Caravans: equipment, purchase, rent, hook assembly in the car

A well-maintained caravan of domestic production is available for purchase from PLN 3. But it is also possible to rent for 60-100 zł. Adapting the car for towing, i.e. installing a towbar, costs at least PLN 300.

The Polish caravan market is very rich. On advertising portals and in the automotive press, you can find thousands of ads for the sale of such cars. Prices for economy caravans start around PLN 130 and in extreme cases can even reach PLN 140–XNUMX. zloty. They depend primarily on the size and configuration, as well as on the brand and year of manufacture.

Equipment for caravans

Home caravans are the cheapest, offering mostly only a place to sleep and a small kitchen.

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“They don’t have a bathroom and the walls aren’t insulated. The plastic body is trimmed from the inside only with upholstery. In Western caravans, there is also a layer of polystyrene under the walls, and only plywood on top of it, explains Eugeniusz Pomykala, owner of the Grocar trailer thrift shop in Zacherna in Podkarpattya.

Differences in price also depend on the level of equipment of caravans.

“The most expensive ones can have a full kitchen and bathroom, a TV set, automatically lowering awnings and supports, and even their own air conditioning and drive to move,” says Jerzy Wozniacki, owner of a caravan and tow hook company.

The cottage trailer is uneven - they differ in weight, size, number of axles and equipment

The caravans available on the market are mainly divided by weight. Lungs is a group with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of up to 750 kg. The rest of the group is hard. They differ in size, number of axles and level of equipment. What to look for when buying a caravan?

– First of all, check the condition of the frame, on which there should be no cracks and deformations, as well as traces of painting and repair. The condition of the brakes and axles is also important. I do not recommend buying trailers with components other than Knott or Al-Ko, as it will be difficult to find spare parts for them. The problem that disqualifies the caravan is also broken windows and an unpleasant smell, which in principle cannot be eliminated. The rest is a matter of taste, says Jerzy Wozniacki.

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Eugeniusz Pomikala adds that it is also worth opening cabinets and checking for stains inside. As is the upholstery. Potential leaks are usually difficult to find and repair.

Used caravan from the UK - what to look for

Due to attractive prices, trailers imported from the UK are a tempting offer. The difference in price is mainly due to the placement of the door on the left side. To register such a caravan in Poland, you need to move the fog lights to the left side, and the reversing light to the right.

– When buying a trailer from England, be careful with the documents. There is no obligation to register trailers, which can be problematic if you try to register in our country. To avoid problems in the communications department, the new owner must receive confirmation of purchase from the Englishman, Pomykala warns.

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In his opinion, for a beginner caravaner, the best choice is a domestic caravan. After one or two seasons, it can be changed to a better one.

“Then the person knows exactly what to expect from the trailer. Does he need a bathroom or maybe more sleeping space? It is not always necessary to buy an expensive caravan. In cheaper, slightly more worn ones, the carpet, cabinet doors or upholstery can be replaced by yourself. This caravan repair doesn't have to be expensive. Interesting sample solution too caravan rental Eugeniusz Pomykala emphasizes.  

Only the Nevyadovsk company has home-caravans of domestic production. Of the foreign caravans, the most recommended are the German ones, incl. Hobby, Knaus and Detleffs.

Caravan rental

Caravan rental rates depend on its size and equipment, as well as the degree of wear and tear. For renting a four-seater trailer with a gross weight of 1200-1300 kg and a length of 4,5-5,2 m, you will have to pay PLN 60-100 per day. Renting a larger six-seater trailer with a gross weight of 1400 kg and a length of 5,5 m costs PLN 100-180 per day. Seven-meter caravans with a gross weight of more than 2000 kg are more expensive - the rental rate is PLN 250-300 per day.

Caravan and traffic rules

As already mentioned, caravans are divided by weight. Light trailers are a group with PMT up to 750 kg. The rest of the group is hard. All of them are classified as special trailers according to Polish regulations.

It is very important to fit the caravan to the car using GVM as well. A category B driver's license allows you to tow a light trailer with any car, even a 3,5-ton one. But in the case of a heavy trailer, you must additionally have “code B 96” in your driver’s license, which is entered after passing an additional exam in WORD.

