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I am looking into buying my first caravan, but have never towed before in my life (not even a small trailer) I have looked into both the caravan club and camping & caravaning clubs towing courses but you have to provide your own car. Not possible in our case as we own a clio.

I really don't want to go to the expense of buying a new car and then finding out that towing was not for me so I was wondering if anybody knows of anywhere providing towing lessons where the car & caravan are both provided

Have you considered hiring a car with a tow bar & one of those large box trailers about the size of a horse box from the trailer centres to give it a go. Find yourself a nice quiet trading estate & go for a play over a weekend or evening. 

I know there's a driving school in Devizes Wiltshire that has a caravan on their training area along with lorries & motor bikes of various sizes. I reckon a chat with your local HGV driving school might sort you out, they all have areas set aside for manouvering during training & if they can't get a caravan a couple of hours in one of their trucks might sort you out.

BB  

I saw that Chalkie, that's why I suggested hiring a car & trailer & going to have a play on a trading estate over a weekend when it's quiet. That's what I'd do if I were in that position, I'll bet you could hire the two for a couple of hundred quid & enjoy many hours of practise all at your own pace. There's no substitute for experience & the best way to learn anything is to practise & short of joining an association such as the I.A.M & taking part in one of their Can you drive days, there's not much alternative.

BB  

I wonder for how many of us the first towing experience was collecting their first caravan.

If that's how it turns out you will actually find it easier than any imagined fears you have now!

I towed a small trailer before towing a caravan, you notice the extra weight with the caravan.

A Clio might be able to tow a small caravan - my little Skoda has a 1.6 engine and tows my light two berth Swift (645KG) very well.

Quote: Originally posted by Chalkie56 on 08/8/2006

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Ah you cant beat experience Basil B - but its like trying to pass your test if you are not taught properly you will never pass. Because you cant beat training - and I mean proper training or at least hire a towing DVD then practice.

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I'll go along with that Chalkie, I still feel there are alternatives for those who have the desire to practise towing without handing over large wedges of hard earned to training establishments. But thats me.

BB    

Getting onto a trading estate and having a practice is all very well if you want to go forwards but, for manoeuvring and general handling, there's no substitute for a course like the CC and C&CC ones, which, like libbyq, I did and can't recommend highly enough. Not only that, but I think you get a discount on club insurance if you've done one of their courses.

Andrew, have got a friend whose car you could borrow for a couple of days - it would probably be cheaper putting you on the insurance temporarily than paying for hiring a car and a trailer - and then book yourself onto a club course.  It's not just driving, it's reversing, how to get yourself out of trouble (hopefully you'd never need that!) if necessary, all about loading, stablising etc.  Not only that, but it's enjoyable as well.

Nora