Reading the feature on home page - I say YES - It's not because I have been a Truckie most of my working life . If , I get a van , then I am up for the same licence . I said it a couple of weeks ago here on this forum . I have never towed a van . I reckon the lawyers will have the last say though . If we are involved in an accident , got the right licence - BUT are you an Accredited in towing a caravan . Honest , after I had an accident carrying packs of glass , the defence lawyer wanted to know , he demanded to know if I was accredited in securing packs of glass on a truck .
brickies said
01:40 PM Nov 8, 2010
Zoomtopz me thinks you know the answer to the question and throwing out the bait
jimbo said
04:05 PM Nov 8, 2010
I too have a H/A Licence and have pulled many a caravan along the h/Ways....I think some people need a few tips before being allowed on the road....Still I haven't see too many Caravan accidents in my time....As a matter of fact One!
Pejay said
04:14 PM Nov 8, 2010
Hubby has a HR licence, and his view is no, no extra licence, HOWEVER... what it really needs is some of that factor that is missing from a lot of peoples lives - common sense!!!!!! AND learning to drive to the condition of the road you are on eg. if the road is narrow and dusty - slow down, if it is wet and hard to see - slow down!!!!
Rolly said
04:24 PM Nov 8, 2010
Pejay wrote:
what it really needs is some of that factor that is missing from a lot of peoples lives - common sense!!!!!!
All too UN-common, I reckon.
Wombat 280 said
04:26 PM Nov 8, 2010
Zoomtopz wrote:
Reading the feature on home page - I say YES - It's not because I have been a Truckie most of my working life . If , I get a van , then I am up for the same licence . I said it a couple of weeks ago here on this forum . I have never towed a van . I reckon the lawyers will have the last say though . If we are involved in an accident , got the right licence - BUT are you an Accredited in towing a caravan . Honest , after I had an accident carrying packs of glass , the defence lawyer wanted to know , he demanded to know if I was accredited in securing packs of glass on a truck .
Trailer drivers from 18 wheelers to box trailers all get caught out with the question of securing a load, then the lawyers in their know all stance on the matter start quoting the road rules regarding the drivers responsibilities . Pity that don't include that particular rule in with your trailer rego renewal .
Yes I agree Van and MH drivers need a licence a little higher than a general car licence which should include instruction on how to secure a load and how to secure a load to the prime mover. It's all a matter of weight and balance for a safe and hassle free trip
petengail said
04:50 PM Nov 8, 2010
I think that if I can spend a hundred dollars and a days instruction to get a licence to drive a tinnie with a 9.5hp (or over), then a days instruction on how to drive a vehicle towing a caravan, or anything larger than a box trailer would be money well spent.
Onedodger said
04:58 PM Nov 8, 2010
May I respectfully suggest that if a van tower no matter what size contributes to an accident that then this driver should be made to complete a safe towing course.
The amount of caravans that actually do contribute to an accident is very small in relationship to klm's traveled.
There are many of us that have driven heavy vehicles and towed all kinds of trailors without incident so why punish those that do drive without incident.
I am sure that this extra cost would be a profit generating impost by both state and private concerns.
My first suggestion would then fall into the category similar to those caught drink driving.
BobnBev said
06:12 PM Nov 8, 2010
Just sit and watch thoes with a big new van try and back it in to a slot in a van park..
Can you see a truck driver doing that haveing 3-4 goes to get his truck in to unload, come on we should have to have a caravan up grade on a car licence..
I have a HC on mine ,And Im with you petngail .if you need a up grade to drive a little boat , well .......
NandK said
07:18 PM Nov 8, 2010
I think there should be some sort of training before people who have had no experience towing vans or driving heavy haulage hit the road.
Having owned boats large and small for thirty yrs i still had to get a licence to use it,same should be for vans and trailers.
Cruising Granny said
09:53 PM Nov 8, 2010
I'm with Petengail. I haven't done any formal van towing and backing training, but I had towed and reversed a large tandem trailer over a long period previously. I had to learn first and I did that in the homestead yard at the cattle station I worked.
Towing a van is nothing like driving a semi trailer.
A semi driver told me it's much easier to back the truck than the van.
Heavy haulage operators have to do training before gaining the licence accreditation.
There is a need for some training, as there is for off-road 4WD driving safety training.
I'm very proud of my achievements in this lifestyle, and I do all I can to be as courteous and considerate as I know how on the road and in van parks. My backing is pretty good, and today I even backed up to the tow hitch and got it first pop. Usually I have to have a couple of goes because I'm half a ball out. Tandem axles don't allow for too much wriggling around.
