Jane, rather than be guided (or misguided) by caravan sales people, and before you write off the AVAN, I'd suggest the best place to start is to determine the max towing capacity of your Citroen - the handbook should tell you. I believe the Berlingo may vary according to model, but it seems to be around a 1000kg. The AVAN Sportliner is a fairly similar weight, but again check the specific model. If the AVAN including payload (ATM) is within the Citroen's tow capacity, then it may well be OK. It's worth checking since you already have the car and you've spent on tow bar fitting etc. Whichever direction you go, base everything on published weights (plated weights on the caravan) and capacities, rather than relying on dubious opinions from caravan sales people. Best wishes with it all.

-- Edited by SouthernComfort on Saturday 30th of June 2018 08:53:54 AM

Wheeling Along wrote:

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Hello everyone,

I am looking to purchase a small caravan to be towed by my Citroen Berlingo van.  I have had a towbar, 7 pin plug and an Anderson plug fitted to the car (brake controller yet to be fitted).  My original plan was to buy an AVAN Sportliner and the towbar was put on to facilitate this, after advice from an AVAN dealer that the vehicle would be capable of towing it.  I have now had a different opinion from a second dealer who says it won't be able to.

So my quandary now is do I purchase the second hand AVAN Sportliner I've seen or do I purchase a brand new Euro Glider caravan which is much lighter to begin with, as it's made out of fibreglass.  But the Euro Glider is about $8,000.00 dearer and I have not been able to locate any second hand Gliders.

To tow the AVAN (if I buy it) I would need to purchase a new (or second hand) vehicle  -  perhaps something like an early model ute, not the big muscle car utes which seem to be so common nowadays.  I have a Greenspeed recumbent trike which I would like to carry with me, hence the van.  But a ute would also carry it, albeit out in the open.

Can the forum members provide an opinion on which van may be better?  It would be great to hear from owners of both of these vans.

I am a 62 year old single woman who would like to go on the road in the near future.

Jane

 

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 Hi Jane....your car has a braked towing capacity of 800kg,and the van tares at around 680kg,so not much to spare.Car tares around 1300kg (guess) and has GVM of 2130kg,so carrying capacity of 800kg (+/-.).Provided you keep the van under 800kg you can do it.Assuming ball weight of 80kg (10%) you still gave carrying capacity of over 700kg in your car,so may be OK.Just means that you will have to selectively load car,keeping the weight over or ahead of the rear axle.Good luck,and let us know how you go.Safe and happy travels to all.Cheers

Citroen Berlingo

Towing Capacity 815kg to 1100kg
Ball Rating 40kg to 70kg

Depending on model.
If you provide more model detail I will give more exact info.
The low ball rating might be a problem.

From the Avan website - the current series Sportliner is :

Tare - approx. 680kg

ATM- assumed as 300kg payload = 980kg (but I'd hazard a guess that for a single person 200kg would be very generous)

Ball weight - approx. 60kg

These figures may vary slightly with intended payload and weight distribution front to rear inside the van.

Older Sportliners may be slightly lighter by a few kg - check the VIN plate on the drawbar for exact weights.

Montie - if you are quoting 1100kg and 70kg ball weight capability for the Berlingo - that is the specs of the Aliner, but I'd be wary of trying to tow an Aliner with a Berlingo - I'd suggest the Sportliner is a better fit.

By the way, there are a number of solo women in the Avan Club successfully towing Sportliners.

You might find other relevant Avan information on my website - http://home.exetel.com.au/campers/

Regards, Brian   

-- Edited by ShortNorth on Saturday 30th of June 2018 07:44:44 PM

Hello everyone,
I have an 2008 plated Citroen Berlingo II M59 manual light commercial van (purchased new in June 2009). It has 83,130 on the odometer. According to the registration renewal certificate the following details apply: 2 seats, 4 cylinders, tare 1080, GVM 1890, petrol, VIN/Chassis #VF7GCKFWC8J097832.

The vehicle manual states the following petrol weights and towing loads (in kg) for light van - I believe my model is GCKFWC, not GBKFWC. I'm basing this on the above VIN/Chassis number:

Gearbox Manual Manual
Model codes GBKFWC GCKFWC
Version 600kg 800kg
Kerb weight 1055 1055
Gross vehicle weight (GVW) 1655 1855
Gross train weight (GTW) 2555 2755
Unbraked trailer 500 500
Braked trailer (within GTW) 900 900
Recommended nose weight 70 70
Recommended weight on roof rack 100 100

The GTW and towing load values indicated are valid up to a maximum altitude of 1,000 metres. The towing load mentioned must be reduced by 10% for each additional 1,000 metres. Speed of towing vehicle must not exceed 100km/h.

The dealer where the AVAN is for sale has sent me details of the registration certificate for the van - they just paid for another 3 months NSW rego. The registration certificate states the tare weight is 670kg and the GVM is 970.

The towbar fitted is Citroen specific and has ISO 50 stamped into it.

I would definitely not try to tow an AVAN Aliner as it would definitely be too heavy for the Citroen van. But I was given to understand the Sportliner would not be a problem.

Someone mentioned payload - I would pack very lightly as I don't need much. The van already has two gas bottles fitted (4kg each), a water tank, microwave, stove, etc. Food would be an extra weight to include.

Based on the info I have provided above, what does everyone think?

Jane.

Jane, yes I agree the total weight you can tow is 900kg, the maximum your car can weigh (including ball mass & any weight you put on the roof, inside) is 1855kg.

If the Avan is unsuitable, you could look at a soft-top camper trailer - often some of the on-road versions are fairly light but they could be more difficult to erect/collapse. Just bear in mind that if you are working on the extremities, your van may have a shorter life span (wear on the transmission, etc).

Hello everyone,

I drove down to NSW last week and purchased an 2005 Avan Sportliner from a private seller (it wasn't the van I was originally interested in) and drove it back to Brisbane using my brother-in-law's Ford Territory.  It was a learning experience driving it back, good practice for when I do it by myself.

As a matter of interest the compliance plate on the van states:  ATM 910kg, tare mass 610kg and axle/axle group load capacity 850kg.  It has two 4.5kg gas bottles fitted.  As the van is currently empty I will take it to a weigh bridge and weigh it.  Will then load it and re-weigh the van.  At least I will then be operating with known figures, rather than  possible/probable specifications.

If it is within the Citroen Berlingo's capacity I would like to try to tow it.  Does anyone know if it's possible to obtain an adapter for a 7pin flat plug to a 12pin flat plug? The caravan has a 12 pin flat plug fitted and I won't need the Anderson plug on the Citroen if I use it.

Jane