What is an experienced tow driver?
Having driven large Motorhomes for quite some years we are about to take our maiden voyage in our first caravan, so we are looking for tips from the more experienced of you. So what is an experienced tow driver?
I should say we have bought the CC towing DVD and have read loads of advice on towing but it's the little tips from the more experienced amongst you we are after. For example, slowing down when going downhill I am sure is not just about the brakes overheating, is it?
GG
Comments
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Slowing down going downhill is about preventing the tail wagging the dog. The caravan can try to overtake the car and you need to be in control. Several times I have seen overturned caravans on a bend at the bottom of a hill. Do everything slower, more gently,
and earlier than you would driving solo.0 -
Check and then check again that the caravan is correctly and securely hooked up to the car before setting off.
Angle the car mirrors down a bit so that you can see the caravan wheels. Especially useful when going round tight bends / corners. Use the extension mirrors for general rear view.
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Best tip is to just relax, enjoy the trip and don't get stressed.There is no need for it to become an endurance test
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Best tip is to just relax, enjoy the trip and don't get stressed.There is no need for it to become an endurance test
Write your comments here...I totally agree with everything that's written above it's sound sensible advice.
when I started towing the main advice my brother in-law gave me was keep your o/s Caravan wheel on / near the central white line , that way you miss everything kerb side .
relax & enjoy the drive & don't make it a race
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Some good advice from other posters already. I would just add that if your outfit is loaded correctly re nose weight etc; do not worry about every little twitch of the outfit while on the motorway, most of the time it is caused by ruts in the road made by
heavy traffic use.If you are already used to driving a heavy motorhome then you will already be aware of the extra time needed to pull out at a junction or roundabout but just watch out at motorway slip roads for the idiots who try to force their way on when you are in the
nearside lane.Most of all just stay cool and enjoy.
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Great advice all round! I had a co-driver some years ago despite being used to towing a trailer with livestock he kept making the tail wag the dog. I finally sussed out his white knuckles on the steering wheel making very jerky reactions to everything,
once I prised them off the wheel and got him to relax a bit we were a lot less waggly!
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The best advice I can give is plan well ahead, always pull out to overtake on a motorway in plenty of time in a smooth gradual fashion, this requires constant monitoring of your mirrors. If your car has autocruise set it to a sensible speed and when going
down hill reduce the speed on the autocruise this will enable the car engine to hold the vehicle back and will reduce brakes heating up. Most important as others have said is take your time never go beyond what you feel comfortable doing and enjoy.0 -
If you have any doubts about your confidence or ability to do all of the above get some training.
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Keep an eye on the drivers extension mirror especially on motorways as you can then see the box vans, coaches & some HGV's coming to overtake at speed & anticipate the bow wave that causes you to wobble. It can come as a shock, so I always move a little
closer to the left when I see them. Also at corners, remember to turn a little later than usual so the van does not mount the kerb. Otherwise much of what has been said allready is good advice.0 -
A consideration, when manoeuvring in smaller areas like car parks etc, is never ever go into somewhere that you aren't sure that you can get out of.. Better reconnoiter on foot than have to unhitche and manhandle (motor mover) the van out. And remember,
that without help you are very blind to the rear end some 45' behind your eyeline.0 -
Hi Grey,its not so much slowing on a hill most accidents on hills that Ive seen involving vans is overtaking approaching or on a hill,small example, car caravan approach a hgv strugling up a hill, car caravan decides to overtake, brow of the hill now hgv
is building up speed on the downward side of the hill, car caravan is now out of his comfort zone, THIS is where it can all go tits up so to speak, all the time the car is pulling the van no probs, but ease off whilst going down hill big probs ,so stay back
approaching hills and overtake up the other side0 -
Do remember the caravan will cut in on corners, particularly at slow speeds. This is not serious but you do need to be aware of it and take corners a little wider than you would otherwise.
Initially keep an eye on the caravan wheel on the inside of the bend at first to get the hang of it.
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An inexperienced driver is one who has never felt the onset of snaking, resolved it, and determined never to let it happen again.
I've been towing for years & have never had a snake or even an inkling of one .... I've had to take evasive action due to a t1t in an Aston doing silly mph into the lane that I was going into ..... he was going too fast past me to even realise what had happened.
