Traveller 1954 towing Caravan

[Tiago Couceiro]

Hi, I have just purchased and restored a 1954 traveler and would like to purchase a small old caravan but would like to know what the maximum weight is suitable for towing. My Traveller is original, 803cc and I plan, if necessary, to adapt disc brakes to reinforce the caravan's trailer. what are your suggestions?
Thanks
Tiago

[nutmegct]

Tiago - take a look at this discussion:

viewtopic.php?t=51712

Looks like 400kg might be a limit.

Tom M.

[Admin]

sprite.jpg (146.22 KiB) Viewed 1558 times

Sprite Alpine - about 12cwt give or take?

[Tiago Couceiro]

Tiago - take a look at this discussion:

viewtopic.php?t=51712

Looks like 400kg might be a limit.

Tom M.

Thanks Tom

[ManyMinors]

Hi, I have just purchased and restored a 1954 traveler and would like to purchase a small old caravan but would like to know what the maximum weight is suitable for towing. My Traveller is original, 803cc and I plan, if necessary, to adapt disc brakes to reinforce the caravan's trailer. what are your suggestions?
Thanks
Tiago

My advice would be: Forget it. Having owned a Series 11 (in perfectly good running condition) I found it barely coped with pulling ITSELF along. A caravan, regardless of weight, would be too much for the little car I'm afraid. Put a tent in the boot instead. A lightweight one. It might cope with that......

[Admin]

Well, never say never. Yes, any 'proper' mainstream vans are going to be a stretch, but there are a few 'micro' caravan styles around that are very lightweight, or do what I did and build your own on top of a Halfords trailer chassis (okay, I didn't personally build it, I gave the chassis and some sketches on a bit of paper to a bloke and said "Oi, build me that"). My little teardrop has a cooker, fridge, even a TV and DVD player, and is light enough for me to tow all round the mountains of northern Scotland and the Hebrides

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[panky]

Love that

[nutmegct]

Mike - those are *wonderful* photos!
Tom M.

[Tiago Couceiro]

Well, never say never. Yes, any 'proper' mainstream vans are going to be a stretch, but there are a few 'micro' caravan styles around that are very lightweight, or do what I did and build your own on top of a Halfords trailer chassis (okay, I didn't personally build it, I gave the chassis and some sketches on a bit of paper to a bloke and said "Oi, build me that"). My little teardrop has a cooker, fridge, even a TV and DVD player, and is light enough for me to tow all round the mountains of northern Scotland and the Hebrides
mull1.jpgmull2.jpgmull3.jpg

Amazing! what is the weight of your full teardrop? there are small caravans with a total weight of around 800 pounds. Maybe you teardrop have the same weight.

[jagnut66]

Well, never say never. Yes, any 'proper' mainstream vans are going to be a stretch, but there are a few 'micro' caravan styles around that are very lightweight, or do what I did and build your own on top of a Halfords trailer chassis (okay, I didn't personally build it, I gave the chassis and some sketches on a bit of paper to a bloke and said "Oi, build me that"). My little teardrop has a cooker, fridge, even a TV and DVD player, and is light enough for me to tow all round the mountains of northern Scotland and the Hebrides

To be fair Mike, you have a bigger engine than an 803 under the bonnet, don't you?
I agree that caravan towing is perfectly 'do-able' in your traveller, however you will need to replace the 803 engine (along with the gearbox and diff) with something bigger first.
A 1098 set up from any later Minor should do nicely and be not too hard to track down.
Best wishes,
Mike.

[ManyMinors]

Yes. I was talking about towing with an 803cc Minor because that is what the OP has.
I agree that towing with a larger engined Minor is perfectly possible - although personally I would prefer to use a heavier car than a Minor to tow a caravan with regardless of how powerful the engine is.

[Admin]

Sorry guys, I didn't spot that we were talking about an 803. Yes, scratch my earlier comment, that's a lot harder proposition!

Mike - those are *wonderful* photos!
Tom M.

Cheers Tom! You've reminded me that I didn't put up the remainder of photos after our mag editor had chosen the ones he wanted for the magazine feature earlier this year. I've put them up now in case anyone is interested - viewtopic.php?f=1&t=74403

[Chief]

Maybe a Portafold/Ansfold if you're up to a folding caravan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyyBZGZiIYk
https://www.portafold.co.uk

[myoldjalopy]

With an 803cc engine under the bonnet I would forget about the caravan and pack a tent!