I've just done, probably considerable, damage to our Lunar Lexon 530 leaving a campsite by turning right onto a narrow country lane. The rear nearside corner banged hard causing damage to the back panel (big crack) as well as popping one of the front blind fittings out.
Caravan went into the site OK, up the slight slope from the road to the site. This happened at my favourite campsite, so I'll be wanting to go back there again and I wouldn't want this to happen in the future.
Being new to caravanning, what did I do wrong? Any advice gratefully received.
Presuming it was loaded correctly and not overloaded with the correct noseweights then the only issue is that you didnt read the road properly.
What you need to watch out for is the campsite drive sloping down and then the camber of the road leaving a dip in which the wheels sit and then the front of the rear make contact with the road.
Hi, some sites are best exited on the angle, rather than a straight out and turn as you would when not towing. I have to do this at home as my drive slopes down to a flat road if I go straight out jockey wheel grounds so have to come out on the angle using a bit of my friendly neighbours drive
I would go back there without the caravan if you want to stay regularly. Get out of your car and walk the junction, are there any dips in the road where you turn, if your wheel goes into one it can ground the rear if coming down a slope at the same time. Did your wheel catch the edge of a ditch etc as you left? Often a quick look on foot and you can avoid the same mistake. We've all been there, don't let it put you off, learn and move on and enjoy your van
I took the plastic foot off one of the legs on my van a few years back, So lucky the damage was no worse.
Coming up a fairly steep hill and turning right into a driveway that also climbed upwards.
Due to the camber and the driveway angle the foot made contact with the roadway.
I should have spotted the deep grooves in the road and driveway surface and checked properly. But when you arrive at a destination and people are talking to you its easily done.
Plenty more things to learn, Ask the member on here who have left the rooflight open when towing or not connecting the breakaway cable (I forget this too often).
If you get a dodgy surface as described proceed very slowly, dipping clutch as required to keep speed at less than snails pace. That way if you do ground it you will do minimum damage and at very slow speed less likely to ground as suspension is not bouncing.
Quote: Originally posted by Grampian91 on 10/8/2015
I took the plastic foot off one of the legs on my van a few years back, So lucky the damage was no worse.
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Me too, I managed to do the same daft trick driving off a ferry ramp years ago, I felt like a right idiot but now I am so careful to get my approach angle as good as possible. Another one on the experience pile, done it once, don't do it again.
Dave
------------- Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day,
Teach a man to fish and you can get rid of him for a whole weekend.