I tow, we take it in turns saves either of us getting too tired or stressed and we can enjoy the time away. Motorway towing wouldn't be my first love but it's ok. If we need to use the map he tows, I don't trust the satnav all the time or his map reading skills!!
I was extremely nervous the first time towing a caravan although I towed the FC and the Esterel all the time and OH never did. But once done it was ok!
Quote: Originally posted by chilephilly on 02/12/2010
Quote: Originally posted by shirl250 on 02/12/2010
Some women have the bottle to do these things, some don't ! I am one of the former and I have great difficulty in understanding the latter. In my view there is absolutely no reason why we women can't do anything that our men can do ! It really irritates me when women are looked on as the poor little woman who can't do this or that but sadly it is true ! I don't understand it at all..... !
I completely agree Shirl. Mr Chile and I both tow - it's safer as neither of us drives tired and we can get further. Why be a little woman? If a bloke can do it, so can I - and I can and I will!
Cheers chilephilly. We have agreed on a few things in the past - perhaps we should ditch our hubbies and get married ?
Quote: Originally posted by chilephilly on 02/12/2010
Quote: Originally posted by shirl250 on 02/12/2010
Some women have the bottle to do these things, some don't ! I am one of the former and I have great difficulty in understanding the latter. In my view there is absolutely no reason why we women can't do anything that our men can do ! It really irritates me when women are looked on as the poor little woman who can't do this or that but sadly it is true ! I don't understand it at all..... !
I completely agree Shirl. Mr Chile and I both tow - it's safer as neither of us drives tired and we can get further. Why be a little woman? If a bloke can do it, so can I - and I can and I will!
Bravo ladies ! Mrs Z hasn't had a go yet but she fully intends to. Much more sensible if we can both tow.
It's not just men who have strange attitude with this though. What really gets Mrs Z annoyed is when women talk like it's very brave of them because they arewomen ?! Like you say what difference does your sex make ? Must say when I've towed I can't recall a single time when I used my pen!$
To the OP, maybe you could let your OH have a read of this thread, & yes encourage her all you can. I'll be relieved whn my wife starts towing, it'll be nice to get a break on longer runs.
------------- Fools and charlatans know everything and understand nothing . Anton Chekhov
Yes, I do. I bought a little mini caravan and I don't have a partner, so I learned myself. First time out with my son I was worried for about 20 minutes, then settled down enough to do one junction of the motorway! All uppwards and onwards from that point! It really is quite easy once you get the feel of towing. I'm in my early '50s.
My sis just moved from the Highlands and towed hers 400 miles in one (very long) day.
If you can tow, you could teach your wife how to very easily and she will wonder why she worried about it. That's how I felt, anyway!
Hello there Jax -(and thanks again for all your help on the porch awnings when I 1st joined) hope you don't mind my asking is the pic on your profile your son ?
------------- Fools and charlatans know everything and understand nothing . Anton Chekhov
It's not just men who have strange attitude with this though. What really gets Mrs Z annoyed is when women talk like it's very brave of them because they arewomen ?! Like you say what difference does your sex make ? Must say when I've towed I can't recall a single time when I used my pen!$
Quote: hope you don't mind my asking is the pic on your profile your son ?
[-B]
Hi Zorro! Glad my bit of advice was useful for you! Yes, that's my eldest son... he drives HGV1's for a living, and was the one who originally came with me on that first towing exercise. In fact that pic was taken when we returned and put the van back on the drive!
I have to admit that I was nervous the first couple of times I went out on holiday, although I was with another (non-towing) friend, The last journey I made was on my own, 400-odd miles there and back, no-one but me and the satnav. Even though the return journey was on a horrible rainy day with floods and roadmist on the motorway bit, I felt like I had finally got the hang of everything and had no further need to worry when I got home.
If you just take it steady and stop when you feel like a break, not worrying about time, schedules, etc... it's great.
