Arrived at Chester Fair Oaks at midday on Saturday weather was gorgeous. Drove around the site to look for a suitable spot. Reversed on to pitch first time perfect pulled forward a little because its hard sometimes to get van off hitch if piston is fully back. I was feeling very cocky as everything is going perfect. Got out the car put the caravan brake on. Pulled out the plugs and breakaway cable wound the jockey wheel down, as the hitch released from the ball the car started rolling forward and was heading for the opposite persons van. Id forgot to put the handbrake on, I managed to dive in to the car and stop it just in time. WHAT A WHALLY. I consider myself quite an experienced caravanner it just goes to show a lapse of concentration can lead to tears.
------------- A barman is just a pharmacist
with a limited inventory
A delivery driver did the same up our road a couple of years ago, his car rolled down the road and onto our drive. It turned my Polo onto it's side and wrote it off My car ended up virtually inches from the wall of our house so could have been worse.
Glad it ended well for you
------------- Are you sure you've read the instructions?
Easily done. We all need to be careful in such circumstances that a potential disaster doesn't turn worse by being run over by our own car. Diving in is the first reaction. Not always the best.
Hi, Very lucky there, Bet you will not forget the car hand brake in future.
My son did same years ago with my Nissan Bluebird, he had put the hand brake on, just gripping wheels, my driveway is on a slope out to the road, car sat in drive for about 20min then started to roll down driveway and across the road, luckily no one or no cars passed at the time, no damage done, the little grip on hand brake brought car to a halt going into the neighbours driveway.The air was the same colour as car.
Glad all was ok for you.
------------- If everything runs smoothly then I must have done something wrong
If in Doubt Check it Out.
Sorry to here about your little mishap but no harm done by the sound of it apart from your pride but just remember half the people on this forum have made a similar mistake including myself and I'm a class one hgv driver.Ian
My hubby's error wasnt exactly dangerous just a silly error. He always puts his window down to reverse the car onto the pitch. Three days later after one of our worse nights in the van due to heavy rain and winds, I was confused as I looked out of the kitchen window to see leaves on the drivers seat. Couldnt work out how they had got there as we hadnt had the car door open for any to blow in. The window had been fully open all the time we were at the site. Had to sit on towels to drive home. I bet you all know what the first question is now when he has parked the car - "Is your window up".
I have done the same but mine was an HGV vehicle and it rolled down a slope into the side of a 55 seater coach. Luckily no one was on board. Both vehicles owned by the Army,so I got a hefty fine and a slapped wrist
I also owned a Citroen Xantia which had an inherent hand brake fault. We had been shopping, came home parked the car on the top of our steep drive. A couple of mins later we had a knock on the door. It was a neighbour to tell us the car was half way down the close, luckily it had come to rest against the kerb The fault was eventually fixed by Citroen with a modification
------------- Nothing nada zilch no camping this year boohoo
I've done the opposite when I first started caravanning, left the caravan handbrake off when unhitching. The ground appeared level, but as soon as the hitch was lifted, the van started to roll back & was near something behind, managed to pull the brake on in time. It did teach me to take my time & double check everything.
Quote: Originally posted by Chalkie56 on 04/10/2011
Arrived at Chester Fair Oaks at midday on Saturday weather was gorgeous. Drove around the site to look for a suitable spot. Reversed on to pitch first time perfect pulled forward a little because its hard sometimes to get van off hitch if piston is fully back. I was feeling very cocky as everything is going perfect. Got out the car put the caravan brake on. Pulled out the plugs and breakaway cable wound the jockey wheel down, as the hitch released from the ball the car started rolling forward and was heading for the opposite persons van. Id forgot to put the handbrake on, I managed to dive in to the car and stop it just in time. WHAT A WHALLY. I consider myself quite an experienced caravanner it just goes to show a lapse of concentration can lead to tears.
why worry, it didn't hit owt, no got hurt, you feel a pratt, next year you'll be telling the story and laughing about it, jeez your only human like the rest of us, we all make the odd mistake or two ,most of us live to tell the tale and laugh about it,.
------------- no tin tent outings booked as yet ,just another cruise in Sept' booked so far
Had a similar lapse of attention when hitching up to fetch van home, done my usual routine walk round van to check windows, door, skylights, wife checked lights/indicators working and off we go.
Travelled 80 miles over Borders/Northumberland hills on what was quite a windy day.
Finally arrived back at storage depot, owner looks at van and remarks " you've been lucky " i looked to where he was pointing to see i had not secured the hitch when attaching to the towball, luckily there must have been enough pressure applied when i lowered the van down to keep the hitch secure.
To say i was in shock is an understatement, i felt physically sick at the thought of what might have been.
Just shows, years of careful/methodical routine procedure could all be undone by one mistake.
------------- "cos i'm as free as a bird"
ronnie van zant
15-01-48 - 20-10-77
rip
Quote: Originally posted by adandemsmom on 04/10/2011
Oh dear!
A delivery driver did the same up our road a couple of years ago, his car rolled down the road and onto our drive. It turned my Polo onto it's side and wrote it off My car ended up virtually inches from the wall of our house so could have been worse.
Glad it ended well for you
That reminds me of a photo I once saw of a local road during the Blitz. A small car had been close to where a high explosive bomb had landed. The bomb cratered the road and flipped the car onto its roof and into the front garden of the house. Seeing as this was a terrace this meant it nearly went through the front wall/door!
Totally unrelated I know, but I found it a fascinating pic.
No doubt someone will say it is wrong , but by habit when I park, besides hand-brake on, I leave it in gear (1st or reverse), and (if on a hill) front wheels turned in appropriate direction...
Gram
------------- What's the difference between a chicken?
The advantage of an auto is you can't remove my key unless its in park!
Have done the window thing mentioned above though and came out to find duck swimming around the next morning on driver seat (well not quite but you get the idea!)
When I had manuals I always left it in first gear aswell
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: Stupid Mistake could lead to tears
My car ended up virtually inches from the wall of our house so could have been worse.
, Bet you will not forget the car hand brake in future.
, but by habit when I park, besides hand-brake on, I leave it in gear (1st or reverse), and (if on a hill) front wheels turned in appropriate direction... 
