Help and Advice | MG Caravans

New to Caravanning?

Whether you are a first time buyer or simply want some advice this page may help you:

If you are new to caravanning, the experience of selecting the correct vehicle to suit your needs can be very daunting, you might find that the more you research the more questions you have. We hope that the information provided on this page may answer some of these questions for you. If you still feel lost then please visit us and discuss your questions with one of our specially trained team.

Single or Twin Axle?

Single Axle

Two wheels on one axle
Lighter than a twin axle so can be towed by smaller cars
Easier to manoeuvre onsite, which is especially beneficial whilst learning to tow

Twin Axle

Four wheels on two axles
Tend to be heavier requiring a larger tow vehicle
On the road have benefit of extra grip and stability
Offer more space
More expensive

Caravan Layout Design

One of the MOST crucial questions and one of the MOST difficult decisions to make, there are some questions you can ask yourself to help you decide on your caravan layout design…

• How many people will you usually take on holiday with you? • What are the number of adults and children staying in the caravan? • Will you be having occasional guests staying over? • Remember that with regards the number of people sleeping you can always purchase an accessory such as an awning to extend space and sleeping area available. • Do you need a double bed or two single beds? • Do you need the bed to be fixed or pull-out? • Do you require bunk beds for children? • How many people will be seated around the table? Do you need two separate areas or one main area? • Will you want a layout with an end washroom or a centre washroom easily accessible to all?

We can answer any questions you may have regarding the layout of your caravan

Caravan Storage

If you do not have the space to store your new vehicle at home, there are many locations locally which could store your vehicle for you. The easiest place to look is http://www.cassoa.co.uk/

What Can You Tow?

Driving Licence

In order to be able to tow a caravan a driver must hold at least a Category B on your driving licence. If you passed your car test before 1 January 1997 you are generally entitled to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8.25 tonnes maximum authorised mass (MAM).

If you passed your driving test after 1 January 1997 and have an ordinary category B licence, you can:
• Drive a vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes or 3,500kg MAM towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM
• Tow a trailer over 750kg MAM as long as it is no more than the unladen weight of the towing vehicle (with a combined weight of up to 3,500kg in total)

Note: If you want to tow a trailer weighing more than 750kg, when the combined weight of the towing vehicle and trailer is more than 3,500kg, you will need to pass a further test to obtain a B+E category licence.

Your Tow Vehicle

The weight of your caravan should never exceed the weight of your car and your car handbook will give you the maximum weight your car can tow. However to be able to safely tow up hills and stop it is advised that the weight of the caravan with its contents should not exceed 85% of the car’s kerb, or unladen, weight – this is known as ‘Outfit matching’. It is very important to find a good match between car and caravan. Some people work with their existing car, and some people might time buying a new car and caravan at the same time.

Match your car and caravan safely and legally

Please visit TowCheck to ensure that your combination is safe and legal: