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Any one done one and if so what did you think?

This is our first Caravan, but I have towed boats/trailers before so ok with general towing, my reversing isnt the greatest but I also have a motor mover on the van for when at a pitch/storage etc.

So, is the course worth £95 and 2 days of my life and will I learn anything?

Thanks all! ;-)

Doubt it, just be aware of side winds and air bow waves pushing you sideways from passing lorries and white van men in transits!

Nose weights, and taking corners wider, watching speed and avoiding tailswing by loading is just the same as any trailer.

Reversing is harder as its all on the mirrors, but backing trailers is what i do everyday so not an issue for me.

Worth every penny and everyone who ever tows a van should go one one IMO. Driving with a van is so different to driving without and you went on a course just to drive didn't you?

The wife and I booked onto a course. Now the wife does not like to drive big cars and so never drove the car we bought to tow the van. (Still hasn't) She did not want to tow a van either. She was coming along for the company. The instructor made her get into the car and tow a van in and out of bollards, reversing in a straight line and reversing into an access. She protested that she did not want to do it and did not want to drive but he made her do it...in the nicest possible way. She really enjoyed the experience ...and didn't scratch the car!!! Just think about the accident/heart attack I may have and she would need to drive home!!!!

Teaching yourself to reverse from a text book is not the same as learning it from an instructor. I had problems reversing and often did the in out  in out  in out in out routine taking forever to get in on a plot. When they taught me it was just straight back and park.... job done. So easy once you have been show the right way to do it. Your fears just dissappear.

Then there is the theory in the classroom where you sit with like minded folks. Chatting over coffee, sharing experiences, recommending sites, passing on your cock ups etc. Just enjoying yourself

Take your van to the course and book into a site nearby and make the weekend a holiday.

As we got closer to the weekend the wife was wanting to back out. "Don't need it"; "Will never drive the van" "What will I get out of it?" etc. After the first day she could not wait for the second day to arrive. Loved every minute of the course. So did I. Its just a weekend holiday away with caravanners where you will undoubtedly learn something to your advantage and make you a better driver, tower and parker   

Sorry, Richard, but towing a van is much more than side winds. We reckon that we can tell on a site who has and who has not been on a course.

Phil

I think the course will be ok for some but for others it will be like going over old ground.Personally i would'nt take the course as i can manouver the van onto the pitch first go(mostly)and i see myself as competent enough for towing on roads.As surfer 01 says,the course will improve confidence and skills,but they have got to be there to be improved in the first place along with common sense.If you haven't got these which in my view are mandatory if you are considering towing a trailer of any size,then i don't think any towing course will help you.Im also not the type of person who would enjoy the classroom/theory part of the course either.

I wonder how long it will be though,before the Government makes it compulsory for everyone wishing to tow,to partake in one of these courses.Watch this space...

Went on the Caravan Club one day course two years ago and found it very helpful. The one day course is good if you already have some experience of towing and just want to brush up on specific areas, I wanted to improve my reversing skills. At the course I was able to practice in an open space with advice and guidance from a tutor, something I wouldn't have been able to do at home. I would recommend it, plus if you are insured with the C.C. you get a discount -can't remember if it's 5 or 10% but would help recoup the cost of the course after a couple of years.

Quote: Originally posted by Dreadnought on 23/2/2010

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I wonder how long it will be though,before the Government makes it compulsory for everyone wishing to tow,to partake in one of these courses.Watch this space...

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Well in the interests of road safety lets hope its really soon. Novices going out and learning from experience cannot be a good way forward otherwise all driver training would be on that basis

It scares the living daylights out of me that I could (in theory) hitch a 27' long caravan onto the back of my 10' car and drive off having never done anything like it before or been shown how to do it safely!!!!

I'm new to caravanning and have never towed anything in my life!
OH tows frequently and is going to show me the basics on a private road.
However I think a course would be the best thing for me to do and I firmly believe that it should be compulsory for everyone to do a course first.

We both went on the caravan club one day reversing course, very worth while also good both of us doing it as you know what directions to give and what the other needs to do. We had been towing the caravan for 10 yrs when I persuaded OH that we needed to do it due to the clutch smell when reversing. We were surprised how much easier and less stress full it is arriving on site since we have done it – I think the caravan club also give insurance discount if you have done one.

Thanks folks, i'm convinced I should do it.

Thanks for the help.

Quote: Originally posted by wendywinblos on 23/2/2010

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Quote: Originally posted by Dreadnought on 23/2/2010

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I wonder how long it will be though,before the Government makes it compulsory for everyone wishing to tow,to partake in one of these courses.Watch this space...

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Well in the interests of road safety lets hope its really soon. Novices going out and learning from experience cannot be a good way forward otherwise all driver training would be on that basis

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