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Hi

I  went on a caravan club towing course (you do not have to be a member) it's worth a go,at least you'll get a feel for what towing is like.

Quote: Originally posted by nands on 27/4/2009

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Both the Caravan Club and Camping and Caravanning Club offer towing courses for members. I think the details are on their websites. I know several people on here have done them. I'm sure someone will be along shortly with their experiences of them.

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           You don't have to be a member to do the course, my husband did

            the 1 day course through the Caravan Club and we weren't a member at

           the time.  He said it was really good, and would def. recommend it.

Both of us did the maneouvering course with the CC, me first!

It was a great day out and a confidence booster.

There is however no substiture for experience...or buying a mover.

Once I bought mine I was no longer worried and 9 times out of 10 get onto the peg first or second attempt.

Mr UM

We've yet to do a full manouvering course, but we went to the caravan & camping show in Birmingham last October & both C&CC and CC were doing taster sessions.  We (accidentally as members of C&CC) did the CC towing test drive & manouvre & the instructor was fantastic - I even learnt enough to reverse the 'van into its space in storage without hitting anything. 

Everyone kept offering us advice on how to reverse with a 'van on the back, but they instructor made it easy - he said......

'line the towing mirrors so that the outer edge of each side of the van is in the middle of the mirror.  If reversing in a straight line, if a mirror fills with the caravan, then turn towards that mirror'

Sure as hell saves all that worrying about turning in the opposite direction of travel & such & works a blooming treat!!  was well chuffed as had never even driven with the 'van on the back - hubby does the towing, though after his last debacle, this is under review!! (busted 2 'van windows on a road he shouldn't have been on anyway), yet reversed into the space spot on 1st time - mind you, not sure if I could reverse into a camping place unless I could go in a straight line!!!

Still going to do the 1 day course with C&CC when funds allow though as we need some more help - thank god the C&CC staff help to push 'vans to the pitch if you're rubbish at reversing!!  though how we'll manage in June is up to father in law - not a club site but he has an HGV license, so he can put us onto our pitch - it is his choice of site after all!!!

ooh - Gerard,

The mirrors I was referring to were the towing mirrors, not the car wing mirrors, though am sure you'd worked that out!!

As for the repairs, a father who is an engineer & a FIL who is a mechanic with lots of self taught expertise in 'van maintenance (taught himself, so is great now he's made all the mistakes!!) the repairs only cost £130 for windows but HUGE amounts in beer as a thankyou!!! (still cheaper than getting the local company to do it!!)

As for me doing the driving - MMmmmmmm - you may be on to something there, but you men reckon us women can't drive - imagine the response I'd get when I jumped out of the drivers seat - anyhoo - I am far to impatient with numpty drivers - hubby is far more forgiving - I may be able to reverse in a straight line, but I like my face, as unpleasant as it may be to others, as it is - don't want it bruised & battered 'cos of my crap towing & general intolerance of the appalling driving standards on the road - ooh - I got my DL before 1990, so no problems there!!

Best of luck to you buddy, many happy years of 'vanning ahead xx