Practical Caravanning Course - Recommendation

Simmo2300
Simmo2300 Forum Participant Posts: 29
edited March 2017 in New to Caravanning & Touring #1

This weekend my wife and I undertook the Practical Caravanning Course with Diamond Driver Training in Newark. In a word, FANTASTIC, worth every penny and a lot more besides, I can't thank the instructors highly enough.

Whilst I've towed before my wife was terrified and highly unlikely to ever tow anything forwards let alone reverse it. Now, whilst still apprehensive, she's actually looking forward to towing the caravan both forwards and in reverse, even to the point of wanting to be the one to tow it home from the dealers.

Many, many, many, many thanks to Ian and Darren at Diamond Driver Training in Newark; both long time caravanners, highly knowledgeable, helpful, informative, amusing and above all patient.

To anyone new to caravanning, do the course, you'll learn loads. Very highly Recommended.

Comments

  • RochelleCC
    RochelleCC Forum Participant Posts: 337
    100 Comments
    edited March 2017 #2

    Hi Simmo,

    So glad that you found the course useful, I've passed your comments onto the team smile

    If anyone else is convinced by Simmo's recommendation, we also offer motorhome courses, you can find out more here

  • Lyke Wake Man
    Lyke Wake Man Forum Participant Posts: 238
    edited April 2017 #3

    I've never done the course, but I have been towing since 1977, a few years later I started driving long distance, driving 3.5 tonnes and towing 16 foot trailer, I am sure I can move a caravan/trailer without needing a course.

     

    Their is of course plenty who should do the course, as they clearly dont have the knolage to move the van safely

  • Astro76
    Astro76 Forum Participant Posts: 62
    edited April 2017 #4

    I did the course at York last year.  It was very useful kick start, and has given my alot of confidence in towing.  As I caravan solo, it's great to have enough confidence to be able to hooks up, tow, setup, reverse with some confidence.

    In addition, the other stuff - knowing how to load properly has is great, as I've already towed a few hundred miles (only been on a couple of trips so far) without and hint or even fear of snaking.  My van behaves beautifully, I'm sure that this wouldn't be true not been on the course.

  • Rosie Rabbit
    Rosie Rabbit Forum Participant Posts: 85
    edited May 2017 #5

    Thanks for that review. I am booked in on the course in July and being of the wobbly knee and heart variety I was really pleased to find your wife ended up champing at the bit to get towing!

  • dmiller555
    dmiller555 Forum Participant Posts: 717
    500 Comments
    edited May 2017 #6

    I agree that there are some, such as yourself who are too knolageable to need towing tuition however many will find the course of help; I did.

     

  • Milothedog
    Milothedog Forum Participant Posts: 1,433
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2017 #7

    Your never too old to learn, you never know you may have got wrong in the first place wink

  • Bongonaught
    Bongonaught Forum Participant Posts: 37
    edited May 2017 #8

    Very pleased to read this, I booked my course last month for August.

  • Greygit
    Greygit Forum Participant Posts: 167
    edited May 2017 #9

    Its too expensive for two of us but we are learning as we go along....so far so good.

  • Boff
    Boff Forum Participant Posts: 1,742
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2017 #10

    Yes we learnt that way as well.  Mind you we were sponsored by CC insurance.  Wish we had booked a course. 

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited May 2017 #11

    More and more people are going to need training on the road and in traffic to B+E standard so that they can take that test.  

    Is the Club course offering that level of training yet, or is the Club course still about  pottering round cones in a car park, and then standing around watching  other people doing that? 

    Time to get real? 

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