Are there any other wives out there who get nervous on the motorways when husbands towing? I hate the way the big lorries suck the van in and cause it to sway. I'm driving my husband mad and it's ruining our journeys. I'm a nervous wreck until we get back on the B roads. We tow a large twin axle, which I'm scared to tow, other vans I've been fine with. Someone reassure me!!
Think we've all been guilty of secretly doing that seat gripping moment, (hands under thighs trying to look calm, but gripping edge of seat), at some time(s).
Especially when those h-u-g-e lorries with the soft sides go whizzing past, coz we do all stick to the 60mph allowed for towing don't we???
Also hate it when, on those occasions where you've got Sunday drivers in the inside lane, going at 30mph on a motorway and you decide to overtake, only to have 'em speed up to bl**dy 60 or 70 just as you're level with 'em!!!
Hate to say this but, other towers can also be guilty of this, which at times can force the driver attempting the overtake with their tin tent or trailer, to either have to briefly put their foot down or just fall back in behind. Now personally, I would always go for the 'fall back' option, mumbling at the idiot who caused the manouvre, but hubby's a different matter! Must be a macho thingy.
If only my hubby would let me do some of the towing......as seen from many previous posts of mine on this subject - this just aint gonna happen any time soon!
So, fear not...you're not alone, but we just don't let the fear show And the ultimate result of this towing malarky, (being able to live in your tin tent in the fresh air and away from the same four walls of home), is so-o-o-o-o-o-o worth it!
Relaxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Only 8 weeks to Heligan Woods and counting...every bl**dy one of 'em
Thanks for that Hippy Chick. I love caravanning with the family and hate to spoil the journey. Yov've described this exactly, sitting on hands and sharp in-takes of breath. At least I know now I'm not the only one. We are going to Ayr in a few weeks from St Andrews, there's a bit of motorway but I'll take the rescue remedy and keep my mouth shut!!
That's the spirit...or at least the Rescue Remedy is Have a great time...jammy beggar
Oh, and we both forgot to mention us having our own set of brakes on the passenger side, didn't we?And that if we lean to one side, it magically brings the car and tin tent our way and back into the inside lane?
Im like that everytime hubby drives ! cant stand his driving ,how he does it for a living I have no idea ! ( he is one of those truck drivers ploughing past ) he says its cos ive past my test now and most drivers dont like been passengers . Anyway he reckons the bigger the caravan the easier to tow ( we used to caravan and upgraded to a tent now ! )apparently the same goes for trailers ,something to do with been able to see it and its predicted movements ect ,so if you have towed the smaller ones this one should be a doddle ( according to him )
When we first started towing the enemy (wife & kids) were exactly the same, I found that when doing 60mph the steering wheel would tend to twitch now and then, this would put the frighteners on them, yet when I drove at 55mph this twitching along with their nerves would cease. To reassure them I now stay at 55mph but also slow down when being overtaken by the huge artics (HGV's) and this helps to reduce the buffeting affect caused by the trapped air pockets.
Not all men have this 'Macho thingy' some of us are still courtious and thoughtful of other people and others like me, just do as their told,
best regards, Martin
------------- " Oh! but for the grace of God go I "
Thanks Skatty, I love driving but have not had the confidence to tow this van, I sometimes think it would be better if I towed as I would be in control, I'm a control freak at heart
If you are nerous about travelling on the motorway get shock absorbers fitted. Makes a big difference and you don't get that sucked in feeling everytime you pass or are passed by a big lorry. Others that have had shock absorbers fitted will tell you the same.
far easier with a large van on the back.you should have no worries with a twin axle as they are allegedly more stable.
we used to have a small trailer & could i hell reverse it properly, by the time i could see the back of it it had jack knifed. stick a 17 ft van on though & its a doddle to reverse. weird eh ?
My hubby is really a good driver and courteous. He rerverses our 24 ft van up our drive 1st time every time but it's just me and the motorways, but you have all reassured me that I'm the problem. I shall try to stop the worrying and enjoy the journey, after all, once I'm there I absolutely love the life, and I pity those who think we are freaks, travelling the countryside dragging "sheds" as my friends and collegues say!!
I agree with Martin - not all men need the macho thing when driving.
In my case I get plenty of that sort of driving at work anyway so can't wait to get back in the car (preferably with the 'van on the back) and take it a bit easier!
Jon
------------- As every ambulance man knows, the actiavation 'phone is wired directly to the kettle
i was like this when we had our mondea and single axle and haetd hubby driving on the motorways because the van used to get sucked into lorries as they passed. but in jan this year we brought our new 06 26ft twin axle van and a land rover discovery and now i tow it and its so simple and very stable van to tow.
hubby just sits back and lets me do it now and its not as frightening on motorways either and i can also reverse it onto the pitch with no problems
i would start towing the van to get used to it and you will find in time thats it a enjoyable experience.
Have to say I do all the towing as the OH has MS but he does sit there twitching and jumping which in turn makes me jump, when he starts telling me to do this and do that the air turns BLUE, I must admit we have found the Astra estate to be very sluggish up hills which is worrying so we intend to change it asap.
thankyou Nicholls. i love towing the van now and always prefer to do it so leave hubby out a little bit. he has only towed it once and that was from Birmingham upto carlisle.
hope you get on ok with towing it and you will soon find you will like it. if you need anymore experience then i wold recommend a caravan course from the caravan club.
Hi all, I only worry when towing when it goes quiet in the back, Either the kids have fell out of the door, the dog's ate them or the extra dose of sedative that stops them fighting has kicked in... the actual towing bit can be twitchy and bouncy, steady but sure always gets you there in the end with no problems...the worries lessen after a few outings
------------- Doing as little as possible for as much as possible...
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Topic: Towing large caravan
Must be a macho thingy.
......as seen from many previous posts of mine on this subject - this just aint gonna happen any time soon!
And the ultimate result of this towing malarky, (being able to live in your tin tent in the fresh air and away from the same four walls of home), is so-o-o-o-o-o-o worth it!
Relaxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
( he is one of those truck drivers ploughing past )
