I am new to caravanning and could do with some advice. Towing I have found much easier than I originally thought but I am having problems with the reversing. I am getting better at steering the caravan in to the correct direction (although was a nightmare to start with). I am having problems when reversing slightly up hill when I first did this I burnt the clutch out on the car and had to have the clutch replaced, although I am sure that it was probably on its way out as had approached 60,000 miles. The second time I had to reverse up a slight hill was at a campsite last weekend and the clutch started to burn again, and the car seemed to struggle. I have read that this could be the brakes on the caravan but as I am new to this I am not sure whether this is the case or whether it is always a struggle reversing up a slight slope.
Note: The Campsite Manager mentioned that Volkswagen clutches can be a problem
Just to let you know I have a Bailey Ranger 470/4 2007 (Pretty light weight)
Volkswagen Jetta 1.9tdi Manual 2007
Alko Hitch Lock
I am after some advice really about what I should do when reversing, i.e undo hitch lock and any tips to save my clutch. Although its a company car, I don't really want to keep replacing the clutch.
Also to note, I can't afford a motor mover at present.
Remember the brakes on the caravan normally come on when the car brakes (when going forward) and the caravan tries to catch up.
When reversing, the caravan tends to think it's catching up, and the brakes can come on.
So before you start reversing just pull forward a few inches (gently) and reverse gently. This method reduces or eliminates the tendency for the brakes to be applied.
Yea, Caravan has only just been serviced and has had very little use if any prior to my purchase. It is hard to judge it it is something I am doing wrong or if it is the brakes that are on, with being new to this.
What I have learned to do is keep my foot off the accellorator and just use the clutch when reversing. Doing this I don`t get the clutch burn smell. Mind I don`t know if I would need the accellorator on a steepish incline.
Could be going wrong with not taking the foot off the accelerator as I do tend to be heavy footed when it comes to this. I would have thought the engine would have stalled though not giving enough revs, but perhaps its just a bad habit I have.
We went to a site last year and tried to reverse up to a fairly steep pitch with our ford mondeo. The smoke came thick and fast from the clutch so gave up and pushed (with help) instead. You could still smell the clutch a week later! So much so we were concerned about getting home. Went back down last month to the same site and had the exact same pitch. This time in a Landrover Discovery, and a different caravan (just serviced). When attempting to reverse on to the pitch it was as if the caravan was just locking up, the clutch wasn't slipping but the car was just stalling as the caravan wasn't moving. Again gave up and pitched the caravan accross the pitch instead (was able to drive on as no-one had occupied the next pitch yet). My conclusions were that the 340 mile drive had overheated either the clutch or the caravan brakes. However I am just not going to bother reversing up a hill again. Must say though we had an automatic Shogun at one time and that reversed up slopes no problem.
------------- Mar 09 - Delamere
Apr 09 - Coddington
May 09 - Selby
Whit 09 - St Austell
June 09 - Way too busy :-(
July 09 - Moving house :-)
Aug 09 - Holywell Bay
Sept 09 - ?
Oct 09 - Turkey - Vanless!
Try keeping your foot either full down or completely off the clutch, rather than holding it at the biting point - up & down, up & down, up & down, as needed.
------------- Caz
If you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, just keep going till you go round the bend.
That's also a good point as i do tend to hold the clutch at biting point when reversing. I think is because I presumed that the car would stall. I am going to have a practice at the weekend. Nice to hear others have experienced similar problems.
brakes on a van are suppose to disengage when the wheels turn backwards when the hitch is compressed unless the hand brake is on full and when its not compressed no brakes at all. when I res the folding camper on to my drive it was up hill and if i roll forward a tiny tiny bit and tried to res again they brakes would not disengage so had to pull forward alot.
Quote: Originally posted by daveyboy1a on 09/6/2009
That's also a good point as i do tend to hold the clutch at biting point when reversing. I think is because I presumed that the car would stall. I am going to have a practice at the weekend. Nice to hear others have experienced similar problems.
No the car shouldn`t stall. I used to do the same as you put too much revs on the accelarotor and get that clutch burning smell. I did a course to pass the B+E test and this is how they taught me to reverse. It keeps you at a nice slow speed and you have a lot more control over the caravan when reversing.
The problem is that reverse gear in modern cars is higher than 1st gear, so its almost like trying to move slowly in 2nd gear, lots of clutch slip and lots of smell !! Try to keep the revs as low as possible and try to drive up the pitch and tum instead of reversing, if at all possible.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Reversing