Quote: Originally posted by FionaW1971 on 02/12/2010
I really need to overcome my fear of towing to get the best use out of our caravan next year as it would mean that I could take the caravan to a site near OHs work (he has a long commute each day) during the school hols, which would shorten his commute and the kids would get to see more of him in the week & we get a holiday of course! We have a mover and I don't have a problem with the general set up, but I wouldn't consider actually towing until I've been on a course which I'm planning to do next year, only then will I know for sure how I feel about it. Im a confident driver but towing to me is something else
Thats really funny Fiona, I was exactly the same, apart from I'm a male, My OH has always towed and although I did the course years ago I was never confident enough to tow,
She has towed all over the country and this year to Belgium even though she was 7 and a half months pregnant and could only just fit behind the wheel, However she had to have a c section just before the caravan was due to go to gateshead to have some work done so I booked my B and E test and passed (still not sure how) and I took the caravan on the long trip from the midlands to Gateshead, was a sink or swim thing I think,
Although I didn't enjoy it, I don't enjoy driving much anyway I did it and now have the confidence to take myself, my kids, the foster kids and dogs somwewhere local for a weekend and my OH can join me straight from work.
I still will always get in the passenger side though when Nedra is in the car.
My advice to anyone is to have a bit of tuition first and try out round some quiet industrial estate first just to get used to corners.
------------- Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
I tow my folding van, i'm a single mum of 3 so I have 3 whinging kids and the van to concetrate over, it's ok, not as good as I hoped for but not as bad as I was expecting either I have only towed 3 times, but my hitch has broke so I can't do much with it 'til Iget it fixed. I'd say to your OH to give it a go, somewhere quiet, and then decide. At least that way she had a try TBH I found motorway driving just as boring as when I don't tow, just be careful you don't forget the extra length when you pull in after overtaking I'm not a fan of towing on thin country lanes, or windy roads, but I have always got to where I wanted to go and back in one piece.
------------- Vid walkthrough of my Aztec Cantera 12 tent *Click Me*
Video of my folding caravan *Click Me*
Quote: Originally posted by shirl250 on 03/12/2010
Quote: Originally posted by chilephilly on 02/12/2010
Quote: Originally posted by shirl250 on 02/12/2010
Some women have the bottle to do these things, some don't ! I am one of the former and I have great difficulty in understanding the latter. In my view there is absolutely no reason why we women can't do anything that our men can do ! It really irritates me when women are looked on as the poor little woman who can't do this or that but sadly it is true ! I don't understand it at all..... !
I completely agree Shirl. Mr Chile and I both tow - it's safer as neither of us drives tired and we can get further. Why be a little woman? If a bloke can do it, so can I - and I can and I will!
Cheers chilephilly. We have agreed on a few things in the past - perhaps we should ditch our hubbies and get married ?
Good luck with the marathon !
Ooo Shirl. Mwah mwah - love you too. I'd love to marry you. Best not on a CC site tho - we will never agree on that! Have you made some good plans for the year? We have - mostly southwards this year, trying to pluck up courage to cross the Channel!
Quote: hope you don't mind my asking is the pic on your profile your son ?
[-B]
Hi Zorro! Glad my bit of advice was useful for you! Yes, that's my eldest son... he drives HGV1's for a living, and was the one who originally came with me on that first towing exercise. In fact that pic was taken when we returned and put the van back on the drive!
Aha - well now I can tell you why I asked ...
as I 'd looked at your profile (remember you offered to change the pic for me so's I could see the awning) & thought that was a pic of you - so thought you were male.
Then you posted a topic with you doing version of `My Favourite things' song on You Tube.... did a double take then double check of your pic That's why I asked if it was really you singing !
------------- Fools and charlatans know everything and understand nothing . Anton Chekhov
I am 74 tomorrow and have towed our caravan (various models) for the last 40 years. My husband doesn't drive at all so I have had no choice. I actually quite enjoy towing but as I have arthritis in my hands, I do need my OH to hook up and connect the electrics etc.
We got our first caravan in 1992, hubby insisted I did my share of the towing "in case you ever need to do it" - then he went and died in 2002 so I've had to do it ever since or the kids and I wouldn't have had any holidays (although now they're grown I have a campervan instead).
------------- Caz
If you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, just keep going till you go round the bend.
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Topic: Ladies who tow?
) hope you don't mind my asking is the pic on your profile your son ? 
I'm not a fan of towing on thin country lanes, or windy roads, but I have always got to where I wanted to go and back in one piece.
