looks like we might be proud owners of our first(very pre owned) van on saturday, we live in midlands and will be going to Cambs. to collect it,Although my husband has towed a caravan many moons ago, I would still like some advice and tips from the experts please!!!!!Our car is a crysler voyager 3.8 automatic, and our new/old van is 17ft long(inc, hitch)
novice tower..top tips please
- Thread starter karen_374234759
- Start date
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Welcome to our crazy world of caravanning.
The only advise I can give for your maiden voyage is to take your time and stay calm.
I remember collecting my first tourer. It was from Oxford to Birmingham and it was a Friday afternoon on the M40!!!!!!!!!
The only advise I can give for your maiden voyage is to take your time and stay calm.
I remember collecting my first tourer. It was from Oxford to Birmingham and it was a Friday afternoon on the M40!!!!!!!!!
Karen
Salad Dodger is right, take your time.
for now, avoid the motorway for the first part of the trip and you will be fine.
As for other hints. Make your first trip local to your house, you will be amazed at what you forget. Remember that putting an awning up is stressful, so do that slow and steady as well. Take water tablets so you can drop them in if you think the water teastes funny and don't forget the van will rock with CERTAIN activities, so leave them til its dark.
But above all, have fun!
Salad Dodger is right, take your time.
for now, avoid the motorway for the first part of the trip and you will be fine.
As for other hints. Make your first trip local to your house, you will be amazed at what you forget. Remember that putting an awning up is stressful, so do that slow and steady as well. Take water tablets so you can drop them in if you think the water teastes funny and don't forget the van will rock with CERTAIN activities, so leave them til its dark.
But above all, have fun!
Cambs to Midlands doesn't sound like you'll be doing much motorways - A14 at a guess.
Assume the journey home wil take up to twice as long as the outward.
Carry some drinks and eats. I f you are new to towing, then your biggest problem will be parking - motorways are good for this, as lorry and coach areas make it easy.
So, on the way out make a note of everywhere you could stop easily on the way back, bearing in mind the size of your combination, and the difficulty of manouevering. Some hints;
Many Little Chef's are suitable.
Supermarkets can be good, particularly if you go off to the far unoccupied end of the car park.
Even if you're not on the motorway, is there a service station at the junction where you cross the M1, for instance?
It takes a while to develop the "eye" you need to plan every move further ahead and to allow for the extra complications - eg to avoid reversing unnecessarily!
Assume the journey home wil take up to twice as long as the outward.
Carry some drinks and eats. I f you are new to towing, then your biggest problem will be parking - motorways are good for this, as lorry and coach areas make it easy.
So, on the way out make a note of everywhere you could stop easily on the way back, bearing in mind the size of your combination, and the difficulty of manouevering. Some hints;
Many Little Chef's are suitable.
Supermarkets can be good, particularly if you go off to the far unoccupied end of the car park.
Even if you're not on the motorway, is there a service station at the junction where you cross the M1, for instance?
It takes a while to develop the "eye" you need to plan every move further ahead and to allow for the extra complications - eg to avoid reversing unnecessarily!
brilliant, thanks for thatCambs to Midlands doesn't sound like you'll be doing much motorways - A14 at a guess.
Assume the journey home wil take up to twice as long as the outward.
Carry some drinks and eats. I f you are new to towing, then your biggest problem will be parking - motorways are good for this, as lorry and coach areas make it easy.
So, on the way out make a note of everywhere you could stop easily on the way back, bearing in mind the size of your combination, and the difficulty of manouevering. Some hints;
Many Little Chef's are suitable.
Supermarkets can be good, particularly if you go off to the far unoccupied end of the car park.
Even if you're not on the motorway, is there a service station at the junction where you cross the M1, for instance?
It takes a while to develop the "eye" you need to plan every move further ahead and to allow for the extra complications - eg to avoid reversing unnecessarily!
I certainly don't think the tow car will have any bother power wise. What I would do is after doing all your light checks and hitching up, I'd travel for say about 5 miles and then check the wheels and tyres for excessive heat. If the van has been stood for a while with the brake on it might of got stuck.
