Though I am having to swallow my pride in not checking such an obvious item prior to journeying.... May I politely remind you all to check your wheel nuts prior to venturing out onto the open road in your 2nd home (caravan).
I experienced a nasty mishap last week en-route to our holiday. One of my wheels fell off causing damage to my caravan, waiting for AA to sort which they did marvellously, and thus delaying our journey by 2 hours.
It could have been far worse, my Sat-Nav took me via a narrow country lane, we were going only 20 mph up-hill at the time of the incident. God knows if we were on a dual-carriageway doing 50-60mph......
Before leaving, I checked tyre pressures, lights, even load distribution etc but did not check wheel nuts behind the wheel trims. Having bought the caravan 3 days prior, on a private sale, I risked not having the caravan serviced. I found to my horror the affected wheel only had 2 nuts on it.
Im not religious, but I know my family and I had a lucky escape. I can repair the damage, and I can claim via insurance cover (minus £100 excess). I can even take the stick I will get from family and mates. But the lesson has been learnt - please please do check your caravan's roadworthyness prior to every journey. Gray.
Last Tuesday a caravan in front of us on an 'A' road lost a nearside wheel. We stopped to help and he said he had just picked it up after having it serviced. He had only gone 10 miles down the road from the dealers.Fortunately the police were on hand quickly to direct traffic and the dealer was coming to pick the caravan up. Luckily he wasn't going on the motorway!!
You should treat your caravan as your car, check everything before long journeys. I always check lights(with help from OH), tyres\pressure & nuts, check that skylites & windows are closed fully.
------------- I'm just a slave to the outdoor life!!!!!!!
Tks for words of support. I agree with your idea to share our downfalls with other members. Lets others realise they are not the only ones who do stupid things whilst camping/caravanning.
Your incidents thread did make me feel a bit better for myself. Whilst explaining my mishap to work colleagues today, one mentioned he spent 3-4 hours trying to erect a caravan awning years ago without any intructions or sketches. Couldnt make out why 3 poles had ruber suckers on them as was convinced ther were to go into the ground. You guessed it, he thought s*d this and cut the suckers off.
A lady watching events nearby came over and said you do know the suckers are supposed to be put on the side of the caravan. Dont you. he said he noticed she had been happy watching him struggle for all those hours! lol.
I'd like to second that wholeheartedly. About 15 years ago we we're towing our double horsetrailer (plus 2 horses!!) when we were flashed by a passing wagon on the M62. We pulled over and noticed that one on the offside wheels was loose and wobbling and had started to shear off the bolts. We pulled over and sorted it out thankfully before a potential major disaster happened.
When we left our camp site two weeks ago we were following another van out. As we left he hit the last set of speed bumps and his van bounced of his car! Glad i was not following him down the motorway when that happened. Does make you think though and check everything TWICE!
It is exactly this risk of missing out an important check that annoys me when someone stops for a gossip whilst I am unhooking to set up, or hooking up to leave; especially when it is someone who has previously ignored plenty of opportunities for a chat.
So I would urge everyone, don't distract people at these times, unless it is to give some obviously needed help, or a bit of help is requested.
(and no i'm not religious either,nor me but it makes you think twice.hate the job of checking wheel nuts and pressures but i do.after your unfortunate mishap i will double check.i have those yellow markers pointing to the centre and this helps.
------------- the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
Quote: Originally posted by The 2 Tops on 06/8/2008
It is exactly this risk of missing out an important check that annoys me when someone stops for a gossip whilst I am unhooking to set up, or hooking up to leave; especially when it is someone who has previously ignored plenty of opportunities for a chat.
So I would urge everyone, don't distract people at these times, unless it is to give some obviously needed help, or a bit of help is requested.
Bertie.
i know exactly how you feel ..you have to recap after a good think and start again..my wife tends to distract me..with something she's attending to inside the van before we set off on our return journey home ...
I always carry a torque wrench and check the bolts before 'every' journey. When our friends are with us my mate always asks if I i've ever found one loose which I havn't. But you never know. Better safe than sorry.
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Topic: Check your caravan "Wheel Nuts" folks...
