Urgent Help Maneuvering!!!

[BadgerBalls]

I have just bought a 22ft ext Abbey/Swift Impression 520L 2004 and have to pick it up tomorrow. I have a drive which starts with around a 30 degree incline for about 20 feet. I have quite a lot of previous experience reversing large trailers but I cannot reverse it in as the drive is quite narrow leaving me about 6 in either side and I would be obstructing a main road on quite a dodgy bend. So I intend to pull up and unhitch swing it around and push it down the drive. Would any of you folks know if you see a problem with two large blokes being myself and my 19 year 6'4 son pushing it and using the hand brake to control it down the start of the drive. The unladen weight of the van is 1425kg.

regards

 

[DeliDave_]

you need a motormover,if not you will spend the money on repairs or will hurt someone,no offence but a ton and a half is not easy to move up or down a 30 deg slope

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

hi Greg.

sorry mate your on a loser here in order to ensure the handbrake actually works (because of the reverse overun) you would have to run the van down the slope forwards then the problem arises how to turn it round at the btm. a mover is a better option.

it can be done though with a little thought place the van on the drive at the start of the slope then reverse the car up to it and then either hang it on the back and reverse down or attach a long rope to the hitch and using the tow ball on the car as a anchor gently inch it down the drive.

I am assuming of course there is enough room otherwise how are you going to get it out again??

 

[JTQ]

30 deg is a massive one in two incline, so even without any additional load from movement you will have to hold against a force of 713kg, 1570 lb. Totally impractical both manually and also well beyond what any "mover" can hold.

The hand brake in reverse, if it sets at all, will only act on one shoe per drum. I doubt it would hold. It needs to roll back about 18" for this to set in which time the van will gain momentum making the task even more demanding.

You are into proper winching techniques.

Manhandling is far too dangerous on a 30 deg, 20 foot slope.

 

[ValA.]

My impression was that the caravan is being towed up the drive, still attached to the car, (because he mentions unhitching after he's pulled it up) and then swung around at the top with the intention of being manoeuvred into position by himself and his son. Presumably then the car will be driven back down the drive before the caravan is moved, in which case why can't the car then be re-attached to the van to pull it back down the drive until where the original poster wants it to be parked? As long as it's very well chocked up on the drive then I can't see a problem (or am I just being too 'girly')!

 

[mark10]

Colins idea is best. just lower it down the drive using a rope wrapped round the tow hitch, be carefull not to let the rope slip over the top of the ball hitch and clean the grease off it first if there is any.

peice of cake.

 

[Grahamsprite4]

not being a spoil sport but surely the safest thing to do all round is find storage somewere.

 

[JTQ]

My impression was that the caravan is being towed up the drive, still attached to the car, (because he mentions unhitching after he's pulled it up) and then swung around at the top with the intention of being manoeuvred into position by himself and his son. Presumably then the car will be driven back down the drive before the caravan is moved, in which case why can't the car then be re-attached to the van to pull it back down the drive until where the original poster wants it to be parked? As long as it's very well chocked up on the drive then I can't see a problem (or am I just being too 'girly')!

Yes you probably right he said "incline" rather than "decline".

Still as bad as it could roll back over them; its unbelievably steep.

 

[Sproket]

You could try one of these front towbars to push / hold the van ?????

 

[PhilFraeHowMill]

Can you not get your son to stop the traffic while you reverse in, 6" is about the same gap I have on my gateway and have never had a problem.

 

[forestgump]

good job the snow and ice has gone.

 

[forestgump]

when you get it into position can you get around the van to put legs down.