– You do not need to take any courses or pass any tests. It is enough for an applicant for such a driving license to demonstrate skillful driving with a trailer on the shunting area and in motion. One of the tasks is also the coupling and uncoupling of the road train, says Robert Drozd, inspector in charge of WORD Rzeszow.

For such an exam, you need to pay 170 PLN in WORD. You are driving a car with a trailer belonging to the resort. However, first, in the liaison department of the mayor's office with the rights of a district or district headman competent at the place of residence, it is necessary to develop a driver candidate questionnaire (PCC). You don't pay for it.

For both types of caravans, the total mass of the road train must not exceed 4250 kg. However, there are some loopholes in the rules. Most importantly, if the trailer has a weight limit of more than 750 kg, i.e. is classified as heavyweight, but the vehicle kit weight does not exceed 3,5 tons, only category B is sufficient without the need to pass the B96 exam described above. . Condition: the actual mass of the trailer must not exceed the mass of the tractor and, of course, be within the maximum mass of the trailer indicated in the vehicle registration certificate (points O1 and O2).

Category B + E offers the most opportunities, which allows a car with a PMT of up to 3,5 tons to tow a heavy trailer, and then the composition of vehicles can be up to 7 tons.

– Be aware of the O1 and O2 restrictions on the registration certificate, i.e. about the maximum DMT of the trailer with and without brakes. If we comply with this, we usually comply with the rest of the mass restrictions arising from the traffic law. An exception may be cross-country vehicles, in which, in position O1, the maximum trailer load limit is greater than the vehicle load limit. However, such a trailer must have a brake activated from the driver's seat, not an inertia brake, explains Jerzy Wozniacki.

Experts remind that if the length of the road train exceeds 12 meters, the trailer must be marked with distinctive plates. Gross unit weight over 3,5 tons obliges to pay in the viaTOLL electronic toll collection system (more about the viaTOLL system). Including this is why caravans are increasingly being replaced by motorhomes.

– Trailers with a weight limit of more than 750 kg are subject to technical tests. In the case of light weight insurance, the only expense is third party liability insurance, which costs PLN 35-40 with full discounts for the whole year, Eugeniusz Pomykala calculates. 

All caravans are subject to registration and liability insurance.

Hooked caravan - how to drive later

Please note that driving with a trailer requires more attention from the driver. Depending on the model, we tow a vehicle that is at least 3,2 meters long, 2-2,3 meters wide and 2,45 meters high. Therefore, the driver should pay special attention to driveways under low overpasses and entrances to underground parking lots. For your own convenience, it is worth installing additional side mirrors on the outriggers. Be aware of the limited turning radius of a vehicle with a trailer. Breaking the assembly too much can damage the rear bumper relative to the drawbar or trailer.

Installing a towbar - how much does it cost

To tow a caravan, the vehicle must first be equipped with a tow bar. There are two types on the market.

– Cheaper tow hooks have a tip that can be removed with a wrench. Depending on the car model, you will have to pay from 300 to 700 zł for installing a towbar. In turn, prices for ball hooks that allow you to detach the tip without using tools start from PLN 700, says Jerzy Wozniacki.

For newer and larger vehicles, such a towbar can cost around PLN 2. up to PLN 6 - these are the prices for the most technically advanced towbars, which allow you to hide the tip under the bumper.

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To save money, you can find towbars at online auctions, car dealerships, or auto yards. Used, but in good condition, maximum PLN 300. Before buying, however, you need to make sure that it is approved, otherwise the diagnostician will not stamp the inspection after assembly. Installing towbars in older cars is not difficult, and instructions can be found on the Internet, for example, on car forums. The basis is a strong fastening of the structure to the chassis and the correct connection of the car's headlights to the trailer socket.

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– For a person not familiar with the details, the action begins when installing the towbar on a new car. Sometimes the on-board computer reads interference in the electrical system as a short circuit and gives an error. To avoid this situation, a separate electronic module is increasingly being used to control the trailer, says Wozniacki.

After installing the towbar to the diagnostician and to the office

After installing the towbar, an additional technical inspection should be carried out, allowing the car to walk after completion. If the towbar is installed correctly and the car passes the test, all that remains is to visit the communication department, where we will get a certificate from the diagnostician. You need to take the vehicle registration certificate and the vehicle card with you. After you have made a note about the towbar in the acceptance certificate, the caravan can be towed on vacation.

Governorate Bartosz

photo by Bartosz Guberna