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Quote: Originally posted by FionaW1971 on 11/7/2009

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I'm sure there are plenty of experienced caravanners who aren't safe either

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I don't think anybody is attacking new caravanners. As some people may know, I have a friend who is vastly experienced, and still got it wrong, and ended up on his side on the M5.

It's just that all the books and forums are no substitute for experience, and you are certainly more at risk in your first couple of years.  We all went through it, and I'm sure we've all had interesting experiences, but that's part of the learning process.

With increased legislation and heavier traffic, it's very important now to get things right. It's not hard to turn a caravan over - and yes, just being overloaded will do it. It only needs a small reaction to a traffic incident, and the weight of the pendulum hanging on the back of your car will do the rest.

Also, you can't assume you can just put excess weight in the car.  That, too, has a maximum loading for each axle.

When you add the nosewight of the caravan to people in the back seat, you will be surprised by how little margin you may have left.

Jim

Considering the vast number of caravans on the move at any one time, the number involved in accidents on the road is probably very low. No one knows what caused these two to go over & it could have been a multitude of things.

Having said that, I'm always watching for caravans during my working days out on the road. I see so many & I also see lots of outfits that I wouldn't get in the car of for a pension. Some of them drive like something demented & some just don't look right.

This week I was going north on the M5. I came up behind a Discovery towing a caravan, it was only going about 40mph & the line of the outfit was certainly wrong. I'm not an expert on Discoveries but to me it looked like the rear suspension had failed causing the towbar to be right down near the road surface yet they kept going & the vehile was obviously unsafe. A patrol car overtook me & them & never pulled them over, I couldn't believe it.

Last summer I was going down the M5 towards Avonmouth, there's quite a long downhill section there & I was holding my lorry back on the retarder when a Volvo V70 towing a van went past me like I was stood still. I always think of drivers like that as people who consider the 60MPH limit as a target to beat & not an upper limit for their outfit. Other drivers who cover high milage like me must see it all the time the same as I do.

On site last summer we were part of a conversation with other campers, they'd just arrived that day as we had & we were simply comparing journeys as you do. One chap was happy to brag that he'd been doing his job a a rep all the previous day covering heaven knows how many miles. Got home the previous evening, hitched up the van & driven down to Cornwall through the night. How safe was that donkey doing that? He had his wife & kids in the car yet couldn't see the danger in what he'd done. I didn't bother to give my opinion, just acknowledged what had been said & we walked on. I can't be doing with it.

As long as people are going to drive when towing in the same manner as they do when solo & drive unsafe outfits like the Discovery with the failed suspension just because they have a journey to complete or, drive for stupid hours like the bragging sales rep, we're going to continue to hear about accidents involving caravans. I'm not saying these accidents are the fault of the outfit driver but, so many people don't do anything to help themselves.

BB

 In 1991 when I first bought a caravan I was amazed how easy it was to just buy one and drive away with it.I had towed a trailer tent before but never a caravan.I soon went on a towing course which taught me a lot. I think that some sort of test should be passed first before being allowed to tow anything!  I know many of you won't agree but that's my opnion.

Having watched a few TV programs police  camera etc the few overturned caravans they have featured had blow outs on the caravan so this must be  another major factor in overturned caravans

I myself have seen lot of caravans overturned (due to the fact i used to own and operate a breakdown recovery company) this actually put me off towing my own caravan for quiet some time, however my knowledge to why these accidents did happen have helped me.

generaly its multiple factors but bad uneven loads are always a big factor lets face it if we put all are heavy stuff stowed away in the top cubards ready for use then were asking for trouble, a nice even floor load with the heaviest items over the chassis and not under the seats is a good start, and a week or twos grocery in the car boot along with the 4 or so family members doesnt help either.

road and weather conditions linked with a badly matched outfit.

incorrect tyre pressures on both towing and towed.

and the inabillatly to think ahead of what to do when snaking starts

I'm possibly classed as britans worst caravan tower by those who have had the pleasure to travel with me or behind me and yes i'm one of the lucky ones that gets my caravan out every week as i use it for work.

but in 20 years ive took extra care in loading and prepairing for the journey ahead made sure its right the day before and again before i set off and while touching wood can thankfully say ive never to this day had any problems with towing