Hitching up

[BillD.]

I am not one for normally giving uncalled for advice but could I offer some to people to assist hitching up.

It a source of some amusement to watch some people hitching up, frantic waving of person 2 at rear of car finishing with even more frantic banging on the back to stop.

I am no expert I have to say but I did go on a CC manouvering course and my wife puts superbly into action the method taught.

It is quite simply, stand at rear (but not behind) of car where driver can see you. Hold hands apart, gradually bringing them together to indicate distance between tow bar & van hitch.

It works really well, the driver still has to line car up properly with van of course using your mirrors. All elementary stuff to proper caravanners I know. I fear this may fall on deaf ears however as perhaps all the people that can't hitch, manouver, load, check lights, drive properly etc would not read a website such as this. With the increasing popularity of caravanning and adverse publicity of accidents and poor behaviour I can see some sort of additional test of competence being introduced.

Bill D.

 

[theothertom]

Hi all ,

Get a mover fitted to the caravan, take the caravan to the car by means of the mover ,dont have to rely on anyone .JOB DONE .

Tom

 

[ShadySadie]

Camera is the simple solution. I now move the rear view camera to the stabiliser handle. No need to bother with a motor mover & no weight penalty.

 

[Del_374232870]

I hitch up solo causes less arguments. Line up the rear centre headrest withe centre caravan window, slowly reverse back until a point on the cars rear windscreen alighns with a point on caravan, usually within an inch of the hitche

 

[BillD.]

I should have added that we have a motor mover to finish the job off without drama, dented bumper, pulled muscle etc.

Bill D.

 

[DomDom]

Rear view camera. Maplins. 25 quid. Job done. Much easier than the somewhat less than useful instructions from SWMBO.

 

[S-MaxJon]

Were you never a new caravanner Bill ? Sounds more patronising than advising people.Everybody learns from experience and adapts to what is best.

I use the car's middle headrest and line it up with the centre window on the caravan and let the sensors do the rest. Works a treat - may not suit others though.

P.S If you have a motor mover why do you stand around flapping your arms in the air??

 

[carol_374470575]

well we are totally new to caravanning..and we have our first trip 2moro to Burton Constable...i am sure we will be of amusement to seasoned caravanners...but we all have to start somewhere...and i hope some of you more expereienced folks will offer assistance...

Carol & James

 

[Parksy]

Best of luck on your first outing Carol & James. You're bound to forget something (make sure that it's not the corkscrew) and if my first ever trip was anything to go by it might be hard work.

Don't worry, take your time and enjoy, it all comes naturally after a short while.

 

[Rabfaetheblae]

My first trip was when i went down to the lake district from Aberdeen to pick up my 2007 ace celebration,

we met the sellers at a site and he showed me all the bits and pieces, the wife who had never been in a caravan was totally surprised at the comfort and spec inside, it was the best weekend ever and we were totally hooked from the start.

I work abroad 1 month rotation and the wife says i miss the van more than her..

 

[Happy-Lappy]

My first trip was when i went down to the lake district from Aberdeen to pick up my 2007 ace celebration,

we met the sellers at a site and he showed me all the bits and pieces, the wife who had never been in a caravan was totally surprised at the comfort and spec inside, it was the best weekend ever and we were totally hooked from the start.

I work abroad 1 month rotation and the wife says i miss the van more than her..

You miss the Van more than her?....funny how so many people have the same thing in common,

best regards, Martin

 

[WatsonJohnG]

I lean the sweeping/wash brush against the caravan hitch and aim for it by lining up with the rear wiper

I have a towbar protector/guide and now a wonderful Nissan built in rear view camera which shows the car towball

 

[WatsonJohnG]

I lean the sweeping/wash brush against the caravan hitch and aim for it by lining up with the rear wiper

I have a towbar protector/guide and now a wonderful Nissan built in rear view camera which shows the car towball

http://www.towsure.com/product/460-Removable_Bumper_Protector

 

[WatsonJohnG]

The above bumper protector is also very useful when hooking up with the mover and the "easier for caravanners inside the A frame Alko jockey wheel"(say Alko)

Often the jockey wheel is facing the wrong way after reversing the van and its made easier by winding it up and moving the van forward so that it rests on top of the bumper protector the JW can then be lined up and wound down ,the van reversed a couple of inches and then brought forward to hook up

It not always possible (as on my drive!) to move the van forward far enough the line up the wheel.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

The above bumper protector is also very useful when hooking up with the mover and the "easier for caravanners inside the A frame Alko jockey wheel"(say Alko)

Often the jockey wheel is facing the wrong way after reversing the van and its made easier by winding it up and moving the van forward so that it rests on top of the bumper protector the JW can then be lined up and wound down ,the van reversed a couple of inches and then brought forward to hook up

It not always possible (as on my drive!) to move the van forward far enough the line up the wheel.

Should be winding it down before winding it up!!

 

[Happy-Lappy]

John.G(Watson)

Before winding the front corner steadies up, raise and then manually rotate the JW so that it is facing in the correct direction that you wish the van to travel,

best regards, Martin

 

[Pat_374304630]

BillD,

Well done for starting this thread. Plenty of interest. I have been a caravanner for many years and always appreciate other's advice on all issues caravan. personally I prefer solo hitching as I find it prevents any arguement with the boss.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Martin the legs are alreedy wound up if the van is being reversed with the mover otherwise there is a loud scraping sound

The method I described avoids the need to wind the legs down again after reversing with the mover to line up the jockey wheel when hitching up

I have to reverse the van diagonally across the drive.up to a wall and then back the car up to the van with just enough length to avoid the bonnet sticking out onto the road to complete the picture

It works for me but each to his own and I used to have to wind the legs down once upon a time!!

 

[WatsonJohnG]

John.G(Watson)

Before winding the front corner steadies up, raise and then manually rotate the JW so that it is facing in the correct direction that you wish the van to travel,

best regards, Martin

It turns round when you reverse

 

[ValA.]

We had a discussion about the design of jockey wheels, and the fact that they seem to always end up under the hitch and facing the wrong way when you're trying to hitch up and then wind up the jockey wheel. Surely there must be some simple modification to the design of the A frame/hitch/jockey wheel to prevent this happening? I thought we were the only ones to have problems, but it seems that this is one of those annoying things which most caravanners have to deal with.

Come on you engineers, two clothes pegs, and a piece of washing line, a wire coat hanger and a plug chain with six inches of pipe lagging, an elastic band and some duct tape - someone must be able to come up with something?????

 

[WatsonJohnG]

There is a simple already available remedy

Go back to the jockey wheel clamp on the side of the A frame

They are still fitted to many cheaper caravans and when I wrote to Alko to ask if there was a kit to return it to the side they said that I could bolt a clamp through the A frame but that it would invalidate the warranty

They also pointed out that the inside the A frame position made it easier for caravanners

 

[Guest]

Open the tail gate and its very easy providing you don't have a car full of clutter!

 

[jo_374385568]

"Open the tail gate and its very easy providing you don't have a car full of clutter!"

can't we have a boot not a hatchback but I always do it myself anyway just aim to have even amount of caravan visable in each mirror usually works, I find I can hitch up better solo that when hubby is guiding me.and i'm usually away before hes up anyway he normally joins us for our main holiday after a few days I don't like the stress of setting up while hes around plus he works damn hard and deserves a break.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Opening the tailgate should be good but with the rear view camera all you would then see is the rooftops !!

 

[Paul_5064559]

Also important is the un-hitch. Do this on a incline without engaging the van brake and you will get a damaged bumper...