Well done Gert, I think a few of us could do with one of those (including me) as every little bit helps.
I wouldn't be surprised if one day everyone has to do something like that to get a special licence to tow caravans/trailers etc. There are a few towing caravans that probably shouldn't be for one reason or another.
It makes for good entertainment just watching some park in the caravan parks.. And your right some shouldnt be on the road at all.. Saw where a chap went the wrong side of the markers on a river crossing . yep van and 4WD went under.. just make you smile..
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Land Rover Discovery Chipped TD5 Manual ,Air Springs, Anti Sway. T.C. Auto level. Van, Roadstar 21.6 Voyager 4000 all sola powered.
Everyone said you just need to practice, but i don't think I've improved much. Mind you, I'm also told that Gypsy would be a to reverse! So I reckon I have a good excuse!
I think I'll get my son-in-law, who's a truckie, to give me instructions.
-- Edited by Beth54 on Monday 11th of October 2010 02:53:49 PM
If he's a truckie he'll curse your little single axle trailer. I love watching a semi being reversed into a tight loading ramp. Work of art. I chatted to a truckie about it one time, and he told me it's much easier to back a semi than a tandem axle van. Fifth wheelers are apparently easier to reverse as well. Watching them here in the park demonstrates that. It's reassuring to know there will be some competent drivers towing vans out there on the highway. I learned out in the paddock and by towing a large tandem trailer when working on cattle stations, but if someone who's worked in the city, never towed even the 6x4 to the dump, or the boat trailer to the ramp, they may need some sort of guidance to get started.... PLEASE!
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
we cheat we have a van mover. so you are like a kid with a remote control car. also like the kid you attact lots of on lookers every time yuu pull up at a park and discontect the car from the van on the raod way, then procees it remotely park it beside the pad.
brian & kerry k 505 coromal & duel fuel 2007 bf falcon
Yes I do live in the city, but wouldn't call myself a city girl. My Mum came from the bush so my siblings and I also learned there. I've also done the trailer to the dump years ago.
Gypsy is actually stored at my daughter and son-in-law's place, so he's had the 'wonderful' experience of backing her. I'm sure he'd agree with all you've said.
I'd love to do the course, but I have a tight budget. s-i-l will have to surfice!
On our last trip I had a go at backing the A'Van camper in and got it in first time I was pretty chuffed with myself I could do it. Helena.
The only time I've got her in with no trouble, was when I decided to spend a night in the 'luxury' of a cabin at Chinchilla. I had to reverse into a gap between two cabins. I was pretty chuffed with myself too!
Haven't started Cruisin Granny. Still looking for a campervan. Just a small one the size of a Toyota Hiace with a poptop. Had my eye on one on Ebay which looked really good A Nissan Urvan until I got a reply tonight. It doesn't have air conditioning or power steering, so on the hunt again.
I never thought I'd be able to tow the caravan, but have had a couple of drives with it lumbering along behind (or so it seems) and didnt freak out. I even know how to give understandable instructions to Mr D. as he reverses into a site.... well, sort of. Work to do there!! (What part of "stop!" cant he understand!!!) Still providing entertainment for our neighbors in caravan parks!
At the Top Tourist park in Mission Beach (Nth Qld) there's an old guy (well into his 80s, father of the owner and ex truckie) who guides the arrivals onto their site. His technique is to have you back in from what is normally the blind side (the left hand side rather than the more usual right hand side) and he stands next to the passenger side window where he can see the slab and talk the driver into the exact position.
-- Edited by jimricho on Wednesday 13th of October 2010 05:41:38 PM
My sister does the 'directing' to her husbands reversing, and a very good job she does. They've got it down pat.
So she was directing me one day except I couldn't see her hands...she was directing up high as for caravan and 4WD! Way too high for my little Lucy and Gypsy! We both had a giggle about it after I told her.
I also agree with you guys should have a towing licence, i like you guys have a good laugh at some people reversing but the big thing of what worries me and have seen a lot is there is a lot of people out there that should not be towing vans on the roads out there, they havn't got a clue and wonder why people abuse then when they are on the road, expecialy when they have a truck comming up behind them, just very recentlly i had to help one out on the UHF heard him call a trucki to go passed but as he did he keeped braking like mad coursing the truck and me behind the truck to brake madly, then he wounderd why the truck was not passing ( poor truckie had to go down about 3 gears to try and get back up to speed, ( in the end before truckie was going to do something with him and wondered if his parents were married before he was borne) got on uhf and told him to keep up his speed and guide the truckie up so he could pass with out any problems, both he and truckie were very gratfull so yes i think that you should have a towing licence or some training before heading out
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Chris & Joan toyta prado & traveller Belair home town Gawler s.a "Living the Dream"
to reverse! So I reckon I have a good excuse! 
Way too high for my little Lucy and Gypsy! 
