We have a Folding Camper. Can anyone give any tips on how to reverse? We have major problems, any help would be welcome.
Thanks
Jane
Thanks
Jane
Reversing
- Thread starter Jane_5077138
- Start date
Jane, the first thing to say is that practice makes perfect and there is no substitution for doing it and a large area such as supermarket car park or industrial estate in the evenings or Sunday is best.
Assuming the car and trailer are in line, if you want the rear of the van to go left ( that is your left as you sit in the driver seat)then you steer to the right (as if you were reversing the car into a slot on the drivers side) - this forces the rear of the car to the right which forces the caravan front to the right and the caravan rear to the left. To make the caravan rear go right then steer left. {I found that was harder to write down than to do it).
Remember do it slow and that small adjustments to the steering cause big movements at the rear of the van. It is also harder for this reason and the swivel point to reverse a small trailer than a large caravan ( see how many people jack knife a trailer at the local tip!) and an artic is much easier than a caravan.
Good luck if all fails do what we all do at some time, unhitch and get other friendly campers to help you push it.
Assuming the car and trailer are in line, if you want the rear of the van to go left ( that is your left as you sit in the driver seat)then you steer to the right (as if you were reversing the car into a slot on the drivers side) - this forces the rear of the car to the right which forces the caravan front to the right and the caravan rear to the left. To make the caravan rear go right then steer left. {I found that was harder to write down than to do it).
Remember do it slow and that small adjustments to the steering cause big movements at the rear of the van. It is also harder for this reason and the swivel point to reverse a small trailer than a large caravan ( see how many people jack knife a trailer at the local tip!) and an artic is much easier than a caravan.
Good luck if all fails do what we all do at some time, unhitch and get other friendly campers to help you push it.
We put a motor mover on, unhitch the van and push the buttons, at least that way I have got some idea of where the van is going.
Agree with all the above. One further hint though is what my instructor told me many years ago and that is to look backwards out of the rear window and just "do with your arms (and steering wheel!) what you have to do to get the thing to go where you want".
Within a very short time I had masterred the ability to use opposite lock to point the trailer/caravan where I wanted.
To start with I was absolutely useless using mirrors. Only when I twisted round in my seat to see what was happening in my line of sight did it all make sense.
Now, many years later I can use the mirrors without problem, but I still like to check by twisting right round.
I suggest getting good instruction would help if you are really worried. The trouble with practice alone is that you could be doing something wrong and not realising it.
Within a very short time I had masterred the ability to use opposite lock to point the trailer/caravan where I wanted.
To start with I was absolutely useless using mirrors. Only when I twisted round in my seat to see what was happening in my line of sight did it all make sense.
Now, many years later I can use the mirrors without problem, but I still like to check by twisting right round.
I suggest getting good instruction would help if you are really worried. The trouble with practice alone is that you could be doing something wrong and not realising it.
Clive,
Is the case that the folding camper is too low down for you to see it when reversing. I have the same problem with my small 'tip' trailer that hides behind my C5.
I solved the problem by slotting in a bamboo cane vertically at front centre and rear centre of the trailer when reversing. (Temporary fixed only).
Now, although I still can't see the trailer, I can see the canes and by comparing their respective positions in my eyeline I can see which way the trailer is going. Hope the above makes sense, if not please resond and I will try again to explain
Is the case that the folding camper is too low down for you to see it when reversing. I have the same problem with my small 'tip' trailer that hides behind my C5.
I solved the problem by slotting in a bamboo cane vertically at front centre and rear centre of the trailer when reversing. (Temporary fixed only).
Now, although I still can't see the trailer, I can see the canes and by comparing their respective positions in my eyeline I can see which way the trailer is going. Hope the above makes sense, if not please resond and I will try again to explain
Hi Del - I understand what you mean. Yes it is easier when towing something big enough to see. I regularly tow an Ifor Williams trailer that is low when nothing is on it.
Like you we place a couple of things higher at the rear of the trailer to enable easy reversing.
Like you we place a couple of things higher at the rear of the trailer to enable easy reversing.
There must be more people given up on caravaning due to reversing than anything else !
It all came right for me when I was told to forget about reverse locks and simply use the car to push the van in the direction you want to go.You can practice using a couple of matchboxes on a table top to get the principle.
After that, forget about everyone watching, take your time and you will soon get the hang of it.
Have fun !
It all came right for me when I was told to forget about reverse locks and simply use the car to push the van in the direction you want to go.You can practice using a couple of matchboxes on a table top to get the principle.
After that, forget about everyone watching, take your time and you will soon get the hang of it.
Have fun !
The point I think is that to start with you need to actually see what is hapening in "real time" not reversed via the mirrors.
Thus my instructor saved the day for me by saying "look out the back window". This got me trained in how to reverse accuratly. With more experience just using the mirrors become easier.
I personaly could not for the life of me get it right at first by mirrors alone.
Thus my instructor saved the day for me by saying "look out the back window". This got me trained in how to reverse accuratly. With more experience just using the mirrors become easier.
I personaly could not for the life of me get it right at first by mirrors alone.
thank youu all for your help and tips. I have printed this page off so I can reffer toit when I need to.
Jane
Jane
Facebook
Twitter