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[Martin_1962]

THIS IS IMPORTANT

PUT NEW TYRES ON VAN - 6 PLY SHOULD DO

USE A STABLISER

Speed limit on Autoroute is 82.5mph

Consumption is variable I'll extrapolate from gas

I managed 16mpg from Okehampton to Worcester - this is a little better than the 2.0 as that did 16 to 17 on petrol 16 LPG is roughly equivalent to 18mpg petrol.

If you relax a bit or the van is a little smaller you could make 20mpg, you are looking at 300 miles at most towing but more like 240 is you boot it.

Take a short course on towing, and get the towing licence.

Auto vs Manual - autos are better for towing, as they transmit less shocks through the hitch, so oil change before you go. But use more fuel and can hunt between gears, that said the 2.6 stays in top a hell of a lot more than the 2.0.

I got 14mpg running cross country through Welsh mountains.

So you want a 3.0 or 2.5TD chipped Elite. Elites as above have self levelling suspension. For motorway cruising at speed 180bhp seems fine.

Try to start locating a car now, to give you chance to get it sorted

Fuel France for eg in p

Diesel low 70s Petrol low/mid 80s LPG (GPL) low mid 40s

Any more advice I'm happy to help -

[daveb]

Hi Tunnie.

Went to France this summer towing a caravan (since sold it after watching Top Gear caravan holiday episode - allegedly) and found French campsites much better in general than UK ones. Much more space and water taps to most pitches and electricity included. Take an adaptor for leccy for the occasional site that may have reverse polarity, though these sites are rare I believe

Diesel is tons cheaper in France and with my V reg Facelift 2.5 TD saloon towing a 1300Kg caravan, the car averaged around 22 MPG and never missed a beat. Most of the time it cruised quite comfortably at 60 - 65 mph, but the autobox changed down at the slightest incline.

Filled to capacity with wife and two kids (both girls), you can imagine all the lipsticks, shoes and changes of clothes required, I bet we had more crap and excess stuff than you and a few mates would have - glad the wife hasn't seen this!

There are loads of good on-line guides for the countries you seem keen on, so surf away.

Any other more specific stuff, like how long it takes two girls to watch every single DVD we took on holiday for the headrest mounted players (essential), I'm your man.

Cheers.

Dave.
 

[Omegatoy]

Hi all and
Yo Tunnie, had to answer this thread as im currently in a place called Torre del mar in spain having towed the 5 berth over 2000 miles in the TD estate, campsite are 2 a penny and iuf you go to mappy .com it will list all campsites for you!!
on to the Omega, as you know mine is chipped well, towing the van at 100k speeds on the motorways and lower round the smaller roads, it has consistently given us 29mpg only time it drops is when clambering up the humongous great mountain roads for mlles on end then it drops to about 24 but that is when your in 3rd gear for about 15miles at 4000rpm!!!
you hAVE DRIVEN MY MEGA so you know how it goes, van and car is best cos if you take a motorhome or something you cant use it to visit places of interest, defo go for TD omega mate!!!!can recomened the books by rAlan Rogers caravan and camping  guide!!!! they are excellent, anymore questions you know how to get me!!
Omegatoy  

[daveb]

Hi all and
Yo Tunnie, had to answer this thread as im currently in a place called Torre del mar in spain having towed the 5 berth over 2000 miles in the TD estate, campsite are 2 a penny and iuf you go to mappy .com it will list all campsites for you!!
on to the Omega, as you know mine is chipped well, towing the van at 100k speeds on the motorways and lower round the smaller roads, it has consistently given us 29mpg only time it drops is when clambering up the humongous great mountain roads for mlles on end then it drops to about 24 but that is when your in 3rd gear for about 15miles at 4000rpm!!!
you hAVE DRIVEN MY MEGA so you know how it goes, van and car is best cos if you take a motorhome or something you cant use it to visit places of interest, defo go for TD omega mate!!!!can recomened the books by rAlan Rogers caravan and camping  guide!!!! they are excellent, anymore questions you know how to get me!!
Omegatoy  

Holy Moly Omegatoy, how the heck do you get 29mpg at 100k?

You say your car is chipped, how much does it cost and how do I do it!!!?

Cheers,

Dave.
 

[tunnie]

thats sound advice from all thanks so much!!

Hey omegatoy, having a nice time in Spain? - Watched part of 5th gear last night which showed that idiot driving the new mini. I was more interested in the background and the roads they were on, looks so nice. Can't wait to get out there. - Turned off 5th Gear as it was so apaualing!!

Anywho... yeah Diesel is the way i think. 29mpg is very, very impressive!!! - Even more so when yours is chipped to 200bhp ... I have seen you caravan and its huge!

Hope the cruise is working well!

Any chance you will sell your megga next June?

