On owning a Caravan, CC'ers experience?

[swansonj]

I'm intrigued by the number of people who say they don't find towing a problem. Can I ask, does that include reversing? I've never towed a caravan, but for many years we towed a trailer laden with tandems and solos to Cornwall, Snowdonia or the Lakes for our summer holiday. We never felt a problem in driving on motorways- managing gears, speed and braking. But I know fine well I was not competent at reversing, despite practicing in car parks, and I feel it was borderline irresponsible to be on the road yet unable reliably to reverse to the nearest passing place if necessary.

 

[Panter]

I'm intrigued by the number of people who say they don't find towing a problem. Can I ask, does that include reversing? I've never towed a caravan, but for many years we towed a trailer laden with tandems and solos to Cornwall, Snowdonia or the Lakes for our summer holiday. We never felt a problem in driving on motorways- managing gears, speed and braking. But I know fine well I was not competent at reversing, despite practicing in car parks, and I feel it was borderline irresponsible to be on the road yet unable reliably to reverse to the nearest passing place if necessary.

A caravan is actually a lot easier to reverse than a small trailer, being far more stable and slower to turn.
It's just down to practice, and there are courses available for a brush-up or to build confidence.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Never had an issue with reversing, can reverse most things into any gap (assuming it will fit) I think most people try to do it all too quickly, slow is the way to to it, so that if it doesn't start to go where you want it you have time to correct it. Also don't feel you have failed if you have to pull forward & start again, reversing a caravan is a lot easier than most trailers, most trailers will snap out in the wrong direction to quickly, whereas a caravan you can see it's starting to go & stop it. But SLOW is the way to do it.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

[QUOTE 4769056, member: 259"]Has anyone got one of those remote control things to park their caravan? They look like great fun![/QUOTE]
Yes, for anyone getting on in age they are a must.

 

[Panter]

[QUOTE 4769056, member: 259"]Has anyone got one of those remote control things to park their caravan? They look like great fun![/QUOTE]

I don't, I'm too stubborn for that. I'm also way too tight to pay out for a motor mover when there's a perfectly good diesel one attached to the front

(although I fully appreciate that most people have them and love them)

 

[Hill Wimp]

We are off out on Saturday to look at some more now we have more information from people that actually use them.

I suspect we will end up with the one we initially saw but I like to shop around and ask questions before I get @Fab Foodie wallet out

 

[Deleted member 26715]

I would buy private, I wouldn't pay the extra to buy from a dealer

 

[Crackle]

Never had an issue with reversing, can reverse most things into any gap (assuming it will fit) I think most people try to do it all too quickly, slow is the way to to it, so that if it doesn't start to go where you want it you have time to correct it. Also don't feel you have failed if you have to pull forward & start again, reversing a caravan is a lot easier than most trailers, most trailers will snap out in the wrong direction to quickly, whereas a caravan you can see it's starting to go & stop it. But SLOW is the way to do it.

That's interesting. based on towing a trailer I didn't find reversing instinctual, I had to learn it and consciously think about wheel direction to trailer direction.

I don't have the trailer any more. The axle fell off on the way to the skip. Which was handy. It meant I didn't have far to go to dump it.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

That's interesting. based on towing a trailer I didn't find reversing instinctual

Trailers especially short ones are not easy to reverse, it is often better to unhitch & manually reverse unless of course they are heavy, the rule normally is the longer they are the easier they are, but i'm sure it gets to a point where that is not the case, double axles are easier to reverse than single axles as they do take more effort & less likely to go off in the wrong direction.

 

[keithmac]

View attachment 348303
[QUOTE 4769056, member: 259"]Has anyone got one of those remote control things to park their caravan? They look like great fun![/QUOTE]

I'm having one fitted soon (Powrtouch Evolution).

No so much for pitching at sites but for where it's stored (slightly awkward to get in and the possibility of damaging other peoples property mainly..).

View it as insurance and stress reducing!.

 

[keithmac]

Apparently trick is to put your hand on the BOTTOM of the steering wheel, push hand left and back of caravan goes left..

Still not instinctual to me either but practice makes perfect!.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

I have mine for similar reasons, when we get home I can reverse it onto the drive if none of the neighbours cars are around, but if they are I have no chance & it's PIA to have to go ask them to move all the cars. So I unhitch & use the mover, the kerb is so steep I cannot push it up on my own.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Apparently trick is to put your hand on the BOTTOM of the steering wheel, push hand left and back of caravan goes left..

Never done that but I can see the logic

 

[oldfatfool]

We are off out on Saturday to look at some more now we have more information from people that actually use them.

I suspect we will end up with the one we initially saw but I like to shop around and ask questions before I get @Fab Foodie wallet out

If you must buy a rabbit hutch make sure you lift all the seat and backrest cushions and examine the ply underneath. Also lift the ply and check under for signs of damp/water ingress particularly in the area under windows. When, in a moment of insanity, we looked at getting another tourer rather than static we came across some real horrors on relatively new vans.

 

[Hill Wimp]

If you must buy a rabbit hutch make sure you lift all the seat and backrest cushions and examine the ply underneath. Also lift the ply and check under for signs of damp/water ingress particularly in the area under windows. When, in a moment of insanity, we looked at getting another tourer rather than static we came across some real horrors on relatively new vans.

Good points ta