So I'd say not a special licence as such, but an endorsement or certificate as for a boat or additional vehicles.
John and Julie said
10:12 AM Nov 9, 2010
Yes, we do need a special category added to our drivers licences for towing a caravan.
Before we bought our caravan, we had only towed a boat and not very often at that. Hubby didn't like reversing and I refused to even try!
As soon as we ordered our caravan, we searched for and found a caravan towing course near Gympie. $450 for both of us for the day. We booked in for the course for the day before we picked up the caravan.
Using our instructors van and 4wd we drove on highways, city streets, side streets and narrow country lanes. On an old section of the highway that had been bypassed (no traffic) we practised reversing about 50 metres-and soon learnt to use the mirrors and which hand down to keep on track. Then to the Matilda servo near there, where cones had been set up for us to practise reversing into a simulated caravan park space. We stopped only when the instructor was confident we knew what we were doing. Tony also instructed us on hitching up, weight distribution in the van and many other aspects of caravanning that were totally new to us, including how to share the road with road trains, Bdoubles and the like.
Next day after picking up the Kedron we had no trouble backing into a space at Aspley CP. There were some nerves as we drove over the Gateway Bridge a couple of days later, then up to Toowoomba and beyond in the rain, but all went well. We have since done over 50,000 klms with the caravan in outback QLD and NT and feel confident (without being over-confident) in our abilities, always mindful of the possible lack of abilities of the drivers coming the other way with their caravans. We have seen some terrifying examples of towing, and poor reversing into caravan park spots-some have taken up to eight or more goes to get into an easy space.
The other thing we learnt was that not just the hubby should be able to tow-Tony was adamant that wives/partners do the course with their hubbies. Many wives never tow at all and wouldn't know what to do if ever hubby should be injured or ill. Some wives/partners never even drive the tug, even when not attached to the caravan. We started driving 50/50 of the time but now I probably do the majority of the driving (I love towing) and all the reversing. Hubby is better at directing and me at reversing-so be it. Each couple needs to work it out between themselves.
I am not saying that we are perfect, but at least we had a knew what to do before we ever got behind the wheel when towing and have learnt a lot since that first day.
That $450 which seemed such a lot of money when we booked for the course, was the best $450 we have ever spent. Towing courses should be compulsory unless of course you have a truck licence, but even then the wife/partner should learn the ins and outs of towing and share the driving.
Sorry this has been so long but hubby and I have had many conversations about just this subject.
Cheers. Julie
Beth54 said
11:50 AM Nov 9, 2010
No problem with it being so long Julie. It was very informative.
My sister and hubby (I'm a solo nomad) share the driving too. And she does the reversing/parking and he does the directing. It works well for them too.
Cruising Granny said
10:06 PM Nov 9, 2010
Congratulations Julie and John! Well done!
The bit about the girls learning to tow is very important. I encourage every woman I meet to learn how to tow, at least forward, in case something happens to the man, or to share the driving.
I towed from Mt. Isa to Barkly Homestead today, through rain and nearby thunderstorms.
The streaks of lightning cutting the air were spectacular, but scary.
Not much traffic heading west. Most of it was going east, including the road trains. I missed wearing a fresh cow pat off the back of the truck by .... that much.
John and Julie said
10:49 PM Nov 9, 2010
Back again, but to start with, on a lighter note.
Last year we were told about a single lady who towed a caravan, but was unable to reverse into a caravan park space. Apparently, when she arrived at her allotted space, she was seen to jump down from the 4wd, throw her arms out wide and shout "I need a man", and guess what? They would come and reverse the van in for her and unhitch!!
Lateral thinking I guess.
Hi Cruising Granny. Mt Isa to Barkly is a good run, but with rain and thunderstorms about not for the faint hearted. Well done to you too.
Back to towing courses. All on this forum should try to encourage wives/partners/other grey nomad women to tow and if too worried/scared to do so, why not suggest they do a towing course? A course would make a good Christmas present maybe from hubby? Think of what the wife would do if hubby had a heart attack, stroke, snake bite, bad fall, etc. etc. and the van was hitched to the tug and no-one was nearby to help, no phone reception etc. The last thing she would need at that time would be the stress of trying to tow for the first time to get help.
Time to get off my soap box.
Cheers to all and goodnight Julie
VHW said
02:36 PM Nov 11, 2010
I think another thing that should be mandatory for all Caravan Sales Yards is a detailed booklet given to each new owner of new or used van on towing a caravan and other matters related to towing caravans.
