Posted on 26/02/2017 19:44
Hello Everyone.
we have picked up our caravan and done our first few miles towing.
we had booked into a site for next weekend but when we did a recce today we realised the towing route was too trick for us so we have cancelled. Is there a book of easy peasy approaches to caravan sites or a quick way of checking?
Posted on 28/02/2017 09:42 by MichaelTWhy do you think your caravan wont go along the roads approaching the site when everyone else on site has fitted? I think if you are not confident towing you should definitely book a towing course before going anywhere, a nervous tugger could cause accidents and be a danger to both themselves and other road users.
Posted on 13/03/2017 18:40
We are going away every other weekend and throughout August. Last time was Wells and next is near Sand Bay then to Lea near Preston in Lancashire. August will be in Devon and Cornwall. It is all very exciting and when we are close by we go and have a drive through the route. We cancelled our first trip to Chew Valley as they route was too difficult for complete newbies
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Posted on 01/03/2017 18:06 by crannmanis it just me who thinks this is a bit scary if your not confident to pull your caravan to a site why buy a caravan ? and how many others are on the road lacking the same confidence accidents waiting to happen I think sorry if this is negative but I just don't get it
Posted on 13/03/2017 19:01
I find your remarks rather strange.
why are you answering this section with such a negative tone?
my husband and I have driven minibuses for 35 years, we both have towed a trailer for many years, my husband has been on the manoeuvring course where he was complimented on his skills and confidence.
our favourite campsite is Cloud Farm in Devon but we would not be so arrogant or over confident to attempt that. Arrogance on that approach would be an accident waiting to happen. We have seen a couple of caravan getting themselves in trouble there even experienced people
It has been our many years of visiting wonderful campsites out in the sticks that makes me ask is there a book which tells us about approaches
Posted on 09/03/2017 13:09 byThe Avtex Garmin Sat Nav on the Member offers page will have "caravan-friendly" routes and it is very clever in that, Members input the outfit dimensions, so it takes that into account when routing.
I may be wrong but I thought that one problem is that the mapping information available does not have detailed road widths and that such software no matter how good was likely to produce results that were therefore unreliable anyway.
Posted on 13/03/2017 19:02
This is my understanding too. The satnav software is only able to react to programed information such as statutory width or speed restrictions and possibly gradients.
As I've posted before I use the caravan version of CoPilot on a tablet that picks up on this sort of information but it also tells me that some sites are inaccessible due to width restrictions on the roads leading to caravan sites. So, as others have said I check the approach routes on Google Earth and discard those with single track access unless it's short. In fact I'm on one now where the access off a main road is single track for a 1/4 mile without passing places but I could see most of the route from the main road.
Posted on 01/03/2017 18:51 by crannmanI get your point but why not book on a course first. imagine if you cant handle your outfit and you have to do a reverse or a tricky manoeuvre because of a road accident (and yes it has happened to me ) what happens then ? we all have to learn but learn before you go on the road
Posted on 05/03/2017 11:49 by catherinefJenny,
If it will help, I can give you a good list of easy acces sites in Wiltshire/Gloucestershire that you can try.
Posted on 09/03/2017 13:02 by NickyKnixDavid,
That is a brilliant idea and I have forwarded your suggestion to our Project Acorn Team who deal with all suggestions surrounding the website.
Thanks so much for your valued input and all your hard work. It is appreciated.
Posted on 13/03/2017 19:01 by JennysheepdogI find your remarks rather strange.
why are you answering this section with such a negative tone?
my husband and I have driven minibuses for 35 years, we both have towed a trailer for many years, my husband has been on the manoeuvring course where he was complimented on his skills and confidence.
our favourite campsite is Cloud Farm in Devon but we would not be so arrogant or over confident to attempt that. Arrogance on that approach would be an accident waiting to happen. We have seen a couple of caravan getting themselves in trouble there even experienced people
It has been our many years of visiting wonderful campsites out in the sticks that makes me ask is there a book which tells us about approaches
Posted on 15/03/2017 05:38
so if you have the correct car licence you can buy a caravan set off without any knowledge or training and get yourself into a load of danger I find that strange ,just for the record I have been a lorry driver for 30 yrs and I trained to do my job my point is if you lack the ability and confidence get training before setting out
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Posted on 15/03/2017 05:38 by crannmanso if you have the correct car licence you can buy a caravan set off without any knowledge or training and get yourself into a load of danger I find that strange ,just for the record I have been a lorry driver for 30 yrs and I trained to do my job my point is if you lack the ability and confidence get training before setting out
Jennysheepdog
Caravanner