Reversing
To avoid jacknkifing when reversing the caravan, it is obviously an advantage to have a person outside of the car watching the maneuver. Does anybody have any tips - maybe lining up marks to avoid jackknifing when reversing solo?
Comments
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Simply watch your mirrors and react accordingly.
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If you are that unsure I would go and get signed up for a towing course. Before then however, slow and careful is the trick, then, as soon as you see or feel it going off line (looking backwards out of your open side window is useful) then you have time
to take corrective action. AS SOON AS, not a few seconds later as that just means you will need to go straight ahead again to bring the van back into line.0 -
If you are that unsure I would go and get signed up for a towing course. Before then however, slow and careful is the trick, then, as soon as you see or feel it going off line (looking backwards out of your open side window is useful) then you have time
to take corrective action. AS SOON AS, not a few seconds later as that just means you will need to go straight ahead again to bring the van back into line.Write your comments here...Thanks for that. I did the CC course last year and cannot remember being advised on avoiding jackknifing.
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Thanks TW. Will experiment with your suggestion.
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Always watch your mirrors as you'll see one or both sides of the van at all times.
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Always watch your mirrors as you'll see one or both sides of the van at all times.
Write your comments here...My main concern is when negotiating a tight reversing turn. There must be a way of lining up part of the caravan and a mark on the rear car screen to show the limit before a jackknife occurs.
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Maybe, John, but marks aren't likely to tell you where the back of the van is going. I would practice with someone watching and experience will soon take over. I doubt any reverse turn would be tight enough to cause a jackknife. In any case you'd see it
happening in your mirrors before it got that severe and pull forward to have another shuffle from a different angle.0 -
Wherever possible, always try to reverse so the caravan swings towards the drivers side rather than the blind side if your reversing into an entrence in order to turn around. In theory, the longer the trailer and the more number of axles it has, the easier it is to reverse as it does not jack-knife on you as quick due to the length & the wheels trying to scrape as they don't turn. Twin axle caravans are much easier to reverse for the above reason.
Colin
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Practice, practice and more practice I'm afraid.
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Practice, practice and more practice I'm afraid.
I agree, but its not easy to find a suitable place to practice. Not where I live anyway.
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Don't know how you jackknife a trailer all you have to do is to stop before reaching that point sorry if I spoke out of turn. As said its all about practice.
Quite right you would have to be blind or stupid to jackknife an outfit to the point of contact between the corners of the van and towcar.As said its all about practice.
peter.
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JD, as you reverse more & more of your LV will appear in the mirror you are using, as soon as the mirror is totally dominated by the LV then you are well on your way to a Jacknife situation. If you do as suggested just keep pulling forward to get out of
the situation or if it's not that bad just let go of the steering wheel the car will then begin to straighten itself up. Don't get disheartened. I tow/reverse Log trailers with ease. . . .Now, but when I started reversing the Log trailers & the LV I spent
more time out the vehicle than in it
you learnt how to drive ok, you'll learn how to reverse. Trust me it will be instinctive eventually.
Good luck & keep at it
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Reversing trailers properly is all about Practice. Practice Practice.
Just go to an industrial estate at the weekend when the roads are quiet or a shopping centre car park during a quiet time.
You will soon be proficient and confident when reversing.
K
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My OH usually does the towing, but I'm going on the Practical Caravanning course this coming weekend. We're off to Exmoor House in early September. If you're going to be there, conscious of being the Sunday afternoon on site entertainment, please don't
laugh if I try to get the van on the pitch. It'll be stressful enough, and plenty of arguments are likely to occur.0 -
If you need to reverse into a space always try to do on your good side, that is near side other wise you will be blind sided. Straight line reversing, keep looking in both mirrors as soon as you see more of the caravan in one mirror than the other then steer
to that mirror but only make small adjustments. Multiple small adjustments as soon as you see things moving off line are better that waiting to make a large input. Usually by then its too late and more importantly you do not want to end up with any appreciable
“drift” to one side or the other. Practice makes perfect and do it slowly. I see to many people in a hurry, take your time it dividends!Good luck
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If you need to reverse into a space always try to do on your good side, that is near side other wise you will be blind sided. Straight line reversing, keep looking in both mirrors as soon as you see more of the caravan in one mirror than the other then steer
to that mirror but only make small adjustments. Multiple small adjustments as soon as you see things moving off line are better that waiting to make a large input. Usually by then its too late and more importantly you do not want to end up with any appreciable
“drift” to one side or the other. Practice makes perfect and do it slowly. I see to many people in a hurry, take your time it dividends!Good luck
Roy did you say your good side is your near side.
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Thanks for the replies. Certainly a lot to consider. As I stated earlier, I have the done the course, enjoyed it and would recommend it. As one or two of you have said - practice is the answer. That was emphasised on the course. What I will say is that
I am much better at reversing a year on. Thanks all.0 -
its not easy to find a suitable place to practice.
You can get some practice and a feel for what is happening if you borrow/buy a toy car and trailer and spend some time on the floor with a few obstacles to work around, such as a condiment set.
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its not easy to find a suitable place to practice.
You can get some practice and a feel for what is happening if you borrow/buy a toy car and trailer and spend some time on the floor with a few obstacles to work around, such as a condiment set.
Ha Ha Thanks Navigateur. I’ll try that next Sunday lunch. Try to stay close and parallel to the meat carving tray reverse around the pepper mill, and end up with the rear off side corner to the mustard pot.
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Don't know if the link will work but there's a trailer towing game here.
www.marops.net/portfolio/trailer-reversing-game
Mike
Just tried it. Not easy.
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Easier in real life! I tried the game on my pc in the living room. I positioned my OH by the door to see if the curtains were twitching over the road!
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