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14/3/2007 at 5:49pm
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Joined: 02/7/2006 Platinum Member 
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While you do hear of a lot of accidents, there are a lot more caravans on the road. The majority of accidents are caused by foolish mistakes, bad loading driving too fast and just dangerously.
I have to admit I was weary of towing a caravan. I had one a few years ago, a small 10 ft 3 birth van, which I towed twice with a Peugeot 205 1.9 diesel. It was hard going, constantly changing gears, the car struggled. In hindsight the van was quite heavy, despite its small size (850 kg) and the car, despite its reasonable size engine was too small. Now have a Mercedes 190E 2 litre auto. I bought a trailer tent as I didn't fancy towing another caravan. Having used the trailer tent for two years, I felt more confident towing and changed to a caravan (Avondale Perle Ulysses) I was a bit nervous about towing it when I picked it up, but within a mile, I got used to it. It is easier to tow than the trailer tent which had a tendency to "disappear" from my mirrors.
I find the caravan more noticeable by its absence when I take it off and my speed starts creeping up.
The caravan is a doddle to reverse in comparison as I can see it in my mirrors all the time.
I would recommend looking for something light and well balanced if you are nervous. One of the reasons I opted for the Ulysses is that most of the weight is over the axle. I also bought a stabiliser (not used one before) this makes for a much easier drive, although I am dubious as to whether it is any safer.
I suspect stabilisers will lull you into a false sense of security (like Land Rovers. Despite being one of the best tow cars, they also seem to be involved in an alarmingly high number of caravaning accidents.) The other concern with a stabiliser is that they damp out the first warning signs that something is amiss.
As regards hitching up, I always check the hitch three times. First when I hitch up, then I pull the car forwards a foot and check it again, having found several times that it was not hitched properly after moving the car, this is most important. Finally check everything (including luggage etc...) after a mile or so as straps and ropes etc tend to work loose after a mile or so of road vibration.
As far as corners are concerned, as long as you remember it is there, then the tendancy is to take corners too wide rather than cut them. I tend not to take them much wider than I would normally, as the read of the caravan swings out as the front swings in. Only half the caravan cuts the corner so it's not as severe as you would imagine. I often look at a bend and think I'll never get around there with a caravan, but in actual fact the caravan flies through.
Avoid super market car parks on a busy Saturday though!
Post last edited on 14/03/2007 18:02:00
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14/3/2007 at 7:15pm
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Outfit: trailer tent : Mirror design (1960's)
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Following up on that last sentence : earlier this year we were returning from the new forest on a Sunday afternoon and partner wanted to stop at a supermarket close to junction 9 of the M3 (Winchester). I reluctantly agreed, and insisted we kept both sets of eyes peeled for height restrictions etc.
Got into the car parkno problem, shopped no problem, then came across a height barrier on the way OUT !! Even worse, the way we'd used to enter the car park was a one way only slip road....
After some very amateur reversing (I must do the CC course), we decided to use the entrance slip road to get out. After all it was dead on 4pm, the time the supermarket in question closes, so no-one would want to drive in would they ? - WRONG - another bit of reversing, then finally away. Luckily there were no frayed tempers, in fact a few laughs were seen from amused drivers.
Moral : In future I will drive from home to site, no stopping (apart from motorway services).
Geoff
Post last edited on 14/03/2007 22:09:53
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G.
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