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Subject Topic: Hitching/unhitching
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PersonDianne1w
11/9/2012 at 2:24pm
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Help. We have been out in our caravan 3 times now - love it. But we have so much trouble hitching up/unhitching. Can any tell me in plain simple steps how to do this. Today for example it took 24 minutes to hitch up and over half a hour to unhitch!! I know we are novices but this is silly

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PersonHacksaw Bob
11/9/2012 at 2:31pm
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These Checklists from the Camping and Caravanning Club might help.


Persontango55
11/9/2012 at 2:34pm
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I think you need to explain a bit more in detail first such as what hitch you are using, Alko stabiliser hitch or something else and whether you have twin 7 pin electric sockets or one 13 pin socket and exactly what you are doing to hitch up and then we may be able to guide you in what you are either doing wrong or try to make things easier. It takes me about half an hour to hitch up but that includes checking/increasing tyre pressures and the noseweight before actually hitching up which takes around 5 minutes at a guess.


Personmichael
11/9/2012 at 3:30pm
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwHhuCWsj_U

 

may help

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAZMqOzdJA4&feature=related

 



Post last edited on 11/09/2012 15:47:54

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the only silly question is the one you do not ask.


Personaudicab26
11/9/2012 at 4:08pm
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Might be worth attending one of the clubs caravaning and towing courses. We did, great fun and as novices we learnt an awful lot.


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Personmillermicm
11/9/2012 at 5:48pm
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Depends what you include in hitching/unhitching. If you include in hitching - winding up the legs, getting car into position, removing towbar cover, removing hitch lock etc etc etc then 24 minutes sound credible. Same with unhitching. Positioning, levelling etc?


Personlion123
11/9/2012 at 6:43pm
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hi you will find that if you get into a set routine you will find it becomes easier ,and if your other half helps as well quicker still.

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its easy enough to be pleasant when the world rolls along like a song.but a man is worth while if he can smile when every thing goes f------ wrong.


Personagde
11/9/2012 at 7:36pm
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i only got my caravan this year and have master'd the hitching thing..or so i thought..

coming home last month, after packing every thing away. about two miles down the road i slowed for a red light and out of the mirror i saw the caravan door sing open..

well i looked at HER and she looked at ME. and both said at the same time

"i thought you locked the door"..oooops.


PersonTaxater
11/9/2012 at 8:27pm
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The thing that drives me crazy is the number of people who want to stop and chat when I'm hitching up. LEAVE ME ALONE, I'm trying to concentrate!!!!!! It's so easy to miss something when people who haven't spoken to you all week start asking you "How far have you got to go?", "How do you like your ******* (insert make of 'van)?", "What's the ********(insert name of car) like for towing?", "Have you stayed here before?".

I'm usually an affable sort of chap, please ask your questions during our stay not when I'm packing up.

In answer to the O.P. hitching and unhitching always seems to take longer than I expect, you've really got to double check everything. You'll soon get the hang of it.


Personmichael
11/9/2012 at 10:38pm
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i checked anyway but after seeing two caravans come off on different sites i now double or treble check everything.is green button out? is the handbrake off? is the breakaway cable connected? are the cables connected? is the al-ko handle down? is the jockey wheel up and locked on?

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the only silly question is the one you do not ask.


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PersonDianne1w
12/9/2012 at 9:22am
 Location: London
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Thanks, the video was great, I think practise will make it perfect. We will get faster. Thanks for all your input.

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Happy days


Personmichael
12/9/2012 at 10:30am
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Quote: Originally posted by Dianne1w on 12/9/2012
Thanks, the video was great, I think practise will make it perfect. We will get faster. Thanks for all your input.

 

welcome,after you have hitched up a few times it will not be a problem.



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the only silly question is the one you do not ask.


Personevenstephen
12/9/2012 at 2:57pm
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A very useful Caravan Towing Guide here, includes a step by step guide to hitching and unhitching with photos.


PersonDianne1w
19/9/2012 at 2:16pm
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Hi. A quick up date, did it this weekend in record time, our warden helped us!!   Only joking he did tell us to grease the jockey as it was stiff. Worked a treat. Roll on next weekend

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Personcwdc56768
19/9/2012 at 2:26pm
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The skill in hitching up, I have found, is to ask the wife if she is ready to go. If she says "yes" then I start to hitch up as I know that I have up to half an hour to kill. I am usually hitched up and ready to drive away before she is ready to get in the car. So, no time lost.

What if it does take "over half a hour to unhitch"? You're on holiday and have all the time in the world....slow down..

Phil



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If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe    


PersonGrampian91
19/9/2012 at 3:35pm
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Its funny that most sites say you need to be off by 10am.

I dont think we have ever been off the site by then.

At least half hour later. Sometimes longer.



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