Hiya,

Just wanted to say a great big thank you to the GN's at Port Vincent Foreshore Caravan Park for their help and support.

I finally took my first short trip towing the van from Adelaide to Port Vincent and was feeling really really nervous about reverse parking the van onto the site and lining it up to the concrete slab but SIL insisted I give it a go........so I did.

For some reason a crowd had gathered to watch me reverse park (I'm not sure why but SIL thought it might be because it wasn't a common site to see a woman reverse park a rig), anyhow, after 8 tries!!!! I finally got the van parked to the satisfaction of SIL.  (The first thing I did was get a great big glass of red to calm the nerves!!!!)

I have to say the GN's in the park were soooooooooooo supportive and when I finally parked the van I got a lot of support from the spectators saying "Well done..........8 tries on your first attempt was a good result".

I met some lovely people and got some great tips for the big lap..............so to all those GN's I say a great big "Thank You", and I look forward to catching up with you on the road.

What a wonderful group of people all the GN's are...........so supportive.............I can't wait for the next trip!!!!!

Keep Smiling

When we arived at our current park the attendant said with a bit of a grin we have this spot that is not shaded or a nice shading one up the back thats tight to get into, which one ya waant. Took the shady one and he led the way grinning. Was tight but not too bad and he seemed suprised I got it in one and a tiny straighten up Well done on your parking feat cee, its really not that bad cheers blaze

If your budget doesn't extend to doing a towing course or if it's not convenient to do one, suggest you go to http://www.tow-ed.com.au/ and purchase either the book and/or the DVD advertised on their website.  Both contain some good hints on backing a van, as well as a lot of other useful info.

Don't forget Cee- I can back a tripple road-train , BUT I had to start with a single first . Yes we all have to learn . I was lucky , I learnt semi-tralers before I started on box trailers . AND you are right - even us 'pro's' get a bit 'nervy' when everyone is watching you . Us older blokes who learnt to back road-trains , sometimes have trouble with these B-Doubles . With a b-double , you throw it hard-then chase it harder . With a road-train , the more you "keep it together" the easier it is to back . Richo

It's a pity I didn't share the skills of my namesake above!

hi cee and all. go girl. i get the lookers to ,they just dont expect us girls to be the one towing, my hubby doesnt drive so i'm used to the stares.its fun to see the look on their faces when i pull in anywhere and i've even had a guy shake my hand and say "well done wish my wife would have a go" youu will get better, but 8 is ok. you can get it right for a lot of times but there will always be a few times it takes more than once. pretend the lookers arnt there . and if someone offers help take it but if it dosnt sound right ignore it. you will learn after awhile what sounds rght. i seen a guy try 14 times people offered advice he wouldnt take it how embarrasing for him (stuborn male ego) go the you girl towers out. lyn

I've heard a well known towing instructor claim that the best husband/wife backing-onto-site combination is wife driving, husband guiding. (only quoting, not passing an opinion)

Yes he told us the same thing Jim... Said its because women take directions better than men. Without being sexist, I think thats actually true. I'm about to find out... gotta take the caravan for a mod and Mr D still not driving! Goodonya Cee!!!

Gerty Dancer wrote:

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Yes he told us the same thing Jim... Said its because women take directions better than men. Without being sexist, I think thats actually true. I'm about to find out... gotta take the caravan for a mod and Mr D still not driving!

Goodonya Cee!!!

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Yes I recall that was one of the reasons he made.  I think it's the same reason that many women are employed as plant operators driving huge machines at many of the mines.

I'd better not keep this up or I'll have my membership of the male chauvinist society reviewed!

PS: hope Mr D is recovering well and soon back "grey nomadding"

Jim

 

We can do it girls! For some reason we do draw more spectators than the blokes. For some reason it's believed to be second nature for a guy to be able to tow and reverse the van or trailer. They had to learn some time, and it's all about practice. No matter how many times you do it, every site is different and will require different manoeuvres to achieve a neat park. Sit up and be proud for the audience, and take a bow when they clap. And they will clap. In Cairns I watched this couple - she was at the wheel, he was giving instructions (orders). She could have been blindfolded and still got it where he wanted it. She had no idea what he was achieving with his instructions to her, she just did it, blindly. If he wasn't there she wouldn't have had a clue how to reverse the van by mirrors. Yes! We can do it girls. I wish more women would at least have a go at towing forward. If they're a long way from home and the old man has a drunken stumble down the van steps and disables himself, she may have to drive, forwards AND backwards for a few days/weeks. Give it a go girls.

We share all the driving, take it in turns when travelling to start or finish, so we are both experienced at both doing the backing and doing the directing. Have lost count of the number of times that some bloke has taken it upon himself to come over and try to guide me back onto a site, not once has anyone done that when John was driving.

I mentioned in another thread about "Keith" (father of the owner, well in his 80s) at Hideaway in Mission Beach. He will guide you onto your site with "millimetre" precision. He always has you back in from the "blind" side (ie turning left instead of right) and he deliberately stands right next to the passenger door so he can see the slab at all times and blocks your view in the mirror so you have to follow his directions. He just gives you "left down" "right down" instructions, works brilliantly. When backing in alone I find it better to come from the blind side as I can see the slab in my mirrors. I regularly travel in convoy with friends and wife always does the backing onto the site. Husband always lets her and readily admits that she is better than he at backing the van. My own driveway at home is as big a challenge as any campsite.