We purchased a Bailey Pursuit at the weekend and looking for a bit of guidance. We will be towing with a 2013 Falcon XR6. This is our first van and we have very little towing experience.
We will be booking a Tow-Ed course before we use it.
I would like to know a couple of things before we pick up the van
1. The Pursuit does not have ATC fitted as standard, is it worth getting it fitted by the supplier?
2. Do we need to fit a brake controller to the car? or is it handled by the van?
3. Do we need to use a WDH?
Regards
Brijacq
-- Edited by brijacq on Wednesday 22nd of February 2017 12:47:09 PM
-- Edited by brijacq on Wednesday 22nd of February 2017 12:52:09 PM
Hello brijacq, a very warm welcome to the playground. Others on here, i am sure, will be able to help u. I cannot but just popped in to say hello. Happy days. Rocket n strop
We purchased a Bailey Pursuit at the weekend and looking for a bit of guidance. We will be towing with a 2013 Falcon XR6. This is our first van and we have very little towing experience.
We will be booking a Tow-Ed course before we use it.
I would like to know a couple of things before we pick up the van
1. The Pursuit does not have ATC fitted as standard, is it worth getting it fitted by the supplier?
2. Do we need to fit a brake controller to the car? or is it handled by the van? Yes
3. Do we need to use a WDH? From what I can see the ball weight is about 60kg...you can decide that after you hitch it up...there are quite a few posts on measuring vehicle suspension drop to decide if a WDH is needed.
Regards
Brijacq
-- Edited by brijacq on Wednesday 22nd of February 2017 12:47:09 PM
-- Edited by brijacq on Wednesday 22nd of February 2017 12:52:09 PM
Hi Brijacq welcome to the forum, I am not really familiar with that model caravan but I believe that Bailey make the European light weight style vans (usually under 2T loaded). The XR6 is rated to tow 2.3T braked so it should be capable of doing the job, the decision on whether you will need a WDH can be made the first time that you hook up your van to the car. When we picked up ours from the dealer they fitted a Hayman Reece WDH for us and adjusted it to the correct tension in order to bring the car and van back to the correct level. You will need to get a brake controller wired into your vehicle - probably lucky that you're not living in NSW or you would also have to get a breakaway monitor fitted as well. You didn't actually say whether you have ordered the van new from a dealer or you already have it. Be prepared to keep putting your hand in your pocket because buying the van is only the start - what you need to keep in mind is that at the end of the day it will be well worth it.
Welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of European lightweight vans.
First and foremost you do not need a WDH as the van will be fitted with an ALKO anti sway hitch and the ball weight will be low, around the 100kg mark, get yourself a device to weigh the ball weight as this is critical for these vans. Ebay is where I purchased ours for around $30
Braking should be also be incorporated in the hitch system and are over-ride brakes that work fantastic.
We towed our Geist 485 with a Falcon XR6T and could not have been happier, this to me was the ultimate tow/van combination. We previously towed it with a Prado, not in the same street.
We had our Geist for ten years and in all that time we travelled many thousands of trouble free km's from Hobart up through the centre of Australia, around the coast etc.
Freedom camping is where it came into its own, with the great insulation and not needing 240volts (other than the a/c which we rarely had to use) the internal ducted heating was of more use.
Hope you have as many trouble free happy times with yours.
Hi BRIJACQ, welcome to the forum. As a tow vehicle I am a Falcon trajic. I have towed with an XL(too old for some to know about), ED(15 years) and a BF(current). In my experience ALL falcons are exceptionally soft on the back end, even for a Bailey. They sag even with a loaded box trailer. So I say yes fit a WDH. YES you need a brake controller in the car if electric brakes are fitted. I have no knowledege of the Bailey van or its setup hence the qualification. Hope this helps.
Surely the seller of the van should have told you what was needed! Particularly if this is your first van. Sorry if I am critical, but all that information should have relayed to you by the dealer. I hope you haven't picked it up without a proper hand over as all that should have been covered in the hand over. And for all the poison pens about to start writing, don't bother, if your van was handed over without a hand over session of at least an hour, new or second hand, any problems are your problems. A good dealer will do this automatically. Please don't hammer me!
If you have any doubts, contact the dealer and ask them. If you need electronic stability control, electric brakes or a weight distribution hitch, you can also talk to the car dealership. The WDH from the manufacturer of the vehicle has to be better than after market!
Hi and welcome to the forum. It is a good forum apart from the grumpy old ones like me that say Hi after their tirade!
I would find out if the van has electronic stability control fitted and if it is not, that is a must. It saved me recently on freshly tarred road, no stones laid!
You don't see very many euro type caravans with WDH's fitted. In Europe they don't even know what one is. We spent months traveling around the UK & never saw one.
With a tiny ball weight & a skinny A-frame you don't need one but as usual people will insist that you do. https://www.caravansplus.com.au/catalog/help-tips10.php
It has the potential to actually bend your caravans A-frame.
We had a BF XR6 Falcon & towed our 17ft fiberglass half cabin boat full of heavy camping gear with it which all up weighed around 2,000kg. The Jaguar designed rear end hardly sagged at all.
-- Edited by Desert Dweller on Thursday 23rd of February 2017 05:50:12 AM
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Cheers Keith & Judy
Don't take life too seriously, it never ends well.
