I've Seen One!

[SaywellHQ]

My friend has a Tesla model Y and has towed his caravan once. It’s one of the EVs that you can actually tow a caravan with (obviously only the correct weight etc). It depletes the battery by a minimum of 50% when towing, so in reality less than 150 miles each full charge if you are lucky. I forget where he went but it got him to the campsite then hooked up the caravan then had to charge up somewhere. On the way home they didn’t quite make it on one charge and had to pull into a services 10 miles from home for a top up. What people don’t mention when charging the EVs for a quick top up, say half hour or so, if you have kids you go into the services , buy a coffee and snacks then before you know it you’ve spent £20 or £30 and that’s before paying top price for your electric top up. I say he has only done it once as he won’t risk doing it again due to range anxiety. He is actively trying to sell his caravan and is going to start going to campsites where they do have EV chargers (same big ones have them in reception car parks apparently) and stay in static’s or lodges.

Something which I p1ssed myself watching in a YT video by Harry Metcalfe (EVO Magazine former owner), happened when he was towing a caravan with an EV he had on test, and needed to charge.

He soon realised that to charge an EV when towing is likely impossible with the caravan hitched up, most charges you can either reverse into (which won't work if you are hitched up), or go forward into the EV bay (which then means your caravan is hanging out the bay and probably blocking the road).

The only way he could get it work, was to unhitch the caravan and park that in a bay, and then go and park the EV to get charged...

I'm not sure I have seen many EV spaces that are side-on and would allow a massive parking space for an EV And a caravan?

 

[66tim99]

On e way around the supply problem is the use of a hydrogen powered generator. Cairn Lodge service station has one in service.

Cairn Lodge Services 'leads the charge' | Electric Charging | M74

We’re proud to announce that at our Cairn Lodge Services, on the M74 in Lanarkshire, we have launched a cutting-edge electric vehicle (EV) charging facility powered by hydrogen. This marks the first-of-its-kind deployment of a hydrogen-powered generator connected to EV chargers at a UK service...

westmorlandfamily.com

I wonder what it cost to install

 

[Corradobrit]

Something which I p1ssed myself watching in a YT video by Harry Metcalfe (EVO Magazine former owner), happened when he was towing a caravan with an EV he had on test, and needed to charge.

He soon realised that to charge an EV when towing is likely impossible with the caravan hitched up, most charges you can either reverse into (which won't work if you are hitched up), or go forward into the EV bay (which then means your caravan is hanging out the bay and probably blocking the road).

The only way he could get it work, was to unhitch the caravan and park that in a bay, and then go and park the EV to get charged...

I'm not sure I have seen many EV spaces that are side-on and would allow a massive parking space for an EV And a caravan?

Andrew Ditton has a YT channel, owns an Kia EV6 and tows a caravan. As you say he has to unhitch to charge so adding a bit of inconvenience. Overall he finds it a great combo, especially as the EV6 has the ability to power the caravan when parked up. I enjoy watching his vids too.

 

[andyinluton]

I reckon towing one of these instead of the wobble box would save him having to unhitch.

 

[Jenny H]

Its an adamant no from me totally lacking in any sort of character or practicality whatsoever!

 

[andyinluton]

I

Its an adamant no from me totally lacking in any sort of character or practicality whatsoever!

I think they said the same every time the T series changed. The change to having the engine up front was the end of the world for some……

 

[Jenny H]

I
I think they said the same every time the T series changed. The change to having the engine up front was the end of the world for some……

Oh really I can understand why as their so iconic but the advantage of not having your camper breakdown on the motorway every trip must have been a massive pull for the change!!

 

[Trojax]

There is one in the Birmingham Van centre, and have to say that VW have created a weekend van. I don't think you would be able to live in it for a long time ie longer than 2 or 3 days..

So not that impressed

 

[Wannabecamperman]

My friend has a Tesla model Y and has towed his caravan once. It’s one of the EVs that you can actually tow a caravan with (obviously only the correct weight etc). It depletes the battery by a minimum of 50% when towing, so in reality less than 150 miles each full charge if you are lucky. I forget where he went but it got him to the campsite then hooked up the caravan then had to charge up somewhere. On the way home they didn’t quite make it on one charge and had to pull into a services 10 miles from home for a top up. What people don’t mention when charging the EVs for a quick top up, say half hour or so, if you have kids you go into the services , buy a coffee and snacks then before you know it you’ve spent £20 or £30 and that’s before paying top price for your electric top up. I say he has only done it once as he won’t risk doing it again due to range anxiety. He is actively trying to sell his caravan and is going to start going to campsites where they do have EV chargers (same big ones have them in reception car parks apparently) and stay in static’s or lodges.

The children / spend thing applies at any toilet break or stop irrespective of car driven - simple self discipline is required.

Re the Tesla 'paying top price for your top up', well that's completely inaccurate. I own a new Model Y and when not using the home charger to fill up for £4 on the overnight EV tariff, I use the amazing network of superchargers which still only cost between 28p and 46p per kWh, which equates to around 9 p per mile - still far less than almost any diesel or petrol car!

That's part of the reason that why the Model Y is the best selling car of 2023. The supercharger network is around half the price of any non-Tesla public charger, and they always work and tell you how many are available and cost on the app, 24/7. It's brilliant!

 

[Wannabecamperman]

Andrew Ditton has a YT channel, owns an Kia EV6 and tows a caravan. As you say he has to unhitch to charge so adding a bit of inconvenience. Overall he finds it a great combo, especially as the EV6 has the ability to power the caravan when parked up. I enjoy watching his vids too.

I must say that the V2L (vehicle to load) that allows use of a 230v socket for air fryers, hair dryers, coffee machines, microwaves, etc is absolutely brilliant from Kia. If only my Tesla did that.

 

[nachoandchonk]

You can on the Multivan Hybrid. Whether the new California Hybrid can , I don't know.

So to be specific - the Multivan Hybrid will have a plug to charge the vehicle. This would not be the same as a campsite hookup which I'd want to use for the AC.

I suspect campside owners will ban (if they haven't already) any plug in charging of vehicles. Aside from the cost, most campsites would not be setup to supply that much power if a non-trivial number of hybrids.

 

[WelshGas]

So to be specific - the Multivan Hybrid will have a plug to charge the vehicle. This would not be the same as a campsite hookup which I'd want to use for the AC.

I suspect campside owners will ban (if they haven't already) any plug in charging of vehicles. Aside from the cost, most campsites would not be setup to supply that much power if a non-trivial number of hybrids.

I presume the Hybrid California will have a separate EHU connection to charge Leisure batteries and provide Mains power within vehicle.
Having said that the EV battery can be charged from a normal domestic socket, 13amps, in 4 hrs and most Type2 Domestic chargers can be current limited to 6/8/10/12 amps.

 

[Multi1100]

I appreciate that probably most on this forum aren't fans of the T7, but one thing I wonder is where the traditional Cali buyers will go next. I get that many are snapping up the last of the new 6.1's and some may go nearly new for a while. But many buyers are only going to want to buy new, so a used 6.1 will be discounted as a choice. I certainly wanted only brand new when I got my 6.1.

Where do you think these buyers will go if it's not the T7? I appreciate some may go for new conversions but many like the idea of a manufacturer conversion so does that mean the Marco Polo or Nugget will be more in demand?????

The new Nugget looks a lot like the new Cali...so I don't think that will be much of a difference. What I do expect is that Westfalia (or others) wil embrace the new Transporter/Ford and have their creativity go on a new type "Westy". I for sure would have a look at that when deciding to go for hybrid for instance. Either MB with do have an alternative already....(electric, hybrid, petrol)