[tunnie]

Hi all and
Yo Tunnie, had to answer this thread as im currently in a place called Torre del mar in spain having towed the 5 berth over 2000 miles in the TD estate, campsite are 2 a penny and iuf you go to mappy .com it will list all campsites for you!!
on to the Omega, as you know mine is chipped well, towing the van at 100k speeds on the motorways and lower round the smaller roads, it has consistently given us 29mpg only time it drops is when clambering up the humongous great mountain roads for mlles on end then it drops to about 24 but that is when your in 3rd gear for about 15miles at 4000rpm!!!
you hAVE DRIVEN MY MEGA so you know how it goes, van and car is best cos if you take a motorhome or something you cant use it to visit places of interest, defo go for TD omega mate!!!!can recomened the books by rAlan Rogers caravan and camping  guide!!!! they are excellent, anymore questions you know how to get me!!
Omegatoy  

Holy Moly Omegatoy, how the heck do you get 29mpg at 100k?

You say your car is chipped, how much does it cost and how do I do it!!!?

Cheers,

Dave.
 

100k is about 62mph? so from a Diesel that should easily be done, even when towing.

I have driven omegatoys TD and its is very very fast, it also has a 'secret' button which turns on a VERY powerful fan which blows air into the intercooler, its a rocket ship out of first gear, so so fast!!

Think it costs around £150 - £200 to get it chipped, but on the TD's its a massive gain from about 130bhp to around 200!  

He showed me various chips he had, the normal one, and an X one for racing... not to sure on replacement but i gather its not that hard.

[Varche]

Hi Tunnie.

First thing is whatever you do do the trip otherwise you will regret it when you are settled in 9 to 5 job with 3.2 dependents. Personally I would recommend camping at your age over caravanning. You are able to get around easier and faster. perhaps get an estate.

Having said that we did nearly 6000 miles(no problems) in over eight months recently with a caravan that was over the nice ratio of 75% (in fact we had it weighed at the council weighbridge and it was when loaded the same weight as the car). From a safety point of view you need to be competent at towing and pay great attention to stuff like nose weights. Our van needed 75 Kg or more and the Omega took up to 75Kg, so buy a nose guage. You must have a stabiliser and load the van carefully. Join the Caravan club as you get discounts on sites, channel crossings and INSURANCE. The discount on crossings will easily save you the membership. Swap drivers every two hours.

We found motorway laybys in France for example perfectly safe to overnighting for free (as do hundreds and hundreds of lorries each night) - they have toilets (of a sort) and often have a small shop.

You will find that sites aren't desperately cheap particularly when you have an electric hook up to charge your caravan battery. there are polenty of good guides in bookshops that list the top campsites but when you are driving along they and others are mostly well signposted.

On the van you can borrow. Have the tyres changed as suggested and have it serviced particularly the brakes. Gas is a problem on the continent. You can only take one(Eurostar) and two I believe on ferries, bottles. When they run out as they will if you do any cooking or heating water in the van then it is virtually impossible to get them refilled. Get some specialist advice on that or buy cooking rig on the continent.

Finally make sure your radiator is good. Our car was fine even hoofing it until we put a van behind it.

Don't be put off by any of this - go for it ! (Oh and let us all know how it goes)

[daveb]

Hi all and
Yo Tunnie, had to answer this thread as im currently in a place called Torre del mar in spain having towed the 5 berth over 2000 miles in the TD estate, campsite are 2 a penny and iuf you go to mappy .com it will list all campsites for you!!
on to the Omega, as you know mine is chipped well, towing the van at 100k speeds on the motorways and lower round the smaller roads, it has consistently given us 29mpg only time it drops is when clambering up the humongous great mountain roads for mlles on end then it drops to about 24 but that is when your in 3rd gear for about 15miles at 4000rpm!!!
you hAVE DRIVEN MY MEGA so you know how it goes, van and car is best cos if you take a motorhome or something you cant use it to visit places of interest, defo go for TD omega mate!!!!can recomened the books by rAlan Rogers caravan and camping  guide!!!! they are excellent, anymore questions you know how to get me!!
Omegatoy  

Holy Moly Omegatoy, how the heck do you get 29mpg at 100k?

You say your car is chipped, how much does it cost and how do I do it!!!?

Cheers,

Dave.
 

100k is about 62mph? so from a Diesel that should easily be done, even when towing.

I have driven omegatoys TD and its is very very fast, it also has a 'secret' button which turns on a VERY powerful fan which blows air into the intercooler, its a rocket ship out of first gear, so so fast!!

Think it costs around £150 - £200 to get it chipped, but on the TD's its a massive gain from about 130bhp to around 200!  

He showed me various chips he had, the normal one, and an X one for racing... not to sure on replacement but i gather its not that hard.

Heck!!

Only got around 22mpg from mine when towing around France - maybe there's something wrong with it!!

Must contact Omegatoy!!!!!!!

I agree with Olive, definitely go for it before you get stuck into careers and all that rat-race stuff. The rat-race is all well and good, but remember, even if you win, you're still a rat!
 

