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Hi To Everyone,

We can't believe it and had to share it!!  We've just purchased our first Caravan - 2007 Abbey Vogue 540, how exciting, we've never had one before, can't pick it up for 4 weeks but can't wait to go exploring - not that we've ever towed before LOL.

We love camping and love being outside, we have 3 children and sometimes the camping is just too much with all the stuff, so we decided to take the plunge, any advice/hints tips would be greatly appreciated.  We are already members of the camping and caravan club and our father in law has a Motor Home so we're quite up to scratch with the technical side it's just towing and anything different from the motor home.  Cheers Paul & Steph

Hi,

Welcome to tin tenting. (aka Shed Dragging)

We were very much in your position just three years ago, when we bought our first van. I have to say that I was very apprehensive about towing and concerned as to the responsibility that it put on me.

I signed up for a CC manouevering course, this was a great confidence booster, as was the motor mover that we had fitted. To begin with I took things very very steady and gradually my confidence built up. I am still a very cautious tower, and always tow to the conditions.

On site, Mrs U-M is of great assistance when getting on the pitch and teamwork really pays off.

We have booked to go to France next year and I can honestly say that I am looking forward to taking the van over there.

I'm sure that you will not regret your purchase!

Mr Ulti-Mate

Congratulations!  I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

My OH and I both did the CC towing course and it was brilliant, well worth the money - I just wanted to get hitched up and on the road straight away.  OH does the road driving and I do the manoeuvring on site, then he does the techy bits (ehu, toilet, gas etc) while I do the awning, organise the inside of the van and get the kettle on.  We work well!

Nora

I feel OK when towing, I drive steady leaving extra distance between cars for braking etc but some idiot always tries to fit in the gap or pulls out at a junction so they don't end up behind you, beware of other road users ! I'm sure you will enjoy your new van, we use ours in the winter not just summer and are away for the bonfire weekend.

Den.

Remember to take bends a couple of feet wider than usual, and remember tail end swing when manouvering.

Quote: Originally posted by PeteDeFeet on 07/10/2007

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Remember to take bends a couple of feet wider than usual, and remember tail end swing when manouvering.

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Hi All, thank you so much for all your input - we are very excited about picking our van up, got a bit of a wait but it'll be worth it.  We are really confused about the towing weight though after looking into it a bit more.  Our car says it takes a maximum nose weight of 80kg but it says the caravan's estimated nose weight will be 104kg and in the same sentence it says that the maximum hitch limit for the caravan is 100kg - what's going on .  This was done through Towsafe HPI.  Our car passed and said that it was ok to tow the caravan, but how can the hitch limit be less than the actual nose limit, or are they two separate things?  It even says ensure loaded tourer nose weight does not exceed either the vehicle or the tourer''s hitch limits.  So by Abbey's admission they estimate their nose weight at 104kg but their hitch limit to be 100kg - confused.  Also, on the caravan club site they recommend having no weight at the back of the caravan, so why do they put the garage at the back and then all the glossy magazines show it loaded with push bikes etc??  Strange - anyway, thanks again Paul & Steph

Quote: Originally posted by Vic Wildish on 09/10/2007If you've got a large industrial estate near to where you live, take your caravan there on a Sunday morning and you'll be able to drive it round and round unhindered for hours and hours until you get the hang of it.

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There are usually very large car parks at these places where you'll also be able to hone your reversing skills.

One thing I would recommend you getting if your budget will run to it is a motor mover. A fully loaded caravan is a very heavy lump to manhandle into position on site and a motor mover will relieve you of this burden completely. Also reversing will no longer be an issue.With a motor mover you can park your caravan on a 5p piece - trust me!

Don't leave home without one.

Cheers!

Vic

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Quote: Originally posted by pauld38 on 08/10/2007

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 Our car says it takes a maximum nose weight of 80kg but it says the caravan's estimated nose weight will be 104kg and in the same sentence it says that the maximum hitch limit for the caravan is 100kg - what's going on . 

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Noseweight is variable rather than static.  You would need to adjust the load to reduce it to 100kg (the van's maximum) - but then again you have to allow for the even lower maximum of the car - which is 80kg.

You'll need to load, weigh and adjust until it comes down to 80kg. 

The noseweight is influenced  a great deal by items in the front locker/s such as gas cannisters, battery, spare wheel, etc. You shouldn't add counterbalance weight at the back end of the van though and this leads to instability!

I would suggest reading through some of the excellent information on either the Caravan Club Website, or the Caravan & Camping Club website.