Hello all, Well I have finally given in to the pressures of the wife and kids.
I have always, always said that I would never tow a caravan. We have just done the last 8 years with a Pennine Pathfinder folding camper so I was about half way there.
Anyway after lots of looking around, research and loads of confusion over weights etc that suit our car, I have finally purchased a Lunar Venus 500/4. I have done the 49 mile trip home with it this weekend and felt so concerned having 23 foot behind me especially getting it out of the village where the seller lived but anyway, even with white knuckles we made it home and into the storage compound. My wife has already booked our site for next weekend.
Any advice that anybody can give regarding the worry of towing this size, pitching or caravanning in general would be really appreciated.
Thanks in advance, John
Hi John, we moved up from a Conway Crusader FC to a tin-tent as well. I will say that it does get easier as you get more practice in. My biggest problem was reversing so I booked a one-day towing course with the Caravan Club, money well spent I think.
Probably the best advice is to take your time and try to stay on wider 'A' roads and motorways for as much of the journey as possible even if it is a little longer route until you feel a bit more confident, it will come gradually. Folk are only too willing to help out when pitching, or fitting awnings because we were all newbies once.
Dave
------------- Never argue with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you on experience.
Mark Twain.
Hi John,The only advice i would give you is,give yourself plenty of time for braking also,watch your speed on narrow roads as you might find yourself being pushed round a bend..hope you enjoy your van.
We have done exactly the same - Pennine Pathfinder to caravan. We wish we had done it years ago.
We have just come back from our third weekend away. My advice would be make lists and take your time checking everything when you set off. It is definitely getting easier.
Good Luck.
I am a newbie too, did my first run with a 27ft unit, it was sweaty palms for a the first trip but after that it was easy, I say easy, im not conceited enough to assume I am good by any reach of imagination, I have used an empty car park and practiced reversing it does seem to me the slower you go the better it is, speed in reverse is not an option and don't let anyone waiting pressure you if you are slow, I mean in a narrow road head to head situation, there are some good videos on you tube that explain the technics too, also don't use sat navs unless its custom for caravans or trucks, research you journey and use google maps on road view for any tricky bits, that I found a god send.
When you are starting off is the hitch definitely snug on the towball, have you taken the hand brake off, wound up the jockey wheel, are the legs wound up, connected the electrics and do they all work ? Might sound daft but in the early days it is easy to forget one of these. Yes I did pull away thinking the hitch sat snugly on the tow ball ... but it wasn't !! Most last minute things get chucked in the front locker so don't forget to lock it. Have a checklist for what you take away with you, something we still do after 23 years, nothing like getting plotted up and finding there's no milk for the cup of Rosie.
Driving wise just remember that if you don't do something daft, the caravan will follow you. As already advised by others, do take your time that's the vital bit. Make sure you dictate to the caravan and not the other way i.e. use your gears and braking to slow it down. On winding or bendy roads remember to tuck into the nearside for a right hand bend and be more inclined to the centre of the road for a left hander. Exaggerate your turns or manoeuvres, that way you will almost certainly miss clipping anything. If you get stressed by the queue building up behind you, pull into a layby and let them pass, most will thank you. As for reversing, it is an art and you probably won't conquer it immediately, very few do but it will come, but do take every movement slowly to allow correction. Wherever way you want the van to go, steer the opposite and then follow it.
Have a spirit level or similar to assist you setting the caravan up on site and some shorts planks to assist the levelling process. When it comes to awnings and the inevitable struggle, don't be afraid to accept or ask for help. We've all been there, all done it so don't get too proud to ask.
One piece of advice I would give is to prepare for the idiot who insists on joining the main carriageway, be it dual, single or motorway, who is determined to get out in front of "that bloody caravan", and cause you to brake or change lanes rapidly.
------------- Some days you are the dog,
some days you are the tree.
There is a little pressure on you, when first caravanning. Enjoy your caravan, but have a little think in advance of what you want to achieve, before bowling in head first. Good luck John.
I would second the advice on doing a course run by one of the clubs...C&CC and CC run them for a reasonable price. They also advise on loading and setting up the van. Well worth the money and a boost to the confidence for the beginner!
Thank you all for this advice so far, it is really appreciated. Some good stuff there. I have now given my wife a gift idea for me, the manouvering course
First weekend booked out, this coming weekend but I know this site well so the route should be ok only three short B roads to manage.
Thanks again, keep it coming.
Most folk on here, me included, have done something daft that we wished we hadn't when we first started out, mainly coz there was so much to remember. The check-list is a great idea, even a mental one to get all those little tasks done before you set off. Try not to rush, that's when something gets missed.
The caravan isn't that much wider that the Pennine FC but a lot longer, the van wheels tend to follow your towing vehicle's rear wheel tracks so that may help with judging your turns and keep you off the kerbs at tight corners. Enjoy your caravanning.
------------- Never argue with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you on experience.
Mark Twain.
Well folks, the first trip out was great. Even reversed into our pitch first time so no entertainment for the onlookers. It was pouring with rain, so how much easier it was than the folding camper just to drop the steadies and get inside for cover until the rain went off a bit.
Anyway, all seemed to be working well in the new van. Tried the awning, easy going up so no problem. Tried the porch awning that had no instructions etc and that was a nightmare. The manufacturer have now sent me a set of instructions and it would appear that I did have it set up correctly but I think maybe that this awning does not fit this van as it was way too low at the front.
Coming home was a good trip, did feel the wind buffer from a double decker coach as it sped past us. Not out this weekend so my job is to go and wash all the flies and bugs etc off the front of the van. Will be away for the half term though. Thanks again for all the advice.
a porch awning doesn't follow the channel al the way around it only attaches by the top edge, have you got a pic of what you did? or even what make and model of porch it is? perhaps we can point where you went wrong?
Thanks Kazo2014. It is a Quest Base Camp Romany Elite Porch Awning. Looking at the instructions I have set it up correctly but it just seemed too low at the front. Quite a bit of the front panel along with the mud flap was on the floor with the legs fully extended. If we lifted the front legs to a height that seemed correct, it pulled the back edge away from the van.
Another newbie here taking careful note of all the advice here, thank you! We're moving up from tents. We very seriously considered a fc and came close to buying one, but ultimately decided it was a 'van we really wanted so have put down a deposit. We pick ours up on the 30th - can't wait but nervous at the same time!
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Topic: Hello from newbie any advice appreciated
