We were mad enough to go away on Friday for the weekend to Weston Park with our club. Hubby always does the towing, but I was surprised to see a couple of our lady members do the towing. One of them who is a tiny 5 footer, drives a 4x4, tows her caravan all the time as her hubby is now blind! I felt that I should have a go - so I drove us home. I was so nervous, but wanted to try. The narrow lanes coming out the back of the site were rather daunting, but I stayed focussed, watched the mirrors and kept calm. Luckily the on coming traffic was kind and pulled right over (they were probably more scared than I was!), but I managed all the corners and junctions fine. The A5 was a doddle - but I hadnt realised it was so hilly - you really notice it when you are towing dont you?
Anyway - I did it - I didnt hit anybody, didnt crash the van, and most of all Hubby said I did fine! I would like to apologise to anyone who was on the A5 yesterday if you were stuck behind me, as I was tootling along. And thanks to you, if you were, for not getting cross with me!
Like most things, once you have a go, it's not as bad as you think so I will now keep up the towing, as I guess in an emergency, I may well have to take over the controls and at least I will be able to do a safe and steady job!
Congratulations like all things the first time is the worst, i always tow our caravan as my husband passed his test after the changes to what you are aloud to tow. We were away with friends one weekend when he took bad his wife had never towed and didnt have the confidence to do it. In the end her husband said he would takeit easy. He was rushed into hospital that night. This event highlighted to us how important it is to have the option of a stand in just incase.
Good for you, my OH will be excited to see another lady tower, she is 4'10, 23 Years old and drives a 4x4 and does all the towing in our house and is never happier than when she is behind the wheel, I have only ever towed our new van about 20ft in a straight line on a campsite! And I am a firm believer that you women are better at towing than us blokes! I used to tow our little lightweight freedom van about 5 years ago occasionally when we first had a van but I lost my nerve after so many rows with OH, (She's not a good passenger!)
Keep going, you may end up taking over like she did!
------------- Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Well done Nicky. I have given it a short go but have not had the confidence to tow far. I have not managed to be able to see really well behind me with the mirrors. I need to find a site where I can get the van really straight then try and set the mirrors so see if I can see behind. Last time I tried towing the rain was heavy and I ended up knowing someone was up the ar*se of the van but I could not see them, it just made me rather nervous on the roundabouts when I had no idea where they were, but I will give it another try, because as you say you never know when you might need to. I guess it may come down to having to try some different mirrors. Do you think it might be easier to start on a big A road or a motorway, which is at least straight ish?
We do have the clip on mirrors and I had them so that I could see the top half of the caravan each side - this let me see what traffic was behind me, or trying to pass. the car mirrors were angled so that I could see the bottom half of the caravan and the white lines on the road! I found it best to stay with the outside of the caravan as close to the white line as sensible, without straying over, so that the inside of the caravan wasnt scuffing the curb. I dont know if this is right, but it felt comfortable and gave me room for cornering etc. Nobody had to swerve to avoid me coming towards them - so it must have been alright and hubby said road position was fine.
As for which road is best, I guess in an ideal world, a quietish road with long sweeping corners would be great, but I found that so long as I didnt rush or panic, the roundabouts were fine, cornering was ok and the other traffic kept out of the way, apart from one white van which was invisible some of the time he was so close! I think the biggest thing is lane control on roundabouts - if you maintain the correct line it works out fine! Easier said than done though. I must admit that I didnt do much reversing, other than onto our pitch back at home/storage. It was ok, you just go the opposite way to what you want to go - crazy but it works!
I did take my IAM test last year and that has given me the confidence to have a go at towing. Do give the towing another go, I think it is probably easier than it looks in some respects. Let me know how you get on!
Congratulations Nicky. Now you can join our elite group of "Ladies who tow" Theres more about than you think. I am 71 drive a 4x4 and do all the towing.
Haven't been out yet this year (Still need to get a towbar on the Kia) but after my thread about ladies towinw some time ago I am determined that this sason I will. Congratulations Nicky I hope to be joing the ranks soon.
------------- Don't know where I'm going but will be happy when I get there.
Quote: Originally posted by Belinda H on 25/3/2008
I take my hat off to all of you lady towers out there - I really ought to have a go at it perhaps i will tow us next time we go out with the van
Come on Belinda Lets make it another two Ladies who tow
------------- Don't know where I'm going but will be happy when I get there.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Lost my towing virginity!!
