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 Topic: Now too scared to tow ...
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15/7/2013 at 5:28pm
Location: Hempstead Kent
Outfit: Vango Genesis Airbeam 500
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Joined: 14/5/2012 Gold Member 
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Hi all.
I got my first ever caravan in April and went on a towing course to get some experience before heading out by myself.
I have been doing so well, hitching up by myself and towing the van. I have even towed it up to Norfolk from Kent so had a few miles under my belt. That was until yesterday.
Something very scary happened that has put me off towing for good and now I want to sell the van and just go in my tent!
It was entirely my fault. I was coming home after yet another lovely weekend away and was on the inside lane of a three lane motorway. Up ahead, there was a caravan following a small campervan which was following a lorry. I signalled and moved out into the middle lane. The vehicles on the inside lane were travelling at 50mph, I was 55mph. I passed them with no problem whatsoever. I was approaching the lorry and saw him begin to break. I proceeded with caution up to the lorry. As I drew level, the lorry picked up speed. As I was aware of traffic behind and passing me in the third lane, I picked up speed to around 62mph. There wasn't sufficient room to move back into the nearside lane safely between the campervan and the lorry.
Well, I am sure you know what I am going to say. I made the wrong decision to up my speed slightly to get past. The outfit went into the most awful snake and, although I never felt completely out of control and tried not to panic, I thought it was the end of us. My husband was travelling behind on his bike and said it was the scariest thing he had ever seen and isn't sure how we got out of it. I didn't brake, I just lifted all feet away from the pedals and tried to stay calm.
I towed the rest of the way home which was approx. another 20 miles and was ok with it. It's only now that I am petrified of towing it to Devon this Friday and I want to sell up! I put my poor children at risk as well as the other road users by taking the decision to try and still get past when I should have slowed down and made the traffic behind wait. I know the error of my ways and where I went wrong and today I am in a right state!
Anybody looking for a nice caravan? Just one incident, which I know we were fortunate wasn't worse, has put me off all this towing lark now.
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Center Parcs April 2015
Chestnut Meadows Bexhill August 2015
Once in lifetime trip to Florida Oct 2015!!!
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15/7/2013 at 5:56pm
Location: BLACK((gods)) COUNTRY
Outfit: Pi;ote Reference 740
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Such a shame the incident has led you to pack in,you were more then likely in the turbulence thrown up by the lorry,before you sell up,why not go and have a refresher towing course,explain your fears and, they will do all they can to restore your confidence,especially if you and your family were enjoying it.
Your husband shouldn't have said the things he did,he should have complimented you on your skill at handling the situation,which in my view,you managed to do so very well indeed.You did the right thing by not braking as the van would do that for you.
A lesson learned I think,as you do know what you may have done wrong.
Doesn't your husband tow?
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Whippets,you cant have just one
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15/7/2013 at 7:08pm
Location: Derby.
Outfit: Karsten 350+Awnings
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I haven't towed for nigh on 10 years, and never a caravan, just a 16ft trailer on the back of LWB Van, for work. However, go back a further 8 years or so, and I did exactly the same as you..... word for word!
Difference is, I treated it, as others are saying, as a lesson learned, and in the ensuing 8 years, both my confidence and my towing skills grew with each trip. The reason I no longer tow is simply down to changing jobs, but even now, after the said 10 year gap, I would happily have the confidence to hitch up and set off tomorrow.
Snake a trailer/caravan, fall off a horse, or go flying over the handle bars on a bike..... the best advice is always the same..... get back out there, and rebuild your confidence.
You & I both know tents are far superior to caravans, madmum,  but it would be wrong of me to suggest you are making the right decision!
Get yer 'ead up, and get back out there!
Mucker
xxx
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15/7/2013 at 8:18pm
Location: whitstable kent
Outfit: sterling eccles sport 584 freelander 2
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No don't sell up, you're a caravaner who had a incident, but you sorted it and carried on to get home, if you can do that then you can continue to enjoy it. Things happen we learn from them, don't let a bad experience put you off many many good experiences that will come.
And anyway us lady caravan towers need to keep on towing.
Go to Devon, make more stops if you have too, but don't pack it up, you'll kick yourself if you do.
I'm sending you a big cyber hug xxx
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"I'm a fool for my dogs"
Adopt a rescue, rescue dogs make great pets, don't support puppy farms.
The road can be tough and rough,but what you put in you get back 10 x more.
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