I notice a lot of people having trouble backing their caravans in be side concrete slabs. I thought I might share a little trick I developed early in my 30 years of caravanning and it goes like this.
(A) Always back in from the right hand side so you are looking out the drivers window.
(B) Measure the over all width or out side of the Van tyres. Mine was 7ft, 11 1/2 inches, or 242 Cms.
(C) Find a piece of rope, string, doweling etc about 7 to 8ft long, and carry it with you.
(D) When you arrive at the site, lay that piece of rope or dowelling on the ground 7 Ft, 11 1/2 inchesfrom the edge of the slab.
(E) Now it is a simple matter looking out the drivers side to back in and get the Right hand wheels on the piece of rope first time without, the Mrs screaming and shouting.
If the neighbours don't see you put the piece of rope on the ground, they think he is one clever cookie.
Delta18 said
07:12 PM Sep 14, 2015
I guess I do something similar, without the rope. I reverse to line up my wheels with the tracks left by thousands of previous vans. Same result I guess.
Good tip though for 'trackless' sites.
hako said
08:25 PM Sep 14, 2015
That's something I've always been wanting to try but never game enough basically. It's also something you can try in any open area to practice....just lay the piece of dowel down somewhere behind you and then back up parallel and touching the dowel. Now I've just got to do it.
Thanks
Baz421 said
08:59 PM Sep 14, 2015
SWMBO stands where I want the relevant wheels to go (either side) or place an object there and/or follow the older tracks or sight the concrete edge.
Young Simmo said
09:19 PM Sep 14, 2015
I probably should explain my reason for offering that tip. We have been in a Park Home since Feb 1999 and being a permanent in a park for 16 years you see a lot of hopeless examples of trailer backing. I never say BOO, I just watch and quietly laugh. I could also add that I got my trailer backing certificate about 50 years ago when I had a couple of milk rounds over 3 or 4 years using a Kingswood and trailer. It wasn't easy backing in between a couple of Milko Utes at 2 am in poring rain.
Cowboy7307 said
05:02 AM Sep 15, 2015
I always thought the concrete pad was there to park your caravan on ,seeing its nice and level,
NeilandRaine said
07:08 AM Sep 15, 2015
I must be a bit different, I like to come in from the left side, looking over my left shoulder and passenger mirror the pad is always in view
hako said
07:12 AM Sep 15, 2015
So do you practice what you preach.....put a dowel on the ground when you reverse park your van? Despite reading before of this method I've never actually seen anybody park this way but I'm willing to give it a go.
Delta18 said
10:19 AM Sep 15, 2015
Cowboy7307 wrote:
I always thought the concrete pad was there to park your caravan on ,seeing its nice and level,
Some do but most I've seen don't like you driving on & maybe damaging the pad.
Also the concrete gives a nice, clean & dry place for the awning.
Cheers Neil
Hydeeeho said
04:21 PM Sep 17, 2015
Exactly, I have been known to park the van on the nice flat slab
-- Edited by Hydeeeho on Thursday 17th of September 2015 04:27:01 PM
Hydeeeho said
04:25 PM Sep 17, 2015
Cowboy7307 wrote:
I always thought the concrete pad was there to park your caravan on ,seeing its nice and level,
Exactly, I have been know to park on that nice level slab
Young Simmo said
06:04 PM Oct 10, 2015
For the uninitiated the concrete slab as far as I know if for the annex. Go into any park and look at the location of the slab.
aussietraveller said
04:16 PM Oct 11, 2015
Like Neilandraine I prefer to reverse in from the left like you as I can see the slab at all times and much less chance of looking like a novice after over 40 years of towing a caravan,the wife is amazed how often I get it right first go, and to be honest so am I think there's a fair amount of luck involved.
-- Edited by aussietraveller on Sunday 11th of October 2015 04:18:12 PM
Young Simmo said
04:32 PM Oct 11, 2015
My Ostia Arthritis in my neck, insists that I look out of the drivers door - window. All our cars a different, and so are all our bodies.
Sharke said
06:30 PM Oct 11, 2015
Young Simmo
May be this belongs in Hints Tips and Great Ideas.
Cheers
Jeff
Young Simmo said
06:43 PM Oct 11, 2015
I am sure that when I subscribed to this forum it was Grey Nomads, when did it change to Grey Bellyachers?
I notice a lot of people having trouble backing their caravans in be side concrete slabs. I thought I might share a little trick I developed early in my 30 years of caravanning and it goes like this.
(A) Always back in from the right hand side so you are looking out the drivers window.
(B) Measure the over all width or out side of the Van tyres. Mine was 7ft, 11 1/2 inches, or 242 Cms.
(C) Find a piece of rope, string, doweling etc about 7 to 8ft long, and carry it with you.
(D) When you arrive at the site, lay that piece of rope or dowelling on the ground 7 Ft, 11 1/2 inches from the edge of the slab.
(E) Now it is a simple matter looking out the drivers side to back in and get the Right hand wheels on the piece of rope first time without, the Mrs screaming and shouting.
If the neighbours don't see you put the piece of rope on the ground, they think he is one clever cookie.
I guess I do something similar, without the rope. I reverse to line up my wheels with the tracks left by thousands of previous vans. Same result I guess.
Good tip though for 'trackless' sites.
Thanks
SWMBO stands where I want the relevant wheels to go (either side) or place an object there and/or follow the older tracks or sight the concrete edge.
I probably should explain my reason for offering that tip. We have been in a Park Home since Feb 1999 and being a permanent in a park for 16 years you see a lot of hopeless examples of trailer backing. I never say BOO, I just watch and quietly laugh. I could also add that I got my trailer backing certificate about 50 years ago when I had a couple of milk rounds over 3 or 4 years using a Kingswood and trailer. It wasn't easy backing in between a couple of Milko Utes at 2 am in poring rain.
I always thought the concrete pad was there to park your caravan on ,seeing its nice and level,
So do you practice what you preach.....put a dowel on the ground when you reverse park your van? Despite reading before of this method I've never actually seen anybody park this way but I'm willing to give it a go.
Some do but most I've seen don't like you driving on & maybe damaging the pad.
Also the concrete gives a nice, clean & dry place for the awning.
Cheers Neil
Exactly, I have been known to park the van on the nice flat slab
-- Edited by Hydeeeho on Thursday 17th of September 2015 04:27:01 PM
Exactly, I have been know to park on that nice level slab
Like Neilandraine I prefer to reverse in from the left like you as I can see the slab at all times and much less chance of looking like a novice after over 40 years of towing a caravan,the wife is amazed how often I get it right first go, and to be honest so am I think there's a fair amount of luck involved.
-- Edited by aussietraveller on Sunday 11th of October 2015 04:18:12 PM
May be this belongs in Hints Tips and Great Ideas.
Cheers
Jeff