[Martin_1962]

Hi all and
Yo Tunnie, had to answer this thread as im currently in a place called Torre del mar in spain having towed the 5 berth over 2000 miles in the TD estate, campsite are 2 a penny and iuf you go to mappy .com it will list all campsites for you!!
on to the Omega, as you know mine is chipped well, towing the van at 100k speeds on the motorways and lower round the smaller roads, it has consistently given us 29mpg only time it drops is when clambering up the humongous great mountain roads for mlles on end then it drops to about 24 but that is when your in 3rd gear for about 15miles at 4000rpm!!!
you hAVE DRIVEN MY MEGA so you know how it goes, van and car is best cos if you take a motorhome or something you cant use it to visit places of interest, defo go for TD omega mate!!!!can recomened the books by rAlan Rogers caravan and camping  guide!!!! they are excellent, anymore questions you know how to get me!!
Omegatoy  

Sounds like a good holiday, I'm hoping to do Brittany in two years, chipping sounds good as well

[Martin_1962]

So you want TD auto Elite with a chip - get hunting!

[Taxi_Driver]

Tunnie...if you go the caravan route....as other guys have said....get the tyres changed on the van....and get some pratice in towing before the adventure.....ive towed my parents caravan, with their car and it takes a bit off getting used to....not their car....the fact youve got a bloody great weight at the back of you...i kept forgetting at roundabouts/etc and trying to hoof it away.....it dont happen unless you got the power.....a 2.0 vectra auto doesnt   . Also i found it a wierd sensation when you braked and the vans brakes kicked in...it was well wierd....like someone trying to pull you backwards is the best way i can describe it.....plus those oversize mirrors...and the fact the van is wider than the car......you gotta be careful..

Im not trying to put you off.......go for it..it'll be a blast  ..but get a bit of pratice in before you go  

PS i managed to convince my Dad to sell his caravan earlier this year......he misses it.....but hes over 80 now and in my opinion should not be towing caravans about

[Omegatoy]

thats sound advice from all thanks so much!!

Hey omegatoy, having a nice time in Spain? - Watched part of 5th gear last night which showed that idiot driving the new mini. I was more interested in the background and the roads they were on, looks so nice. Can't wait to get out there. - Turned off 5th Gear as it was so apaualing!!

Anywho... yeah Diesel is the way i think. 29mpg is very, very impressive!!! - Even more so when yours is chipped to 200bhp ... I have seen you caravan and its huge!

Hope the cruise is working well!

Any chance you will sell your megga next June?

HiTunnie,
As it happens have bought a place in Spain, Am coming back to sell teh bungalow and the car!!! cos i need a lhd Diesel omega estate!!! so keep your eyes open guys!!! Mine as you know is a manual.but I wouldnt recomend a auto cos the box isnt strong enough to tow the van really as when chipping an auto teh box cant handle the torque!!Would agree with the comments aboout fitting new tyres to the van before you go as some sizes cannot be bought abroad nearly, so will be coming back to sell me Omega if you want it when its ready to go!!
As for the gas bottle thing you can buy adapters no prob and rent the bttles from a load of places so know probs there,
I would heartily recommend the caravan way as i aid before you can leave teh van on a campsite and travel as far as you like!!!
G, Omegatoy

[tunnie]

Fantasic!!

Where else can i get a chipped diesel megga, thats an estate with a Tow bar!! - I want i want!! - You have a PM m8  

I might be tempted to call buy on our Euro trip... who would have thought it that time i fitted cruise for you, i might be buying your car off you to take to Spain myself!  

And if i get anyware near 29mpg when towing that would be fantasic, let me know when you are going to sell and i will be over like a shot!  

[Martin_1962]

Tyres - they do not wear out - they perish.

So replace all three including the spare, you do not want a blow out at 80 on the Autoroute.

Places to visit, for France you must do the west coast, look on a map all those little islands, south coast is pretty interesting as well, start at Normandy at the beaches. I have never got further than Brittany. But like European films.

Milau Viaduct, that place where Nigel off C4 keeps living.

Lap top with big HD needed for all the pictures.

Take a towing course.

Holland and Belgium are pretty, Germany has some good scenery, get a few guide books from cheapo book shops ofthe countries you are going to.

Now this is essential

Four of you

Evening or mail order courses.

French, Spanish, Italian, German should do.

Learn please, thankyou and hello in every language for the country you are visiting.

[tunnie]

Cheers, my grandad has been towing for years so might as him for some lessons.

Tourbooks not a problem, will get some off amzaon.

We all have laptops too so no problem there either, I also have a Jobo, which is 20Gb's just put the memory card in and it copys it automatically, its a standalone unit.. quite cool

Humm i spend 5 years learning German at school, and still only managed a D  

Think a laptop with a translation program would be good, i can say the basics, in french and german, just can't string a sentense together...