Trip Reports posted on feathersandphotos.com.au Go to Forums then Trip Reports.
Forgot to add that we towed aour van for seven years without modifying the rear end. The XR6 already has a stiff sports suspension but when we decided to tow up through central Australia I had air bags fitted. Couldn't believe the difference loaded and unloaded. Used to run 15psi in the bags when towing and 9psi whithout van.
Always ammuses me when people give advice about European vans when they haven't owned one or even have a clue about them. A WDH may bend the A frame or cause the chassis to crack where the A frame meets the chassis.
Agree that all this should have been explained in great detail by the dealer, unless of course it is a secondhand van then the seller should have been able to give you the correct info. The absence of information may be because you purchased it from a used dealer who is not familiar with European vans.
Thank you for the welcome..... i have been reading the forums for the last 7 years but was never in the position to purchase a van.
Thank you for the responses.
Yes it is a new van and the dealer has said there will be a minimum 2-3 hour handover when we pick it up.
They said they would contact me a week before pick up to answer any questions i had, this is why i asked here so i was a bit more informed before i spoke to the dealer.
I'm sure i will have lots more questions and i know for a fact you guys are always willing to help.
And another welcome to this Forum - we look forward to frequent accounts of your trips and the places you saw and enjoyed.
Also as a newbie - please ask the more experienced here - theyre not always right, but with a consensus of replies, hopefully it will be helpful.
BUT don't let the Dealer rush you with the 2-3 hour handover. They will tell you so much, that your mind will be spinning and chances are you will forget some of the important stuff.
If youre not sure, get them to show you again......and again.
It pays to take a pad and pen with you to write down some of the less simple stuff and after a couple of days of playing with your new baby at home and youre not sure, go back to the dealer and get him/her to show you on another van.
Many dealers use repair staff as hand-over people and they can be terrible at 1) because they know they start at "H" rather than "A" in the demonstration and b) they are usually not good teachers as they usually have little or no handover training - just a tick list that they tick and you sign to say you have been shown (and presumably now knowledgeable)
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
With the Falcon. Put a set of "pump up" shockers on rear. I did back in '98 when I took a Fairmont round with female and coupla kids. Made ALL the difference. Left Adel. fitted them in the Alice.
Also. Forget WDH. but look round for a set of lighter. "Round Bar" systems. they handle the lighter rigs well. I bought a single round bar set. and had a pr of thicker spring steel bars made up to suit.
In Darwin.
Also. Put a pr of Heavy duty rear tyres. on car. i fitted a pr of LT 10pr.rear. and Pirelli's on front. (2 spares)
You ain't going to drive too fast and they MUCH safer than soft rolly car tyres on there. Toyo good for van work too.
I also fitted gas on it too pre trip. Gave much longer fuel range and choice of two fuels. Round tank at front of boot area. Paid for itself (in those cheaper gas days) on that trip.
My Fairlanes took a 110ltr tank. was real good.
PS.
A self contained "Breakaway" at $64 del plus an hr to fit.
is real cheap insurance if van ever does "breakaway. -- Edited by macka17 on Thursday 23rd of February 2017 10:27:00 PM
-- Edited by macka17 on Thursday 23rd of February 2017 10:29:36 PM
Hammer them at hand over and insist on demonstrations. I found two minor faults which were fixed during handover on the new van. Saved me going back.
The first caravan we bought was a fantastic van, second hand. During hand over, this cupboard is where you would put your porta pottie, looks you have one. From there the pottie humour just erupted. The pottie had been missed and was still full. In the end, the manager of the dealership was seen to be taking the pottie for flushing. We got a few extras and a new loo out of it. I love mistakes on second hand stuff like caravans!
Me.
I reckon a late model second hand everytime nowadays.
had a coupla new ones.
Mainly had Roadstar offroaders with a Compass thrown in.
Only ever had one small problem on the Compass. Pop Top.
raised roof rim for top to drop onto.
sheeting at one corner had been cut a coupla mm too short for overlap.
let a few dribbles in on first rain.
2 min's with Ladder and sika at first dealer with a big "sorrrry", fixed it.
Personally, I think the off and semi offroaders.
because of extra fastenings and materials in them.
Are a different quality of van.
IE. More care taken.
That's the main reason I've always gone for those models.
And newly second hand. they normally come into same price bracket as new std models.
A lot of people STILL buy a van for the big lap.
Fit extra's and get any problems fixed.
Then sell vans after normally 2yrs max. Some less than one yr,
but want unrealistic figures.
2 yrs ish. They accept it second hand and drop to sane figures.
My last (prev van) Roadstar semi 6.5 mtr 2000 series..
$67k new. 3 yrs. cost $41.500. Stood in drive for 15 months.
with a lot of spares. Full annexe. Side awning opposite side. WDH and all LED lights.
Hyd Jockey wh, WAECO fridge etc etc.
Had Done Sidney to top, round West up East and parked in drive for 15 months.
Wanted rid of.
(THATS the secret. Find ones not being used).
This van. Ins Market value $19.800. we took out of his drive for $12k.
Same thing. Canadian. Wanted rid of.
Just spent a little time looking. It's well worth it.
