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Any advice?

It will be my first time towing a caravan.  I've been towing a trailer tent for the last 3 years but I suspect it's a bit different.  Got my mirrors organised and the number plate is ordered. Why am I so terrified? 

Booked into a caravan club practical caravanning course mid June but that's not going to help me on Monday.

Gulp!!!

Alison

It will feel daunting for the first few minutes as you pull off due to the width of the van, but then after 10 minutes you will feel really pleased with yourself, and find it really easy :), I remember towning for the first time years ago, I was really worried but then as I got going it got easier and easier... In fact i'd go as far as saying I actually enjoy the towing part of the holiday!.

Just remember if your car is manual that you have to take into consideration that getting into "top" doesnt necessarily mean your going to get better mpg as you might be using more throttle to compensate, I rarely put the car in sixth when towing as the mpg is mainly better in 5th, and double check everything, the hitch is on properly, if you have an alko hitch it will go green when it's on properly, and most importantly ignore all the impatient buggers behind you, if you hold everyone up on the road dont panic, just learn to ignore them :)

I remember being terrified about towing the trailer tent but as long as I only had to go forwards I had no worries after a while.  I never mastered reversing with it tho', hence the caravanning course.

Thanks for the encouragement, DaleR

I remember that feeling of being terrified! We had only towed a camping trailer before and despite being so excited about having our first caravan, it was also very terrifying! And i was just the passenger!

We didn't take it very far to a site chosen for being close to the dealers but it was the most scarry journey. To see this great white thing behind us. We had dreamed for so long of having a caravan and it was most precious. Even hubby was nervous!But we just took our time and everything was fine. Even so i was so glad when we arrived unscathed.

Are you taking it home or to a site for trying everything out?

Alison

Reversing with a caravan is much easier than reversing with a small trailer.  It doesn't snap the wrong way as quickly.

When we picked up our first van from Hatfield we drove it down to a site we had pre-booked for our tent in Dorset.  I had never even towed a trailer before so you are one up on what I was.  We bought our small trailer after we had had the caravan for a year or so.

As DaleR says, after the forst 10 miles or so (or the 2nd roundabout) it will feel like 2nd nature.

Have fun

Unfortunately we're taking it straight to a storage site but hopeflly will get to take it out for 24 hrs the first weekend.  We have booked a campsite only half an hour away from the storage place.  I've booked loads of trips in July and August including 2 weeks in France,  I think we're be in the van more than at home for most of the summer - bliss!!

Thanks for all your words of encouragement.  I know I'll feel better after the first time.

Alison

We found the Haynes Complete Caravan book helped us with our first caravan. (You might be able to borrow a copy from a library ISBN 185960 123 5). We bought it after bending the Jockey wheel on our first time out! – We forgot to raise it or hadn’t tightened it fully and caught it on a speed bump – very embarrassing!

Also I think here is a good checklist in the back of the caravan club book for setting off etc.

We both did the caravan club reversing course after 10 years towing, it was really good we wish we had done it sooner.

Hope it goes well for you

J