We were going to Retrofest this weekend and taking the caravan. We have just changed the car and had it fitted with a new towbar which had an alko towball for the alko hitch and were excited about the prospect of a fun weekend with our friends. We hooked up the caravan, checked the alko hitch was on ok and checked the lights, all the usual stuff and headed off. We clipped the kerb manouvering around a neighbours car and heard a bang. My husband braked and stopped and the caravan overtook us, hit a kerb and proceeded down a steep hill. The brakeaway cable didnt make it stop, only a lamp post and a garden fence brought it to a halt. The tyron bands probably kept it upright I think. The fact no one got injured or killed is a miracle.
The neighbours all managed to push it back up the hill and got it back in the drive. Its a mess. Its all wrecked at the front, the window sill in the big front window has caved in, I think the water heater is burst because the water is still dripping out the bottom of the caravan. The toilet chemicals were in the front locker and got burst so the garden slabs are pink and blue now. There must be 1000's of pounds damage. I phoned caravan guard and they said an assessor will phone me within 24 hours. We cannot understand what has gone wrong. We geniunly though we were hooked up safely.
Just writing this has me in tears!
the one huge positive though is that no-one got as much as a scratch.as much as we all love our vans,nothing is more important than life.try and remember the good times you had in her and maybe that will cheer you up even just a tiny bit.
i really hope though the insurers pay up and get you back enjoying a van again.
------------- Who needs travel agents,we have our static
Obviously sorry to hear about your accident, the damage to the van and your spoilt weekend.
However no one was hurt. It might have been a different story if it maybe happened a little later on a main road or motorway!
Vans can be fixed or replaced.
Lets hope the insurance people do their bit and sort you out quickly.
------------- I started out with nothing and I've still got most of it left - Seasick Steve 2008
To be honest I am hoping its written off. We cant imagine towing again. I am truely sickened. Its the most frightening thing I've ever seen. Thank goodness nobody was in that street when it happened. That caravan was my pride and joy. Anyone who caravans knows how much pride they take in keeping it pristine, having a wee sit down in it now and again when its only in the garden. We are supposed to be taking it to our part season pitch on Tuesday. Its all we've been thinking of for the past few weeks. I think we are just in a state of shock tonight. Tomorrow we will go to Retrofest but come back home at night and go again the next day. Im looking forward to it.
hi we where on a 5 van site last week the site as a narrow entrance and a long narrow lane to go down on your way of that leads to a road with a tight turn to the main road and then on to the A 55
a couple hitched up there caravan and drove up the drive and there caravan became un hitched the caravan rolled back down the drive but luckliy the jockey wheel stuck in the ground and it came to rest on the back of a motor home with no damage
but the startling news is the couple did not know there caravan was missing untill they aproached thee A55 mile half away
all us who where on site where gobsmacked he did not know it was missing like i said in the first place narrow entrance he must never have look behind him he returned 20 mins later in a right mess wondering where is caravan was and what damage it had done
he had a lucky escape could have been worse could of happened on motorway he says he cant remember is green button on properly
hi i put this post on thee other week at least you know your caravan had come of this man who lost his van said to his wife was that bumb and he replyed its a ridge we just gone over
Accidents happen despite our best efforts, hope the insurance works out ok, have a cuppa and look at some vans for sale, please don't give it up you would miss it.
A friend's van came off as he crossed our local airport which we must do just to get to the other side, you can imagine the excitement which followed.
Another stock trailer story locally, As a trailer was being towed through town the jockey wheel fell down, ok that's not too bad BUT it hooked up in cable's feeding temporary traffic lights, the first the driver knew was when he noticed two sets of lights and a mobile generator following him and some rather annoyed workmen.
Caravanning is addictive, we've just sold our one and plan to buy another quite soon but I'm suffering withdrawal symptoms already.
Oh no that is just terrible. I'm going to repeat what everyone else on here has said and say how lucky it is that no-one was hurt. Just imagine how much worse you would be feeling. I do hope that you will carry on carvanning.
True enough Ashwellgirl they could have been towing traffic lights, see 2 post ago, sometimes there's no choice but to laugh it off, as you say no-one was hurt.
Another stock trailer story locally, As a trailer was being towed through town the jockey wheel fell down, ok that's not too bad BUT it hooked up in cable's feeding temporary traffic lights, the first the driver knew was when he noticed two sets of lights and a mobile generator following him and some rather annoyed workmen.
sorry i know i shouldn't laugh but i just pmsl at this
On a serious note i hope you get it sorted soon
I always check mine by winding the jockey wheel down till it lifts the car up then give it a jolly good tug a couple of times to be sure
Hi Sharky. We do that too, but this time somethings went wrong. Hopefully we might know the answer soon. Hubbys in bed now but Im still freaked out. Theres still some fluid leaking out the caravan. I thought it was the water tank but its now being going for 10 hours. Its just sad to see. I caught a group of kids taking snaps on their mobile phones. I had to go out and speak to them. It turns out we are the local gossip. Caravan careers down the hill......!!!!! lol
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: My caravans wrecked!!
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