Just cary a few bits and bobs like a cheapy hi viz vest from a pound shop. (you never know it might be in their sale 50p). A good torch and a basic tool kit. Hubby might want to add a trolly jack and a wheel brace to change a wheel if a tyre goes.
Might sound a lot of kit, and I don't want to put you off but it's best to expect the worst in an un-known van and then when things happen you are ready and not red faced.
Above all, take your time and have fun. If you do get any hootin and tootin from the odd cowboy caravan haters just give them a cheery wave and the formal caravanners salute of "that's the second time today I've been tooted"
Caravanning is all about fun and ejoying ones self.
Good luck.
Steve.
Just cary a few bits and bobs like a cheapy hi viz vest from a pound shop. (you never know it might be in their sale 50p). A good torch and a basic tool kit. Hubby might want to add a trolly jack and a wheel brace to change a wheel if a tyre goes.
Might sound a lot of kit, and I don't want to put you off but it's best to expect the worst in an un-known van and then when things happen you are ready and not red faced.
Above all, take your time and have fun. If you do get any hootin and tootin from the odd cowboy caravan haters just give them a cheery wave and the formal caravanners salute of "that's the second time today I've been tooted"
Caravanning is all about fun and ejoying ones self.
Good luck.
Steve.
If the caravan has a towball Stabiliser such as the Alko set-up make sure you have a degreased clean towball fitted to the car and that it is suitable for use with the hitch and stabiliser set-up !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And take it easy.
If it does not come with a stabiliser sort one out before you tow it away.
And take it easy.
If it does not come with a stabiliser sort one out before you tow it away.
Karen,
If your a member of any of the clubs, you can download a lot of information under Practical Advice. I would copy and paste but not allowed to.
Val & Frank
If your a member of any of the clubs, you can download a lot of information under Practical Advice. I would copy and paste but not allowed to.
Val & Frank
Karen,
You can go to
www.thecaravan.net and download a lot of information on coupling up safely, and towing etc.
Val & Frank
You can go to
www.thecaravan.net and download a lot of information on coupling up safely, and towing etc.
Val & Frank
Thanks Steve,I certainly don't think the tow car will have any bother power wise. What I would do is after doing all your light checks and hitching up, I'd travel for say about 5 miles and then check the wheels and tyres for excessive heat. If the van has been stood for a while with the brake on it might of got stuck.
Just cary a few bits and bobs like a cheapy hi viz vest from a pound shop. (you never know it might be in their sale 50p). A good torch and a basic tool kit. Hubby might want to add a trolly jack and a wheel brace to change a wheel if a tyre goes.
Might sound a lot of kit, and I don't want to put you off but it's best to expect the worst in an un-known van and then when things happen you are ready and not red faced.
Above all, take your time and have fun. If you do get any hootin and tootin from the odd cowboy caravan haters just give them a cheery wave and the formal caravanners salute of "that's the second time today I've been tooted"
Caravanning is all about fun and ejoying ones self.
Good luck.
Steve.
That is a good idea we will stop after a few miles, hubby is a builder ,so has full range of tools, and several Hi Viz vests, the seller says the tyres are good but seemingly it's not just the tread that I'm looking at is it..
thanks for advice
kaz
thanks for your helpKaren,
You can go to
www.thecaravan.net and download a lot of information on coupling up safely, and towing etc.
Val & Frank
well, assuming that the sale goes through, it will be a lunar moonlight..Karen, what van did you buy?
Thank youIf the caravan has a towball Stabiliser such as the Alko set-up make sure you have a degreased clean towball fitted to the car and that it is suitable for use with the hitch and stabiliser set-up !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And take it easy.
If it does not come with a stabiliser sort one out before you tow it away.
hi karen
just a note of caution.i use to have a chrysler voyager 3.3 auto which was a 1998 on a "r" plate and although i found it a good tow car with the correct nose weight,i did have big problems with the gearbox.after 3 yrs of towing the gearbox gave up,it cost me over a
just a note of caution.i use to have a chrysler voyager 3.3 auto which was a 1998 on a "r" plate and although i found it a good tow car with the correct nose weight,i did have big problems with the gearbox.after 3 yrs of towing the gearbox gave up,it cost me over a
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