Still no snake. I ... along with the rest of the motorway that slowed down behind me ... have seen one start & finish!
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Remember to take a wider line than normal round roundabouts, don't try and cut them. The rear end of the caravan needs to get round not across the built-up kerb.
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Thanks for all the advice guys, to be honest it doesn't sound a great deal different to driving a large motorhome........perhaps a little slower.
We have practiced reversing in a local commercial estate one Sunday and we can both reverse in a straight line now and with our mover we should be covered for getting into the more difficult spaces until we have more experience.
Hakinbush, I know what you mean regarding overtaking HGVs on hills, its happened to me with some of our older motorhomes.
I will be putting all the advice into practice when we set off on our maiden voyage next Tuesday.
Thanks again.
GG
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Maiden voyage went well , I was really pleased how the car towed the van as we hardly knew we had a van behind us but coming home it all changed. On the return journey we experienced a seesaw type movement especially going over rough surfaces/ potholes
etc, I was very disappointed.Long story short, next day measured the nose weight and it was way above the 90 we started with....... we forgot to drain the water from the boiler! Lesson here if you take a check list use it.
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...... we forgot to drain the water from the boiler! ...
Ooops! You won't make that mistake again, but I'm sure you weren't the first ...
I know weren't because I've done it too ...with both water tanks. I wondered why it felt different
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Your boiler holds around 2 gallons of water @10lb/ gallon. 20lbs or 10Kg in round numbers, set half way between the axle and the hitch, which effectively halves its hitch weight to 5Kg. Which shouldn't affect your towing significantly. Nonetheless we also
empty the boiler before towing, unless we're just making a very local move.0 -
Your boiler holds around 2 gallons of water @10lb/ gallon. 20lbs or 10Kg in round numbers, set half way between the axle and the hitch, which effectively halves its hitch weight to 5Kg. Which shouldn't affect your towing significantly. Nonetheless we also
empty the boiler before towing, unless we're just making a very local move..
I had a Milenco nose weight gauge in use while I emptied the tank and from bouncing when full and taking a reading and then bouncing and taking a reading again when empty it was a darn site more than 5kg, .....perhaps I have a faulty gauge. Bye the way
my boiler is just below the front windows so more or less behind a gas bottle is that still mid way between the axle?..
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Your boiler holds around 2 gallons of water @10lb/ gallon. 20lbs or 10Kg in round numbers, set half way between the axle and the hitch, which effectively halves its hitch weight to 5Kg. Which shouldn't affect your towing significantly. Nonetheless we also
empty the boiler before towing, unless we're just making a very local move..
I had a Milenco nose weight gauge in use while I emptied the tank and from bouncing when full and taking a reading and then bouncing and taking a reading again when empty it was a darn site more than 5kg, .....perhaps I have a faulty gauge. Bye the way
my boiler is just below the front windows so more or less behind a gas bottle is that still mid way between the axle?..
Write your comments here...
If we abandon my earlier approximations, a Cascade boiler holds 9 litres of water (I've just checked) 9 litres of water weighs exactly 9Kg. Even if the boiler was mounted as far forward as the hitch, you'd only add 9Kg. You describe "a damm site more" Your
gauge must be faulty.0 -
There are some great tip's already been posted, the one thing I would like to add is never be in a hurry with the van behind you even if you are going for a ferry because they will but you on the next. And always do all your checks before starting from home
or sites, because we have seen lots of vans on the move with roof vents up, and other things not done correct, so always check. and enjoy0 -
Best tip is to just relax, enjoy the trip and don't get stressed.There is no need for it to become an endurance test
Write your comments here...I totally agree with everything that's written above it's sound sensible advice.
when I started towing the main advice my brother in-law gave me was keep your o/s Caravan wheel on / near the central white line , that way you miss everything kerb side .
relax & enjoy the drive & don't make it a race
This is fairly good advice until you meet brother in law coming the other way!! Move in just a bit!!
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We will see how it tows next time without the water.
Just come back from a very wet Cornwall and with a round trip of 350 miles the van towed like a dream, so it looks like just having water in the front tank can upset the balance considerably.
We used the check list this time.
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