From 20 years of motorhomes to towing
Hi,
After 20 years of motorhoming from the arctic circle in winter to the med in Summer. Even as many as eight in one Moho. From 7m up to 9m all PHGV, never an issue.
We have purchased a Hymer 470 2 berth motorhome. We are going to give it a go, towing it with our 2012 Range Rover 4.4TdV8 in February 2022.
But I'm terrified and really not looking forward to it.
Mate says don't need towing mirrors
Mate 2 says easier to reverse than a motorhome
Mate 3 says I don't need lessons in towing
Mate 4 says Its easy as we have a motor mover (manual Actuation)
Mate 5 says I will get fat from not using my bike n legs to Get around
Any advice welcome please?
Comments
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Your caravan is wider than your car. You need mirrors. Having gone the other way myself a few years back, what made you change?
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Yes you will need mirrors even with a wide car.
I never found reversing easy so I don't do it and just use the motor mover when I have to.
You don't need lessons to tow, just remember your outfit is longer when turning.
Yes it's easy to position a caravan with a motor mover.
Take your bike with you.
You'll be fine.
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Like wot they said plus get a few new mates 🤣
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We didn’t start towing a caravan until I was into my 50’s, although we had tented for years. I had no particular issues with towing despite being rather nervous at the start. I enjoyed it a lot more though when we switched from our petrol Mondeo to a Diesel 4 x 4. So at least you are starting from the right base. Yes you will need towing mirrors, the Milenco aero sort are good, the first type I bought vibrated so much it made it hard to see anything. Like CS I didn’t find reversing easy, although I used to practice when I could. However, the benefit of a mover is that it will get you out of trouble, particularly on some of the tighter pitches.
As to fitness, well the water and waste can be a bit more labour intensive with a caravan, unless you go for a service pitch. However, what we do from site hasn’t changed much now we have a MH. We never used the car a lot when we had a caravan, preferring to walk or use public transport.
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Hi & welcome Eurotrotters & good for you.
The only advice I have to offer is 🤔...... get yourself a really good dash cam( if you don't already own one now) 😉 because there are numerous idiots out there on our roads that just love cutting up caravans.
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not sure what point you're trying to make there ED? Of course it is all the time but greater care is needed when turning, hence that's why I added when turning.
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The Hymer 470 is a nice caravan, not too big and easily towed by a Range Rover. The Car does need towing mirrors, and you will be unable to proceed with your journey without them if stopped by a roadside check. Your insurer will be unimpressed if you make a claim for which towing mirrors is relevant in their opinion. It doesn't matter what you have driven before, you are now towing (and may at some point need to reverse) a caravan. Good luck and welcome to the clan.
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We are thinking of downsizing our motorhome to a Small PVC like the CS Amigo (German). That way, we can use the Camper or Both. Leaving the caravan on a site and go off in the mountains and stay over for a few nights.
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Humour goes down fine when it can be identified as such by a few smileys such as🤣🤣😂😂. Otherwise, with an inappropriate emoji it can appear as a put down or sarcasm as you can see.
Hope that helps👍🏻
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I see, what putdown btw? so you have set yourself up as the arbiter of jokes v putdowns? Ok fair enough if it makes you happy
PS something is either right or wrong, if it's wrong (in your eyes) innovate don't imitate?
It's a shame that you've taken this helpful thread off topic for the OP. I'll leave it here but you have the last word if you will, as always carry on PO
Always happy to help.
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Really🤔... Lucky you😉..... you must be the only caravan tugger that's not been cut up in your life time of touring the UK & fortress Europe. 😁
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To make a sensible ( well, to me anyway ) comment, the OP might like to take his "new" caravan to an industrial estate at a weekend and see how well he can reverse, judge width of gaps, see what he can see behind when going forward, etc. Also a good chance to visit a weighbridge.
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removed by me
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I think there are idiots on the road with or without caravans and my daughter had to take a 50/50 blame insurance job because there were no witnesses yet the other driver admitted he was at fault at the time and then retracted. I think a dashcam is essential of any motorist.
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Hi,
I have just logged on and shocked to see so many "Content Removed"
What have I done?
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You have done nothing wrong at all. Posts get Deleted User for either breaking the T&Cs/Guidelines or, sometimes, as collateral damage when they get caught up in the fracas.
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My advice would be to always be gentle with your hands on the steering wheel - no sudden jerks! This is my 57th year of towing and I find it quite easy. I have seen people suggest going to a supermarket car park when the supermarket is closed or an old airfield to get the feel of it. I caravanned some years ago with a gentleman friend who couldn't keep the caravan straight to save his life - and I was trying to figure out why and then I saw his white knuckles on the steering wheel! He was gripping it like his life depended on it. Eventually got him to relax and the tail wagging stopped. It does also help to have the caravan properly loaded! And yes you need wing mirrors! Also don't think you can drive as far as you did solo or perhaps even with the MoHo it is a little more taxing.
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