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hi there everyone

this is my first time on here and i need some good advice.

we have just bought our first caravan, an old abbey durham and i have to tow it from nottingham on sunday and i am terrified that i will mess up, can you old hands give me some good advise on what to do and not do.

thanks janet.

Hi Jan,

congrats on your first post!!!

Ive never towed in mylife, so have absolutely no advice to give you, sorry!

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/games/reverse.asp

heres a little game for you to practise your reversing though!

im sure somebody will be along soon who actually knows what they are talking about, unlike ME! LOL!

thanks for that

my husband found that game last night, i managed to get form 4.40 to 1.03 minutes without crashing into the trees, i think i will need a big pitch ha ha.

janet

jan d,  the simpelest advise is to hook the van up to your car, and off you go. just take it nice and easy and dont let other road users hurry you. give your self plenty of time. it might be a good idea to get some towing mirrors for your car as this will help you gauge the room you will need either side of your van when towing....

                   Richard :)

Ya might find this useful if you just click on  and then scroll down to the bit that says 'towing' and then the bit about stablisers, coz it's got some good tips on there.

Of course, ya could just get behind the wheel, point and shoot..and hope for the best. Seems to work for my hubby

I've only ever managed to tow 100yds on site once, and about 1/2 mile on the storage site last summer when we'd just hitched up, (I'm always the one who reverses the car up to the A frame, then stay there for the lights check etc.), and hubby suggested that I just ease it forward to straighten it and.......I just put me foot down and kept going till we reached the security gate when I had to get out and do the swipe card and padlock...thus allowing hubby, (now quite out of breath having trotted behind me), to get back in the drivers seat

I know I'd be just as good if not better than him...watch this space. Although not at the mo coz I'm on crutches and can't even drive me automatic coz the other foots got arthritis!

Just remember it's a lot longer to turn corners so needs a wider swing before turning, (non-technical speak), and it's wider than your car too, so just give yourself enough space between your car and the kerb/other vehicles.

You'll love it! Know I would........next step...3/4 mile

Hi,

Plenty of stuff around about hitching up properly and checking lights etc. so I won't bother you with that. The main thing is take it easy and don't be worried about other drivers. Extended mirrors are a must in my opinion. They let you see the van wheels in relation to the kerb and the white line, and they're like cat's whiskers when you head for a gap. Give yourself a break after 20 minutes and check the van to make sure everything's secure (also feel the van brake drums - careful - to see if they're hot from binding). the short break will help you calm down and tell yourself how well your doing. Choose the easiest route even if it means a few extra miles. Dual carriageways help make sure you don't get embarassed by traffic build up behind you. Courage mon brave! It really is worth it. Caravanning is fun. Good luck.