Twin axle or single-Newbie needs help.

[Monkeymatt1]

Evening all
We are new to MotorHomes but did have a twin axle caravan.We didn't fancy taking the caravan abroad so have sold it and are now looking for a Motorhome.
Budget should stretch to a 2008-2010 plate.
My main concern is the length of the twin axle/tag versions.I have seen other Q&A on the subject.
Most seem to be 8.5-8.9 mtr,so what are people's experience's travelling around France in one of these?
I am not too worried about the toll charges but i am concerned about getting to the stop over sites and not getting in ,especially as we have 2 young children.
How is it on a turning circle against a single axle?
I read something by one person that he thought the interior wears less in a tag because there is less body roll.Any thoughts on that?
Also, I have looked at a couple,one a Bessecar and the other Kontiki.Is there a better make to go for?
We really need one with a garage as we need the storage.We could go for a single axle with bunkbeds at the end over garage if there is such a thing but i haven't found one yet that is 5/6 berth.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated as we are really struggling with this.
Finally,in say 10 years' time when it's showing its age would a twin axle or single sell better?..i ask as 20 year old tag ones don't seem to age so well.
Many thanks in advance.
Matt

 

[Monkeymatt1]

We only have a PVC but we’re with my cousin at Highlands End and they’re just downsizing from a 8.5m twin axle to a 7.5 single mainly because they’ve found over the last 2 or 3 years they’ve had increasing difficulty booking onto sites.

Thank you for that.Was that just in the UK or Europe too?

 

[Monkeymatt1]

Hope you don't peg out, but , check Insurance companies, one Insurance company would not repatriate my motorhome if I was incapacitated as son would be on Insurance and expected him to collect it, although he is in full time employment.

Thank you for the heads up.My son is 9 so hopefully they wouldn't expect him to drive it back!

 

[carolyn]

Thank you for that.Was that just in the UK or Europe too?

They have mainly travelled in the U.K. over the past couple of years because of Covid but are planning on heading back to Europe. I know the Ile d’offard site at Saumur and I’le d’or Amboise don’t like tag axles , we’ve been there this year and can confirm that. I have to confess I don’t know whether they’ve got stricter generally.

I have incorrectly said tag axle where I should have said twin axle. Apologies to those who have been offended but I’m sure everyone knows I meant when I was trying to be helpful!

 

[Monkeymatt1]

They have mainly travelled in the U.K. over the past couple of years because of Covid but are planning on heading back to Europe. I know the Ile d’offard site at Saumur and I’le d’or Amboise don’t like tag axles , we’ve been there this year and can confirm that. I have to confess I don’t know whether they’ve got stricter generally.

Thank you.It is a worry. I went onto pitch up site France and after checking various regions,seem to be a 50/50 split on twin axle accepted or not but that doesn't necessarily mean MH.
My brain hurts!...i don't want to be Lumbard.

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[JockandRita]

Not sure about the OP, but both our insurers and breakdown insurers, are fully aware that I am the only qualified driver, and that in the event, they would either need to supply a driver, or repatriate the vehicle.

It's just a case of getting the right cover, as Rita will never drive our MH, (her words, not mine).

Cheers,

Jock.

Tony50

Hope you don't peg out, but , check Insurance companies, one Insurance company would not repatriate my motorhome if I was incapacitated as son would be on Insurance and expected him to collect it, although he is in full time employment.

Tony, I have to assume that you didn't read through the whole thread, before posting your reply.
If A.N Other isn't registered with the insurer as a named driver, and there are no others travelling with you who are qualified to drive that classification of vehicle, then the insurer is duty bound to facilitate vehicle repatriation, or provide a chauffeur......................but only if you made them aware of the circumstances at the start of the policy, as I have done for the past 17 x years now.

Hi Matt,
To put another comment into the mix…….many campsites in France do not accept twin axled vehicles.

That has not been our experience in our many years of touring Europe, and usually refers to caravans, (as explained above), favoured by the Gypsy/Travelling community. We have never been turned away with our tandem axled MH.

BTW, they are not tag axled MHs, as a tax axle layout only exists on a MH, if you have one of these.

There are single-rear-axle Fiat Ducato-based Pilote Explorateurs, twin-rear-wheel Mercedes-Benz-based Explorateurs and even Merc Al-Ko-based ones – although the latter are extremely rare.

A "Tag" axle is one which either precedes, or trails a driven axle, and more often than not can be lifted.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Southdowners]

We’ve travelled extensively with tag axled motorhomes, our present one has four rear wheels side by side (not sure of the technical term). If at all possible get side by side wheels… the traction is brilliant as they are rear wheel drive. We don’t stay on sites much but have never been turned away because of the wheels. It’s because if ‘travellers’.

I think you asked about getting onto stops in France… it’s so free and easy there - the aires are amazing. We use an app called park4night. It gives all the stops, aires, wild camping, etc along with photos and reviews. We never plan, we just have a direction to head in and set off. Each evening we decide on a couple of aires for the next day (two, in case one isn’t what you want) and aim to get there at say 2pm.

It’s good to do as you are and ask loads of questions regarding payload, etc. I would go to as many dealers and shows as you can as layout is very important. If you are going to travel on the continent I would suggest getting a LHD.

Good luck with your search!

 

[Monkeymatt1]

We’ve travelled extensively with tag axled motorhomes, our present one has four rear wheels side by side (not sure of the technical term). If at all possible get side by side wheels… the traction is brilliant as they are rear wheel drive. We don’t stay on sites much but have never been turned away because of the wheels. It’s because if ‘travellers’.

