As you are probably all aware by now we have just bought our first van. OH is the one going to be towing on our first outing but he hates driving as he does it for a living (taxi driver), so I was just wondering how long it took people to have the confidence to tow their vans for the first time. Should I just take the plunge or maybe try on a straight road first? I managed with the trailer without any problems but thats only little and Im even nervous when the OH is towing the caravan
My first was straight off, bought the van from carnforth, towed it back to shipley (bradford) about 65 miles, didnt have much option, the OH doesnt drive!!
My first tow was from Balckburn to Rochdale bringing the van home, the second was from Rochdale to Meathop CC site a week later. That was 19 years ago and I still remember it but I have never looked back. It is not a problem, just hook the van on the back and wherever you go it goes, the only frightening bit is that every time you look in the mirror there is this big thing tailgating you. Seriously though, just relax with it, take your time, give things a wide berth, keep the weight in the caravan down and your speed down ( 50mph is plenty to start with ), be especially careful going downhill, and you will be fine
------------- 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
You can do it, I tow me and Hubby take turns , it's ok just take your time, but if you are really worried how about doing a CC club towing course, it might give you more confidence.
Bet you can :)
------------- "I'm a fool for my dogs"
Adopt a rescue, rescue dogs make great pets, don't support puppy farms.
The road can be tough and rough,but what you put in you get back 10 x more.
Forgot to say when Hubby tows I'm not relaxed at all although he's a good driver, but when I tow I'm much more relaxed, but I think it's a control thing.... I like to be in control lol
------------- "I'm a fool for my dogs"
Adopt a rescue, rescue dogs make great pets, don't support puppy farms.
The road can be tough and rough,but what you put in you get back 10 x more.
I took the plunge and decided to tow our caravan last year and now I tow most of the time when we go off on our Jollies. Hubby loves the fact that he can just relax and leave all the driving to me.
Sign up for a CC towing course. It will make all the difference
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
err picked the van up from the dealer and brought it home, only 10 miles but had never towed anything before. next weekend did a 35 mile trip to give the van (and me) a shakedown, at easter did a 100 miler in rotten weather, that sorted the men from the boys
My first time towing was when we picked caravan up about 100 miles on first time towing it home.
Just take your time and ignore the idiots trying to get past you I don't think there people realise that you can't do 70 mph towing lol
After towing the FC and folding caravan, I just made myself get in and tow the caravan. It looked scarey behind me as it looked so big! But it's really not bad at all. Just take your time, keep to the speed limits and stay out of the outside lane on a motorway. Just practice I think even if you can tow it round the block a few times you get to know the dimensions and how much extra room to give it.
I found at first that a lot of lorries would overtake me on the motorway as I was cautiously sat at around 55mph, it does make the caravan sway as they go past and soon learned that I wouldn't get that so much if I stayed over their 56mph limit where possible and safe to do so, if it's really windy or rainy and I slow down I try and drive as far to the left of the lane as I can to minimise buffeting.
the longer you leave it the more nervous you will get and may never do it...
My wife drives but simply refuses to tow.On asking her what she would do if i was to have an accident at work she simply replied leave the van and caravan there and get a taxi home! (thanks)
get hubby to drive to a nice straight road with layby pull in and swap.get yourself comfy and pull away taking your time. youll soon get the hang of it and im sure you will love it
I towed my FC from Blackpool to Sandwell after buying it off ebay. I had towed a small trailer before. The FC looked so bloomin big when i saw it, but had no option as i was on my own anyway. Put the mirror extentions on and away i went. I found it easier to tow than the small trailer. Just do it, as said the longer you leave it the more nervous you will get. Good luck
------------- Enjoy life whilst you can, it doesn't last for ever!!!!!!
I wish I had towed the caravan a bit more when we first had it as I hate towing it now, I have towed a few times recently but I only did it for the first proper time last year after having a caravan for 8 years before I always left it to my OH,
I just get so anxious as she makes towing look so easy and relaxing where as when I drive I am sweating, gripping the wheel so hard my knuckles go white, refuse to go over 55, get a banging headache from the stress of it and literally hate every second,
I have never towed the caravan with my OH in the car as she is a dreadful passenger at the best of times but I did pluck up the courage to take the kids and dogs at may bank holiday (only an hour drive away), Hated every single second, My partner arrived in the evening and when it was time to go on the monday I drove our other car back and she towed the van.I haven't towed since
We changed cars earlier in the year to an auto as I prefer driving them anyway but made no difference, still didn't like it.
I would recommend towing it early or at least sharing whenever possible as I suppose you get better/ more confident with practice, I may have another go at some point but at the moment everytime I think about towing the caravan I get anxious.
I am a fairly confident driver, although I don't enjoy driving I feel I am very safe, put a caravan on my car I feel like a learner driver on their first lesson.
------------- Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Quote: Originally posted by angelmikey on 23/7/2011
As you are probably all aware by now we have just bought our first van. OH is the one going to be towing on our first outing but he hates driving as he does it for a living (taxi driver), so I was just wondering how long it took people to have the confidence to tow their vans for the first time. Should I just take the plunge or maybe try on a straight road first? I managed with the trailer without any problems but thats only little and Im even nervous when the OH is towing the caravan
Ironically I towed for the first time along the M1 as I kept to the nearside lane did not overtake until I was confident. Gradually it came and from then I did the other big roads only until I was feeling yes! I can do this. By doing it along such a wide road I found it easier.You could take thecourse for towing with the CC&Club it cost £99 and your taken right through from classroom to course. Good remarks from all who have taken it as they give you so much cofidence even as a green horn you will not be after wards. Reversing taught also.
I never used to like towing, only did it if I really had too, until the kids said that I tow it better! My dear husband said that if that is the case he would not do it again, took me a while to change his mind.
The best thing is take your time, don't feel pressured by other road users they can wait
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Seriously though, just relax with it, take your time, give things a wide berth, keep the weight in the caravan down and your speed down ( 50mph is plenty to start with ), be especially careful going downhill, and you will be fine 