I think this should be law and written into the contract that the new owner has been handed a towing safety and instructional booklet.
Cruising Granny said
05:00 PM Nov 11, 2010
The sale yards could also take a bit of responsibility to ensure the buyer has the right vehicle to tow the van away with. At lease advise and recommend a suitable sized vehicle, weight and horsepower to manage the size and weight of the caravan being purchased.
It's all very well to pull them away, but what about uphill and downhill control?
I've seen some very scary combinations. Huge vans with underpowered, light vehicles in front. Very scary.
I say YES - It's not because I have been a Truckie most of my working life .
If , I get a van , then I am up for the same licence . I said it a couple of weeks
ago here on this forum . I have never towed a van . I reckon the lawyers will
have the last say though . If we are involved in an accident , got the right
licence - BUT are you an Accredited in towing a caravan . Honest , after I had
an accident carrying packs of glass , the defence lawyer wanted to know , he
demanded to know if I was accredited in securing packs of glass on a truck .
All too UN-common, I reckon.
Yes I agree Van and MH drivers need a licence a little higher than a general car licence which should include instruction on how to secure a load and how to secure a load to the prime mover. It's all a matter of weight and balance for a safe and hassle free trip
Before we bought our caravan, we had only towed a boat and not very often at that. Hubby didn't like reversing and I refused to even try!
As soon as we ordered our caravan, we searched for and found a caravan towing course near Gympie. $450 for both of us for the day. We booked in for the course for the day before we picked up the caravan.
Using our instructors van and 4wd we drove on highways, city streets, side streets and narrow country lanes. On an old section of the highway that had been bypassed (no traffic) we practised reversing about 50 metres-and soon learnt to use the mirrors and which hand down to keep on track. Then to the Matilda servo near there, where cones had been set up for us to practise reversing into a simulated caravan park space. We stopped only when the instructor was confident we knew what we were doing. Tony also instructed us on hitching up, weight distribution in the van and many other aspects of caravanning that were totally new to us, including how to share the road with road trains, Bdoubles and the like.
Next day after picking up the Kedron we had no trouble backing into a space at Aspley CP. There were some nerves as we drove over the Gateway Bridge a couple of days later, then up to Toowoomba and beyond in the rain, but all went well.
We have since done over 50,000 klms with the caravan in outback QLD and NT and feel confident (without being over-confident) in our abilities, always mindful of the possible lack of abilities of the drivers coming the other way with their caravans. We have seen some terrifying examples of towing, and poor reversing into caravan park spots-some have taken up to eight or more goes to get into an easy space.
The other thing we learnt was that not just the hubby should be able to tow-Tony was adamant that wives/partners do the course with their hubbies. Many wives never tow at all and wouldn't know what to do if ever hubby should be injured or ill. Some wives/partners never even drive the tug, even when not attached to the caravan. We started driving 50/50 of the time but now I probably do the majority of the driving (I love towing) and all the reversing. Hubby is better at directing and me at reversing-so be it. Each couple needs to work it out between themselves.
I am not saying that we are perfect, but at least we had a knew what to do before we ever got behind the wheel when towing and have learnt a lot since that first day.
That $450 which seemed such a lot of money when we booked for the course, was the best $450 we have ever spent. Towing courses should be compulsory unless of course you have a truck licence, but even then the wife/partner should learn the ins and outs of towing and share the driving.
Sorry this has been so long but hubby and I have had many conversations about just this subject.
Cheers.
Julie
No problem with it being so long Julie. It was very informative.
My sister and hubby (I'm a solo nomad) share the driving too. And she does the reversing/parking and he does the directing. It works well for them too.
Last year we were told about a single lady who towed a caravan, but was unable to reverse into a caravan park space. Apparently, when she arrived at her allotted space, she was seen to jump down from the 4wd, throw her arms out wide and shout "I need a man", and guess what? They would come and reverse the van in for her and unhitch!!
Lateral thinking I guess.
Hi Cruising Granny. Mt Isa to Barkly is a good run, but with rain and thunderstorms about not for the faint hearted. Well done to you too.
Back to towing courses. All on this forum should try to encourage wives/partners/other grey nomad women to tow and if too worried/scared to do so, why not suggest they do a towing course? A course would make a good Christmas present maybe from hubby? Think of what the wife would do if hubby had a heart attack, stroke, snake bite, bad fall, etc. etc. and the van was hitched to the tug and no-one was nearby to help, no phone reception etc. The last thing she would need at that time would be the stress of trying to tow for the first time to get help.
Time to get off my soap box.
Cheers to all and goodnight
Julie