I drove all the way to Newquay from Burnley no problems then 200 yards from the campsite crashed the van reversing out of a turning the Tomtom sent me into.
On the way home had to wait 7 hours on the M5 whilst somebody was threatening to jump off the Avonmouth bridge we set off at 10:20 and got home at 03:00 so wasn't impressed there.
So I am after either a repair or new rear panel for a Bailey Pageant Champagne 1997 and a rear light (Drivers side).
Sorry to hear about your holiday nightmare. (Even sorrier to hear about the person who felt the need to jump off a bridge). Anyway. Thought my story might make you feel a bit better.
Went to Cornwall, having spend a couple of nights at Weston S Mare (thought it would give me a head start!!) After 8 further hrs of driving, we finally got to the site (after 10 miles of single track roads). Furthest i've ever been whilst towing, and have to say was fairly ok .... until I got within 100 yrds of our pitch, lost concentration whilst turning in a narrow spot and scraped the side of my van down a brand new saloon !! Ooops !! - After some panic, emotions, and swear words, the fella was nice enough and hols continued. A call to the insurance, all was well. A few guys on the site then shared their own tales of scrapes, bumps, rolls (yep one even rolled his unit). I felt much better about my situation.
Damage to the van is now sorted, and all is well. Hope you feel a little better knowing there are many of us who have the odd 'learning experience'
Our journey home from Cornwall was disrupted by the holdups on the route home as well, we stayed on site until 830pm & phoned home to get our daughter to check the motorway cameras. Once she told us the que was starting to move we left site & came up nice & steady. We did get to the end of the jam on the M5 but never actually came to a stand still. We got home in just 4 hours, 178 miles.
I thought the authorities had a hell of a job to do trying to prevent the man from jumping & also trying to manage traffic on the busiest weekend of the year. It must have been a hard long day for the officers trying to save him, I wonder how they're feeling now.
I wonder what was going on in that poor mans life to cause him to feel the need to take his own life. He must have been so desperate & my condolences go to his family.
Sorry to hear about your problems but at least you have one thing to take away from it that being not under any circumstances to trust the instructions that a Sat Nav gives. I use mine and think it is great but for trips with the caravan I always use the precise instructions given by the sites for getting to them, at least that way I know that I will not be led up a road that is too norrow or one that leads me to the rear entrance which is never open.
------------- Bill
For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013
Quote: Originally posted by Big Brian 56 on 30/8/2009
How do you look down the motorway cameras ?
Here's a link to the site Brian. It's on the Highways agency web site. You select your chosen motorway, tick the boxes for information required & the cameras are there.
For motorways in Scotland & Wales, simply change the word England in the address for Wales or Scotland. I find it very handy.
We look at the route through google maps and check that the roads are suitable. We then print the instructions out and follow them. Our sat nav takes us now very small lanes to save seconds! I wish there was an option for easy towing routes.
Quote: Originally posted by Basilbrush on 30/8/2009
Quote: Originally posted by Big Brian 56 on 30/8/2009
How do you look down the motorway cameras ?
Here's a link to the site Brian. It's on the Highways agency web site. You select your chosen motorway, tick the boxes for information required & the cameras are there.
For motorways in Scotland & Wales, simply change the word England in the address for Wales or Scotland. I find it very handy.
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: Broken caravan and M5 Nightmare
. But when we used it in france it was brilliant lol.
