re: Caravan Towing Questions

Post by Bob » Mon Mar 21, 2016 11:25 am

I would guess about an hour labour to fit a tow bar and electrics.
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Re: Caravan Towing Questions

Post by Tris » Mon Mar 21, 2016 12:41 pm

Towbar fitting will probably take 3 hours or so.
A nose weight gauge is useful but bathroom scales and a bit
of broom handle will do the job.
When you get the 'van make sure it has the pump with it, some of the older ones
are getting like hens teeth.
If you are new to towing the two major clubs run courses to help
you get the hang of manoeuvring a 'van.

Hope that may be helpful.
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Re: Caravan Towing Questions

Post by weeginger73 » Mon Mar 21, 2016 10:10 pm

Thanks guys! Thats all really helpful.

I have another question for all you knowledgeable folks....: :-k

We passed our drivng test after 1997 so the gov.uk website states we can "tow a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as the combined MAM of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg". We'd definitely get some sort of training, but if we dont actually need to take the (expensive) test then that would be good.

So, what is the MAM of the Bongo? And will I find this on the VIN or any of the documentation? :?:

And what is the Maximum Train Weight of the Bongo?

Thanks again!
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Re: Caravan Towing Questions

Post by mikeonb4c » Mon Mar 21, 2016 11:32 pm

And from my experience, make it clear you don't want scotchloks used for tapping into the vehicle wiring harnesd. Sooner or later they're bad news for wiring [-X
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Re: Caravan Towing Questions

Post by Bob » Mon Mar 21, 2016 11:38 pm

Max gross weight of a Bongo is 2250 kgs.

Example - Max caravan weight 1250 kgs = 3500 kgs.

Note these are the weights that count. A caravan with a max weight of 1500 kgs but not loaded and weighing, say actualy 1200 kgs, would be over.

The VIN is just an identity number and will reveal nothing else.

Since caravans are unusual in Japan you will be pushed to find a published Gross Train Weight for the Bongo, but I'm pretty sure you could work on Bongy weight 2250 kgs, max towing weight 1600 kgs = 3850 kgs. 8)

To sum up, a caravan with a max gross weight under 1250 kgs would seem to be ok on your licence, caravan max weight (not actual weight) 1251 kgs means new test.

Please note I am not a lawyer and only a Court of Law can make the judgement... :D

This may help a little:

https://www.lifesure.co.uk/blog/2014/02 ... g-weights/
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Re: Caravan Towing Questions

Post by weeginger73 » Mon Mar 21, 2016 11:55 pm

That is extremely helpful Bob, thanks very much for that! :-D

So if we didnt do the test we'd be sailing a bit too close to the wind perhaps....depending on the caravan we got of course.

Thanks again.
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Re: Caravan Towing Questions

Post by weeginger73 » Tue Mar 22, 2016 12:00 am

mikeonb4c wrote:And from my experience, make it clear you don't want scotchloks used for tapping into the vehicle wiring harnesd. Sooner or later they're bad news for wiring [-X
:?: :?: :-k Thanks Mike, scotchloks...? Is this for the wiring for the towbar? Sorry I'm totally knowledge free when it comes to the technical aspects.... :oops:
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Re: Caravan Towing Questions

Post by Bob » Tue Mar 22, 2016 12:25 am

Yes, these little rascles:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/26094869 ... noapp=true

Easy to fit but can cause problems.
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Re: Caravan Towing Questions

Post by Getcarter » Tue Mar 22, 2016 10:48 pm

Just one thing to note if buying a used caravan, make sure you check for damp or get the caravan checked by someone who knows how to check.

We bought a great looking 2003 caravan that looked perfect on the inside but turned out to have a major damp issue. It cost me over £2000 to get it sorted as lots of the wall panels and frame had to be replaced :shock:

I also did a course on towing with the camping and caravan club, well worth the money
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Re: Caravan Towing Questions

Post by mikeonb4c » Tue Mar 22, 2016 11:41 pm

Bob wrote:Yes, these little rascles:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/26094869 ... noapp=true

Easy to fit but can cause problems.
That's them. Whoever fitted the towbar on mine had used them. The Bongo started blowing offside brake light filaments after a few years then when i bought a new trailer the wiring didn't work properly. I removed all scotchlocks and soldered all the joints and everything then worked perfectly. Autoelectrians may like them when time is money and all that matters is they work on Day 1, but they're a trouble time bomb especially where damp may promote formation of oxide on the metal to wiring contact points.
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Re: Caravan Towing Questions

Post by weeginger73 » Wed Mar 23, 2016 11:04 pm

Thanks for the tips guys. I'll discuss the scotchlocks before I book Bongo in for towbar fitting.

Damp - Getcarter - Ouch! :shock: That was an expensive fix! If the damp isnt readily obvious by marks or smell, are there any other tell tale signs I should look out for?

A few people have reccomended the caravan and camping club towing course. Out of interest, is there anybody actually towing a caravan without B + E on their licences, and just making sure the weights are under the limit? Will defo do a towing course but we cant decide whether to do the test as our outfit should be below 3500kg.
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Re: Caravan Towing Questions

Post by Tertiary » Wed Mar 23, 2016 11:22 pm

The question has to be 'Have you towed before?'

Aside from the monetary value of your outfit and possessions, you obviously have to consider the 'value' of your passengers... For a small outlay, the cost of proper training by experienced and professional instructors is a tiny price to pay!

I've been towing for years - starting on a farm in my early teens, towing all manner of machinery then moving on to a career driving lorries and owning the odd caravan or two when the kids were younger. The point is it takes a momentary lapse of concentration or, usually, inexperience for a novice caravanner, to get it horribly wrong with disastrous consequences. If you're lucky, you and your loved ones will walk away - if you're not? Well, it doesn't bear thinking about....

Pay the money and take the course - it's a no-brainer really!

Sorry to be so blunt but I've seen so many ruined holidays, possessions and lives scattered all over the motorway, mostly with no other vehicles involved! Its one of the things I feel very strongly about... :D

Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance! :lol: :wink:
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Re: Caravan Towing Questions

Post by weeginger73 » Wed Mar 23, 2016 11:45 pm

Thanks Tertiary, but I was never intending to tow without taking the course, as I said in my post. We have never towed before and fully see the benefit of the training; we wouldnt feel confident or safe doing it otherwise - it would be irresponsible and I completely agree with you.

My question was about the actual test. Its not a cheap test and I was exploring whether its actually necessary if our outfit is below the legal limit. I was just wondering out of interest whether others were towing without B + E on their licences.

As far as the training goes however, I completely agree with you that its 100% necessary and theres no price on the safety of your loved ones. I appreciate your concern, thanks for posting as its an important point.
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Re: Caravan Towing Questions

Post by Getcarter » Thu Mar 24, 2016 8:28 pm

weeginger73 wrote:
Damp - Getcarter - Ouch! :shock: That was an expensive fix! If the damp isnt readily obvious by marks or smell, are there any other tell tale signs I should look out for?
Look out for a spongy feel in the wall boards where there should be solid wood. The damp often gets in from the awning rails on the outside or any small cracks in the roof. Its hard to tell by eye but a damp meter is the best way to check. You could find a local caravan service guy to check with their meter, I wish we had known about it. Good luck
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