Your total honesty please?!

[gary]

Right got your attention, don't often start a thread but this is a quick poll.

How many of you kerb your vans tyres while towing and how often?
I'm not talking a gentle rub up against a kerb but a good thwack, enough to cause you concern that damage may have been done
No long answers please, just, a couple of times, once a year, never, did till I got used to it, etc

and how long have you been towing

Also as this has come up elsewhere, anyone seen anyone else do it? particularly if they did not seem aware or perhaps even care!

 

[LMH]

Hi

I've been towing for seven years. I kerbed the tyre when taking a left turn half a mile from home. Burst the tyre. I blame myself for:

*Not thoroughly checking the state of the tyres in the first place
*I just didn't get in the right position to take the turn.

It was the second time out practising. The first time a very experienced tower accompanied me and the second time, I just drove around the local area by myself.

Lisa

 

[Wendy-Norfolk]

Yes, we kerbed ours in a fuel station at Scotch Corner shortly after we purchased it new - I was livid!!
Fortunately there was no major damage, but the alloy was slightly scuffed.
We've been towing for about 30 years, I can't remember any other incident - maybe it wasn't such a major issue, cos the the 'van would have been pre-owned!!

 

[wobbleboxer]

Never curbed a caravan wheel, been towing for about 20 years, when i put extended mirrors on i always set n/s car mirror looking down so i can see van wheels.

 

[Parksy]

Not yet but as an ex hgv 1 driver I was trained to look at the position of the trailer wheels in the rear view door mirror on the side that I was turning and the habit has stayed with me.

 

[Brum1]

That's the worse bit of towing during darkness, you cannot see the wheels in mirrors.

 

[JD6620]

Never yet kerbed the caravan tyre. Been towing a caravan for the past 10 years, but have been towing large agricultural equipment and trailers for the last 27 years.
As for seeing other people do it, we used to be on the CC volunteering scheme at a site in Norfolk. The arrivals lane goes around a corner with quite a steep kerb. We used to see vans bumped up the kerb on a regular basis. Fortunately it was at low speed, but even so I dont think I would want my van doing that.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

I've never done it yet but that doesn't mean to say I never will.
Once when leaving Cirencester Park someone in front of us did it and we even heard the crash of what sounded like something falling inside the van. Whatever it was it was heavy, microwave size. I did feel sorry for him because it must have done some damage :O(

 

[Dustydog]

Not yet and I don't want to start. Tyres and alloy wheels look expensive.

 

[Gafferbill]

...................I don't Believeeeeve it.

Well that is Victor's view ...... as for myself, I have done it a few times to the accompaniment of much swearing!

 

[readcaravans]

seen it numerous times and in extreme cases can crease the caravan side panels and split furniture and even cause major damage to the axle

 

[WatsonJohnG]

I did it a few years ago at the start of a return journey from Spain when taking avoiding action
It was the offside wheel and had to be changed for the steel spare
It was a scorching hot day and that was the last time I used an Alko jack!!

 

[Surrey_Chris]

Been caravaning for 7 years and done it once. Did however come within 3 inches of taking the side off against another van in services on the M5!

 

[Royston]

Like wobbleboxer, I use the car mirrors set so that i can watch the caravan wheels when manovering around sharp bends ie curb and traffic islands, got one ace up my sleeve still use steel wheels.
Royston

 

[WatsonJohnG]

No doubt fitted with rubber tyres unless there's an ace up the other sleeve

 

[Steve L]

In 28 years of towing I've not done it yet!! But there is always a first time for anything.
I too am an ex-HGV1 driver and I use my car mirrors to view the tyres on my van which has prooved useful especially when a tyre deflated on our twin axle van as I couldn't feel the flat tyre, but I could see the smoke before fire erupted. My 1982 Link 575 had self compensating axles simlar to a 6/8 legger lorry.
One cheeky thing I've done to my van is to fit custom valve caps that flash when the wheels turn. you can't see it in daylight but at night you can see the wheels rolling.

Atb Steve L.

 

[Royston]

No doubt fitted with rubber tyres unless there's an ace up the other sleeve
[Actually i have had a brand new set of rubber tyres fitted recently manufactured June this year. Royston]

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Keep away from the kerb then
Best wishes

 

[JohnnyV]

Not done it yet - where is some wood to touch !!!!
Have scratched n/s window on a bush though (when I took a corner on site too sharply) - felt stupid and cross at the same time.
I find my N/S door mirror best for watching the wheels whilst the towing mirror shows a wider picture.
Jon

 

[GraShe]

Never. Have been towing caravans for approx 36 years

 

[Allen774]

Luckily I never have,and have been towing over 30 years and I hate to think of the cost of replacing an alloy wheel plus the tyre.

 

[weejock]

Did it myself for the first time this year aproaching the gate barrier on a continental site.
I was being so careful to miss my mirror from hitting the post where you insert your card and it being on the passenger side I was so pleased when my wife never even had to lean out of the car to insert the card.
Promptly drove off and felt the van lurching sideways. Only damage was to my pride and a gentle scuffing of the sidewall where it had hit the kerb.

 

[johno1]

I did it once about four years ago on the way to Scarborough, pulled into a petrol station and just caught the nearside tyre on the kerb and a few miles up the road I noticed a vibration and when I checked things out the van tyre was as straight as a dogs hind leg

 

[lindachef]

both myself and my husband have done it. My husband did it after picking up our brand new van - on the journey home! had to have a new tyre. Then I did it when I was taking brand new van back to dealers to have the snagging faults corrected. Luckily my driving error didn't need a new tyre.......although still haven't confessed to hubby that I'd done it - on the corner leaving our estate!