Quote: Originally posted by babygoo on 09/9/2011
We were thinking about buying a caravan but we're anxious about towing. This thread has made us worse!!! Does anyone know where we can get lessons in Scotlandshire?
Please dont let a few posts on here put you off!
Thats the thing about forum's. Alot of the time it will be made up of subjects like problems, bad experiances, gripes, people wanting advise etc etc. You'l see far more threads about problems and folk wanting advise than you will about people saying what a fantastic time they had towing their first van, its just the nature of the beast! Ive just been talking to a guy of 79 years old who has just completed a 500 mile towing jounrney across Spain followed by another 24 hour trip on a Brittany ferry to Plymouth with a single axle, 7 metre van without incident!! He's staying here for 4 weeks to sell his van and buy a motorhome before driving back to the south east of Spain. Its really not that bad, honest!
To set right another myth from rustyncrusty's post - in my experience, when overtaking an HGV while towing, I find almost every HGV driver will pull to the left of their lane to minimise the effects of wind disturbance. They are trained to a much higher level than someone with a car licence (particularly a pre B+E test towing licence).
Quote: Originally posted by Andy R on 12/9/2011
To set right another myth from rustyncrusty's post - in my experience, when overtaking an HGV while towing, I find almost every HGV driver will pull to the left of their lane to minimise the effects of wind disturbance. They are trained to a much higher level than someone with a car licence (particularly a pre B+E test towing licence).
I can't believe this is still ongoing! I probably didn't explain myself very well originally. All I am saying is that WHEN and not before it is safe for me to take lane 1 I will do so, but I am not prepared to dive into that lane into a small gap where I will have to slow to say 55 while many hgv's pass and then I want to come back out. If I am doing 60 (or a little over) I don't expect and shouldn't have an hgv behind me giving me headlights when there is nowhere for me to go. As with the assumptions about me I imagine Andy you think I only have a car licence? I am retired now but had a licence for hgv and pcv, I drove these vehicles all over Britain and Europe. I also worked as a professional chauffeur in London and drove junior members of the royal family which entailed taking an advanced driving test ( and vetting) So they are my qualifications apart from the I.A.M. membership. I had the misfortune to stop at a truckers cafe a couple of weeks ago and over breakfast they were rather loud. Their ( the hgv drivers) conversation was about how they had been in a road rage sitution and how they had "sorted out" the offending car driver giving him the fright of his life. This story was might with much grunting of approval and guffawing from the others and then another would tell his tale. I had to get out. So my experience for some reason has been a little different from almost everyone on here. I give these guys a wide berth shall carry on doing so. Every major motorway pile up these days contains HGV's and I dont why that should be from people who as you rightly say have had a much more difficult test than Joe Public. And Yes I flash them in after overtaking and thank them for the same courtesy to me, but this doesn't mitigate their behaviour when it is bad. I can't believe what I originally said about hgv's 6 feet apart at 60 m.p.h. hasn't been seen by you well travelled caravanners!
With due respect to Rusty, i've re-read his original post, and in view of his comment above: I drive like him.
If it suits me, I'll stay in the middle lane rather than trying to work in and out of the inside lane, in heavy traffic.
Anyone on here who says they do different is trying to fool us, or themselves.
Thats not to say that when its safe and clear to do so, I resume the inside lane, and ALWAYS ensure I am not impeding the passage of others...unless they weight 38tons and driving on my tail, in which case they may get impeded until, like Rusty, I can boot it an leave 'em standing.
With due respect to Rusty, i've re-read his original post, and in view of his comment above: I drive like him.
If it suits me, I'll stay in the middle lane rather than trying to work in and out of the inside lane, in heavy traffic.
Anyone on here who says they do different is trying to fool us, or themselves.
Thats not to say that when its safe and clear to do so, I resume the inside lane, and ALWAYS ensure I am not impeding the passage of others...unless they weight 38tons and driving on my tail, in which case they may get impeded until, like Rusty, I can boot it an leave 'em standing.
Anger management? You just read the bible on it.
Thank you Strax, heartwarming it was to find out at least one person understands what I am on about! I do have some sympathy (believe it or not) with hgv drivers who come across people in lane 2 at 50 m.p.h. We saw it the other day when an old boy was poodling along with quite a croc of trucks behind him and the nearside lane was clear for a great distance. This should (or could) come under "Driving without reasonable consideration for other road users." There seem to be too many rules and regs that have no force in law, such as advisory 50 limit signs which no one pays any heed to and "keep apart 2 chevrons" another joke to name only 2 of my favourites!.
Quote: Originally posted by camping100 on 15/9/2011
Have now completed two motorway journeys with no.issues and Ican still get 55 mpg out of my car
Well done to you and let me wish you many years of little hols with your 'van. you need to keep on here some people are very knowledgeable especially in repairs and there can be one or two interesting debates (sometimes) The camp site reviews are the most useful IMVHO.
Quote: Originally posted by jaysere03 on 31/8/2011
on joining the motorway i try to maintain a speed of around 56mph,traveling at that speed agrees with my fuel tank and ive done the tests and makes a worthy saving.I stay in the "slow" lane and find me a nice hgv that is also traveling at around 56mph I sit behind that hgv for as long as possible leaving a good gap for 1.breaking (as i carnt see the traffic in front) 2. other passing vehicles to pull in that wish to over take me. 3. it gives me enough room to speed up by 4mph to overtake the hgv if he carnt pull up a long incline.
now when hgvs overtake me i tend to slightly slow a little and flash them in front of me,
This is how I tow also.
It's a lot less stressful than doing 60mph and forever overtaking HGVs.
It may take a little longer but I'll be more relaxed when I get were I'm going.
Driving without the caravan I'm a bit of a cheeky boy though.
glad it's going ok for you but i hope you don't end up a middle lane hog, no wonder caravanners get so slated by the press, overtake and pull in. Another thing to add to the many good bits of advice here is when overtaking a high-sided vehicle, just as you're getting the caravan to overtake accelerate a little, it pulls the rig taught and makes it more stable, if necessry, slow down a bit before overtaking.
Quote: Originally posted by rustyncrusty on 13/9/2011
Quote: Originally posted by strax on 13/9/2011
With due respect to Rusty, i've re-read his original post, and in view of his comment above: I drive like him.
If it suits me, I'll stay in the middle lane rather than trying to work in and out of the inside lane, in heavy traffic.
Anyone on here who says they do different is trying to fool us, or themselves.
Thats not to say that when its safe and clear to do so, I resume the inside lane, and ALWAYS ensure I am not impeding the passage of others...unless they weight 38tons and driving on my tail, in which case they may get impeded until, like Rusty, I can boot it an leave 'em standing.
Anger management? You just read the bible on it.
I do have some sympathy (believe it or not) with hgv drivers who come across people in lane 2 at 50 m.p.h. We saw it the other day when an old boy was poodling along with quite a croc of trucks behind him and the nearside lane was clear for a great distance.
Its also people that have to do about 54-55 mph in lane 1. Please can you do 50 or 60!!
Those few tiny differances may be of no consequence to you in a car but it can be a nitemare when driving a truck!!
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Topic: 1st long motorway journey
