Turning into gates with 8 meter long caravan

[David_5127637]

We have been caravaning for over 40 years and for the last eight have had a 6.56 meter long Bessacarr 500GL twin axle caravan. We now "need" an island bed and are purchasing a Bessacarr Cameo 645 SE twin axle which is 7.94 meters long; ie. 1.38 meters longer.
Has anyone any tips on how to turn into a 12 ft wide gateway with 14ft deep by 40ft wide splay from an 21ft wide road? The Jeep towing vehicle is 15 ft 9.5 inches long. The drive is 12ft wide through a protected woodland. What space is sensibly required to do it in one turn? There is plenty of space once through the drive
It has been easily achieved with my 6.56 meter van but I am concerned over the extra length.

 

[Damian]

Get a motor mover fitted, easy.

 

[Parksy]

It can be tricky to access narrow entrances from a narrow lane with a longer caravan and as Damian mentioned, a motor mover would be an ideal solution.
If, like me, you have a long twin axled caravan with a long towing vehicle without a motor mover it might be a good idea to take another person to act as a look out to warn approaching vehicles and to watch your blind side as you make the turn.
It might be an idea to find a large car park (such as a closed supermarket at night or on Sunday afternoons) to practice your manouever beforehand using coats or other items to represent the obstacles that you face with this driveway.
Not quite the same thing but notice how drivers of articulated lorries 'borrow' both sides of the road to make tight turns.
Drive almost past the entrance with the entrance on the drivers side, so that the fulcrum of the caravan turing point (the axles) is almost past the nearest side obstacle to you, turn in and position so that you are nearest to the gatepost on your side and get your lookout to watch the front of your blind side.
As you straighten to complete the turn position the caravan side nearest to you close to the obstacle on your side and aim for a straight line through the entrance, not making any turns until the back end of the caravan has passed any obstructions.
If you have to complete this turn regularly take note of any reference points (or create some) which would help every time.
This all reads as much more complicated than it actually is, when you've done it a few times the pressure is off

 

[JonnyG]

reverse in. if indeed you weren't thinking of doing it that way..its a metre and a half longer than your old van so its possibly a case of nerves playing apart ,nothing wrong with that. how easy or difficult was it with your old outfit ? as about half a metre of extra road space or swing would be needed to get the bigger van in..good luck.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello David

So far all the advice is good, but without doubt the easiest way is to follow Domain's suggestion of a motor mover. You can actually walk around to get the best possible view of the caravan as you negotiate the tighter spots.

I believe Parksy is an ex lorry driver, so his advice is also very good.

I concur with Jonny abou the extra road space that might be required. Although the caravan is overall 1.38M longer, that is roughly split by the axles, so from the point of view of spotting the turning point it may be about 0.5 to 0.7M further back.

You have obviously managed with your previously caravan, and there may have been space to spare, so its possible you don't need any more road space.

Best of luck.

 

[Dustydog]

Hi David
is you extra length rear of the axles or are the axles the Sam distance from the tow ball as your previous?
How tight was it before?
Our TA is a similar length to your new unit.
I do agree a mover is essential but don't waste your money on a four motor unit. Don't expect it to turn on a sixpence.In fact the more you can do with the towcar the better.
Parksy's car park suggestion should put you at ease

 

[Raywood]

I would go with Damian on this. We have a narrow drive with a slope down from the road and the road itself is a steepish hill. There is also a lamp post opposite right where you might mount the pavement and a wall on one side of the drive. Reversing in was a nightmare but a motor mover made it a doddle. Newer caravan got too wide for the drive in end but they are a great help.

 

[JTQ]

I have had my wife stood in my blind spot, on her mobile with my mobile coupled through the hands free.

 

[ProfJohnL]

I have had my wife stood in my blind spot, on her mobile with my mobile coupled through the hands free.

Sharp intake of breath hmy:

Its not a good idea to rely on mobile phones, what happens if the signal drops out just when she says stop! Better to wind a window down and shout

 

[Gafferbill]

With 40 years experience and a 12 feet wide gate to go through you won't have any trouble

You just have first time nerves.......take it slowly and get someone to watch the rear swing of the back of the caravan.
I am sure a bigger worry will be the potential for tight situations on sites you have not been to before hmy:

 

[TonyH1]

It's ok using mobile phones so long as constant instructions are given by the spotter. If they stop, you stop.

 

[David_5127637]

I really have appreciated the replies.
I "just" drove in with my old van using the drive past then tight turn the tow car back to the gate technique without the need for "spotters". However the extra 1.6 meters is a concern as there is a grass / mud bank on the opposite side of the road and I am concerned that I will wipe the back of the caravan.
I am having a four unit set of auto engage movers fitted in a couple of days if the suspension allows as there are shock absorbers - 2012 Bessacarr (sprite) 645. Meanwhile a local farmer has given me temporary storage - nice wide gates!!!

 

[Dustydog]

Hi David

Don't forget to tell your insurers where the farmers place is . In the event of a theft Insurers can be difficult if you have changed your normal storage without telling them.

 

[limecc]

I do agree a mover is essential but don't waste your money on a four motor unit. Don't expect it to turn on a sixpence.In fact the more you can do with the towcar the better.
Parksy's car park suggestion should put you at ease

You obviously don't appreciate the difference AWD movers make. The company who fitted mine who had no axe to grind said the majority of their customers returned to get an upgrade. Mine will turn through 90 degrees in the van's own length with no shunting. Still not ideal but better than your million point turns and shoving by hand.

 

[David_5127637]

Thanks to all contributors for all there thoughts.
I have had four Powertouch Evolution movers fitted (at over £2000 - bang goes the savings!) and the result is excellent. The caravan will now move continuously in a curve and moves smoothly. Perhaps the movement is slower than I would have liked even when on maximum speed but it works well. There is little need to "shuffle" if you judge the turn correctly but whilst the van turns well it is not within its own length as one would expect with a single axle van.
I now know the bus times along our road - six a day and they only arrive when the caravan is across the road!!
We have looked at moving the gateposts but mature and preserved trees prevent this.

 

[jayw]

i have had a similar problem, a narrow gate (housing estate rules cant widen gate)...and a road sign just opposite the gate...preventing a sharp swing in. motor mover seems to be the only answer

 

[Craigyoung]

my majors 6 is just shy of 8 metres and my drive is an awkward corner angle so I need a full 360 with the caravan The movers are worth every penny .

 

[Lutz]

I was faced with a similar problem a few years ago when visiting my wife's uncle. The gate to his property was tight for my 8m caravan, even after unhitching and using the motor mover. Knowing that I could expect a problem, before I left home I made a scale plan view on paper of the street and the entrance gate and one in cardboard of the caravan to see whether I could jiggle the caravan through his gate. It told me that there would be about 5" to spare. In the end we had to remove one of the gate posts because there was a bush right behind the gate that wasn't accounted for in my model, but we got the caravan in OK in the end. It might be worth making a similar scale plan view like the one I did. You seem to have all the relevant dimensions that you would need.