Tess - I did their course @ Sandown and thought it was great.
I can reverse the van in a straight line for quite some distance (keeping it reasonably straight) but have difficulty still turning and reversing into a site - the guy who took the course told me I would be great in a bigger van but backing mine is a lot like reversing a boat trailer or box trailer because it is very small. However each time I get better at it.
-- Edited by Esmeralda on Thursday 20th of September 2012 10:36:59 PM
Evie n Rhys said
03:21 AM Sep 21, 2012
Hi all,
I remember reading on here somewhere of a tow Ed course in W A I think it went over a weekend.
I was looking for something similar in Victoria. I am after not only towing instruction but general information on contingencies for possible emergencies. Can anyone give me any information on one they may have completed. I have looked up some online but would like to hear from people who have completed one of these courses please.
Tess
brickies said
03:39 AM Sep 21, 2012
If you Google Tow ed course you will get all the information you require
Tess says she has looked online. She is now asking for personal recommendations.
Evie n Rhys said
04:10 AM Sep 21, 2012
Thanks for that, I have looked them up but was wondering if anyone has actually done one of these courses and can give me some feedback. Tess
brickies said
04:20 AM Sep 21, 2012
Happywanderer if you read the first she was asking if there was one in Victoria and when I Google there was
Gerty Dancer said
04:31 AM Sep 21, 2012
Yes we did one of their courses when we first bought the caravan. Thoroughly recommend it!
barrie said
04:44 AM Sep 21, 2012
JOHN & JULIE are great instructors and run well instructed courses,we did all our 4 x 4 courses with them
j
Nicholstones said
05:29 AM Sep 21, 2012
We did a towing course at METEC in Bayswater in early 2008. It wasn't bad, although don't expect to come out of it with perfect reversing skills! Neither of us had ever towed before and we did the course before we even picked up the van, you can pay a bit extra to use one of their vans. This has 2 advantages, we acquired some basic skills and knowledge before towing our own van on the public road, and I'm not sure how happy we would have been taking our brand new van through their 'slalom' course. If you do take your own van then make sure that there is nothing that might fly around inside. On the down side, the hire van was really quite small so didn't give a good feel for how our 20'6" one would feel.
Rip and Rosie said
03:05 PM Sep 21, 2012
Yes, we did the course as well and it was well worth the money.
We took our own van, which was very useful, ... and no problem at all taking it through the manouveres. The advantage was they gave specific advice on our rig, checked and adjusted our electric brakes, and ckecked our hitch and hitching processes.
I can confidently reverse in a straight line, and less confidently but successfully reverse onto sites, and through the gates & up the driveway at home.
The best thing was the way they get driver and guide working together, saving anxious moments, arguments, and the rest of the show we often see between couples in van parks.
Evie n Rhys said
03:28 PM Sep 21, 2012
Fabulous, thanks all. That's what I wanted to hear. I have been towing for a few years now but we can always do with some further help I feel. I agree that backing something a bit longer is much easier in some ways. A 6 x 4 is like a plate of jelly compared to my 17ft van. I like the idea of using my own rig. I need some fine Tuning definitely as I tow alone and don't have anyone to guide me into sites. From what I've seen with some couples this can be a blessing!!!! Since having the reversing camera the hitching has become easier but it has taken the challenge out of it. I had it down to getting out and checking just twice before I got it right. Mind you that wasn't while I was being watched by fellow travelers perched on their chairs having a coffee. I am particularly after advice on safety issues after a bit of a challenge on thunderbolts way..... Thank god for lovely people like Darcy and Frank who offered assistance. Happy travelling all. Tess
spida said
07:33 PM Sep 21, 2012
there is also a course run by Cowan uni (I think) in perth - you spend the weekend learning and drive to Toodjay after half day in class room. Was about $350 for the weekend I think.
brickies said
08:56 PM Sep 21, 2012
I don't think I would like to out lay $495 for a days training , One trainer to 3 couples x $495 = $1485 for the day for one man
Evie n Rhys said
01:35 PM Sep 22, 2012
Thanks Spida, I think that was the one I was thinking of but unfortunately it's a long way to WA from here. I can't find anything like that on the east coast. Yes Brickies, $495 a day is a lot of money. Perhaps those of you who are well experienced should set up a "get together" and we could have a sharing of the knowledge weekend. I guess that's what we have here at our fingertips really.... Thanks again to you all for the responses. Tess
brickies said
02:14 PM Sep 22, 2012
I think that is a good idea may be you could bring that up in the get together post , Pick some were that has a good open area were you could camp for the weekend hire some witches hats have an open discussion on how you go about hitching up your rig , safety checks ,towing speeds , braking and if under stand all that more onto the witches hat for backing the caravan and position onto a site , we all have different methods you could use the one you feel works best for you . All you got yo do now is run with the idea on the forum members in your area good luck
Tess - I did their course @ Sandown and thought it was great.
I can reverse the van in a straight line for quite some distance (keeping it reasonably straight) but have difficulty still turning and reversing into a site - the guy who took the course told me I would be great in a bigger van but backing mine is a lot like reversing a boat trailer or box trailer because it is very small. However each time I get better at it.
-- Edited by Esmeralda on Thursday 20th of September 2012 10:36:59 PM
http://www.tow-ed.com.au/courses~1/
List of courses right across Australia Tess.
Tess
j
We did a towing course at METEC in Bayswater in early 2008. It wasn't bad, although don't expect to come out of it with perfect reversing skills! Neither of us had ever towed before and we did the course before we even picked up the van, you can pay a bit extra to use one of their vans. This has 2 advantages, we acquired some basic skills and knowledge before towing our own van on the public road, and I'm not sure how happy we would have been taking our brand new van through their 'slalom' course. If you do take your own van then make sure that there is nothing that might fly around inside. On the down side, the hire van was really quite small so didn't give a good feel for how our 20'6" one would feel.
We took our own van, which was very useful, ... and no problem at all taking it through the manouveres. The advantage was they gave specific advice on our rig, checked and adjusted our electric brakes, and ckecked our hitch and hitching processes.
I can confidently reverse in a straight line, and less confidently but successfully reverse onto sites, and through the gates & up the driveway at home.
The best thing was the way they get driver and guide working together, saving anxious moments, arguments, and the rest of the show we often see between couples in van parks.
Happy travelling all.
Tess
Thanks again to you all for the responses.
Tess