I think you asked about getting onto stops in France… it’s so free and easy there - the aires are amazing. We use an app called park4night. It gives all the stops, aires, wild camping, etc along with photos and reviews. We never plan, we just have a direction to head in and set off. Each evening we decide on a couple of aires for the next day (two, in case one isn’t what you want) and aim to get there at say 2pm.

It’s good to do as you are and ask loads of questions regarding payload, etc. I would go to as many dealers and shows as you can as layout is very important. If you are going to travel on the continent I would suggest getting a LHD.

Good luck with your search!

Thank you so much for you reply,all info is much appreciated.

 

[Tony50]

Tony50

Tony, I have to assume that you didn't read through the whole thread, before posting your reply.
If A.N Other isn't registered with the insurer as a named driver, and there are no others travelling with you who are qualified to drive that classification of vehicle, then the insurer is duty bound to facilitate vehicle repatriation, or provide a chauffeur......................but only if you made them aware of the circumstances at the start of the policy, as I have done for the past 17 x years now.


That has not been our experience in our many years of touring Europe, and usually refers to caravans, (as explained above), favoured by the Gypsy/Travelling community. We have never been turned away with our tandem axled MH.

BTW, they are not tag axled MHs, as a tax axle layout only exists on a MH, if you have one of these.

View attachment 640092


There are single-rear-axle Fiat Ducato-based Pilote Explorateurs, twin-rear-wheel Mercedes-Benz-based Explorateurs and even Merc Al-Ko-based ones – although the latter are extremely rare.

A "Tag" axle is one which either precedes, or trails a driven axle, and more often than not can be lifted.

View attachment 640093

Cheers,

Jock.

I can assure you I phoned the Insurer, and ask the question " as my wife has not got a licence to drive a 4.4 tonne vehicle if am incapacitated whilst abroad, will you recover / send a driver to bring vehicle back to UK, as I was going through a quote ,he said no as you have asked to put your son on insurance, he could bring it back , I said but he is in full time work. So I went with Safeguard after asking same question, the company I am talking about is a major one in Motorhome insurance, and a lot of Fun members insure with them . That was my experience, can't say anymore .

 

[JockandRita]

I can assure you I phoned the Insurer, and ask the question " as my wife has not got a licence to drive a 4.4 tonne vehicle if am incapacitated whilst abroad, will you recover / send a driver to bring vehicle back to UK, as I was going through a quote ,he said no as you have asked to put your son on insurance, he could bring it back , I said but he is in full time work. So I went with Safeguard after asking same question, the company I am talking about is a major one in Motorhome insurance, and a lot of Fun members insure with them . That was my experience, can't say anymore .

Yes, because you nominated another driver, even though he wasn't travelling with you. Any which way but lose for them unfortunately.
I don't have any nominated drivers, as I'm the only driver, and as the calls are recorded, I get them to clarify the the exact cover should I be incapacitated, which I then check when reading through the policy booklet as soon as it arrives.

Glad to see that you got sorted out with Safeguard.

Cheers,

Jock.

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[bigtwin]

Hi Matt,
To put another comment into the mix…….many campsites in France do not accept twin axled vehicles.

In 13 years of travelling abroad, we’ve come across only two sites that wouldn’t permit our entry in a tag axle. Sure, they exist but it’s a stretch to suggest that it’s many sites that refuse tags.

I know the Ile d’offard site at Saumur and I’le d’or Amboise don’t like tag axles ,

We’ve stayed a number of times at Ile d’Offard in our tag but were refused at Amboise (one of only two sites where we’ve been refused).

Ian

 

[Monkeymatt1]

Does anyone know if you are in a twin axle MH ,mean that you are confined to the Euro shuttle cattle cart or can you go in the single deck with vans/cars etc?

 

[rb62]

Does anyone know if you are in a twin axle MH ,mean that you are confined to the Euro shuttle cattle cart or can you go in the single deck with vans/cars etc?

Same train as the cars but in the single deck section.

 

[Figaro]

I can assure you I phoned the Insurer, and ask the question " as my wife has not got a licence to drive a 4.4 tonne vehicle if am incapacitated whilst abroad, will you recover / send a driver to bring vehicle back to UK, as I was going through a quote ,he said no as you have asked to put your son on insurance, he could bring it back , I said but he is in full time work. So I went with Safeguard after asking same question, the company I am talking about is a major one in Motorhome insurance, and a lot of Fun members insure with them . That was my experience, can't say anymore .

To be fair I can see why they would say that if you have another named driver on the policy. It may not be convenient for your son to repatriate the vehicle, but it gives you an option. I suppose the answer might have been to remove him for the period of your trip ?

 

[Southdowners]

Does anyone know if you are in a twin axle MH ,mean that you are confined to the Euro shuttle cattle cart or can you go in the single deck with vans/cars etc?

No, you go in with everyone else. You also don't get charged any extra to travel on the tunnel no matter the length.

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[JockandRita]

Does anyone know if you are in a twin axle MH ,mean that you are confined to the Euro shuttle cattle cart or can you go in the single deck with vans/cars etc?

My first time on the Tunnel was with a 51 x seater Hi Liner Coach, with the sticky out P45 mirrors. I had to take it gently.
The next time on the Tunnel was with the tandem axled Hymer. Same carriage as coaches, but a lot easier.

Cheers

Jock.

 

[Tony50]

To be fair I can see why they would say that if you have another named driver on the policy. It may not be convenient for your son to repatriate the vehicle, but it gives you an option. I suppose the answer might have been to remove him for the period of your trip ?

I put my insurance experience I had on here for info really, another experience I had when running a very large fleet of trucks, cars for a Brewery, they wanted you to accept the first value they offer for a that's been a car right off ,I never did , and nor should anyone else, as I have helped in the past my mates who have been unfortunate.