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Subject Topic: Hitching up Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonMichae22
15/4/2016 at 9:46am
 Location: Southport
 Outfit: Bailley pursuit 430 4 View Michae22's Profile View Profile   Reply to Michae22 Reply   Quote Michae22 Quote  
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Hi there , good morning to you all, we are newby th this just wondering the best way to line car up to van tow bar without a mate telling me (left a bit right a bit ,oh no you've hit it)whether I can do it on my own ,I know it would be easyier but hey, there never around when you need them

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Michae


PersonOpensauce
15/4/2016 at 10:15am
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All you can do is to raise hitch just above towbar level & reverse aiming centrally at caravan. Make up a 'bash plate' of plywood with slot in bottom to push onto towbar when hitching up so you don't damage bumper if you go too far.


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Persontango55
15/4/2016 at 11:18am
 Location: Lichfield
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When you reverse the car up to the caravan all you have to do is look in the left and right car door mirrors or your towing mirrors (if attached prior to hitching up) and visually get the sides of the caravan equal which will centralise the towball to the hitch. If you have a vehicle with a tailgate (not a boot) then you can also lift up this for assistance to aim for the target of plus you can wind up the hitch further at this stage if required. If the remaining distance to go is say for example about 1 foot in length then all you have to do is open the drivers door and place an object on the floor such as a wheel ramp or chocking block about a foot back from the door hinges. When you reverse the car you line the two up so you know you are going to be really close. The rest is down to experience as the more you do it the more confident and easy it becomes.
The other solution which is the expensive way is to have a motor mover fitted to the caravan so you manoeuvre the caravan and hitch up the caravan to the car (opposite way round).


Personalan126
15/4/2016 at 11:29am
 Location: West Scotland
 Outfit: Fleetwood Garland and Almera View alan126's Profile View Profile   Reply to alan126 Reply   Quote alan126 Quote  
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put a sticker or bit of tape in the middle of the car's back window and the van's front window and line up by that. okay you never get it perfect but assuming the rig is level a wee bit of brute force goes a long way

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My E-mail

knockhill marshal and proud


Personblueexpo97
15/4/2016 at 12:32pm
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I just use the door mirrors and look for the marker lights of the van and keep the car centre.

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XVI yes?

As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.


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Personshaggy2000
15/4/2016 at 12:51pm
 Location: County Durham
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I was told this by a bloke who did the Caravan Club towing course, it worked for me for ages.

Get a milk bottle (suppose any bottle will do)
Fill it with sand
Get a bit of bamboo
put a flag on the bamboo
put the bamboo in the bottle

Once all that's done, just put the bottle about an inch or so in front of the hitch. Then just reverse into it slowly, keeping the bamboo in the middle of the rear window.

Once you touch the bamboo the flag will move telling you your an inch of the hitch, after that's its just a case of manhandling the van to your car.


Personkenles
15/4/2016 at 1:36pm
 Location: Gloucestershie
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I use two sticks one on the car and one on the hitch. Pulled forward to meet when you are in line. You can get the spring clips in poundland


PersonNickH
15/4/2016 at 3:06pm
 Location: North Surrey
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Reversing camera?

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Nick

2017
April - New Forest(9)
May - Dorset (9)
August - Camping Le Pin Parasol, Vendee (18)
October - East Mersea (8)
and five nights in the one man tent!


Personbaddon
15/4/2016 at 3:34pm
 Location: Near Belfast
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I drive a jeep which I cant see out the back off (pickup with a canopy) and hitch in and out of trailers all the time.

The easy answer is a reversing camera (my next jeep WILL have one) but for now...

Always aproach van straight in line with it, never from an angle, match the amount of van in each wing mirror and asuming you took it off your car (the hitch should ALWAYS be just touching the ball as you drive out when you uncouple) this way you reverse in very gently till you fell the tell tale click as the ball goes under the hitch.

IF i left the trailer off....and I can get in line with it I can pretty much get it first time every time. but thats 20 years on coupling and uncoupling a few times a week..

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if your not living life on the edge your taking up tooo much room


PersonLes Medes
15/4/2016 at 3:58pm
 Location: Little Hearing
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Opensauce mentioned a Bash Plate, I use a Ggarden Kneeler bought from Aldi for £1.50, I also use it to unhitch to save the hitch springing back onto the rear valance of the car and damaging the paintwork

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Les


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PersonRay Clayton
15/4/2016 at 5:42pm
 Location: Ilkeston. Derbyshire
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or just feel the bump and move forward again lol

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Cheers
Ray

Discovery 4 & Bailey Barcelona 4







PersonAcornis
15/4/2016 at 8:20pm
 Location: North Norfolk
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When I had the Jeep I had to back onto the van at an angle as the jockey wheel handle would catch the spare wheel. I stick OH behind the wheel and give her directions, that's the only time I'am allowed too, so I make the most of it.

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Just saying
If all is not lost where is it then?


Personnavver
15/4/2016 at 8:29pm
 Location: West country
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When I'm driving along the motorway I look in my mirror and memorise what the van looks like. When reversing I look in the mirror and when it matches what I saw on the motorway I know I am there. Works every time for me.


Personalex
16/4/2016 at 11:46am
 Location: West Sussex
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I often thought of putting a mirror in a phone/tablet holder with flexible arm and suction cup to get a good view of the towball/hitch.

Have tried OH holding a broom handle over the hitch. Also tried using our camera that had a wifi to beam screen to phone (too much delay). Both were found to be embarrassing solutions by OH.

In then end got a motor mover to save all the other issues!!!!



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