My husband Alan and I bought our dream caravan and new truck 8 weeks ago.  He had been diagnosed with cancer in April of this year, however hoped for another 2 years to travel and realise our dream of retirement and spending quality time together.  Sadly he passed away suddenly 4 weeks ago.  I am asking other members if they know of caravan lessons, I would like to honour our dreams and try solo however do not know how to tow, back or set up the van.  I do not want to sell the van, as it represents our hoped for future together.  Thankyou Bronwyn 

Gday...

I found this through Mr Google. Hopefully it could be helpful?

https://www.mirotraining.com.au/towing-and-reversing/

https://www.globalgypsies.com.au/training/Towing-Training/

I am not aware if these course are in your car/van or in one provided by the course.

If it had to be in your own car/van then perhaps a forum member in WA might be willing to help you in the initial hooking up and towing to the course ... or drive you to the course.

Perhaps someone from WA will read this thread and offer a little help.

Cheers - John

Many thanks for you suggestion.  Am reading through the information provided on the site.

Thanks John will check,these out, much appreciated.

Thankyou for the reply Roy, although a daunting task to try solo caravanning, the thought of having a plan like this is helping me a lot.

Like others, Bronwyn, I admire your resolve to go caravanning solo. My wife and I started on our dream nearly two years ago in choosing a caravan (new) and a 4WD (used) to tow it. We did a very short trial trip and learnt a lot of things (the hard way) and resolved that before we went anywhere else, we had to write out a detailed checklist of all the things to check before driving off and after stopping to set up. The list ran to well over a hundred items, but it has saved us much inconvenience and damage by following the list, mostly mentally after a week or so. There is a lot to learn about such travel because caravans and cars are such complicated gadgets, but the rewards are well worth the effort of learning. The Grey Nomads forum is a great place to get answers to the most obscure questions and if you can get some practical training/assistance so much the better. Good luck and smooth travelling for you.

My condolence on the sad loss of your husband, Bronwyn

Although I am a married man, I sometimes travel on my own, and therefore have some idea of solo travelling

Rockylizard (John), has given some good advice, which I shall add to
In the second link for caravan training in the Perth area, John has given, is a further link for a DVD
The link is below

https://www.globalgypsies.com.au/training/Towing-Training-DVD/
About $30 all up, but I have no idea what is in the DVD

My view is that if you can ask someone local, to show you the ropes, about hitching/towing/reversing your caravan, then (in my opinion), practice will make perfect

If you wish to do the course in Perth, and cannot find someone local, to drive your vehicle and caravan, down to the city, hang around while you do the course, and then sit in the passenger seat while you drive home
I will gladly assist.

As I live approximately 250 kilometres to the south west of you, (in Bunbury), a few days warning would be good
I shall not be available from Christmas, as (all things being equal), I shall be travelling (over to the east), for three to four months

Hopefully people from your area, or permanent travellers, will take you under their wing, and ask you to tag along with them
I wish you all the best in the future, and hope that there are many happy road trips ahead of you

You are a wonderful woman Bronwyn.

As has been suggested in previous comments, nothing works like plenty of practice. We don't know your set up, whether you have a weight distribution hitch, if you have a reversing camera to aid in hitching up.

You Tube is your friend here. There are literally hundreds of thousands of clips out there that explain all of the  things you need do and learn to become a competent and safe caravanner.

But practice is the key. I still have a bit of trouble occasionally whilst backing our van in, but I take my time, try not to get all fired up about it, and it all sort of works out in the end. I have got a lot better over time however. 

I am sure you will also find fellow travellers in van parks are more than willing to help out as well.

It would be my privilege to meet up with you on the road one day. My wife sends a hug. So do I. Safe travels. 

Thankyou Anne

Yes this is a hard hard time but I am determined to give it a go.  Have you had any experience?  We did one trip from Perth to Dongara for 3 nights as a test run about 6 weeks ago.  Loved the experience, took the dogs too!!!!  Where will you head first up?  What kind of van do you have?

Regards Bronwyn

Thanks Jimmy

Confidence is the key Imthink.  My son in law has offered to tow the van for me to Fontys pool in 3 weeks, while our daughter towers their camper.  While we are there he will show me some basics.  As you say it's practice!!! Thanks for the  words from yourself and your wife.  Encouragement from others is a big boost.  Thankyou.

Thanks Tony for your very generous offer.  I am hoping to give it a go (towing the van) when I go away with my family in 2 weeks time.  Our son in law has offered to tow the van for me to Fontys pool.  Our daughter will tow their camper.While we are there he will give me a go at towing the van.  Good luck with your trip over east, to do this trip was our eventual plan.

Thanks Stew.  Your email made me laugh as your experience was very similar to Alan's and mine on our first venture.  A trial trip to Dongara with the dogs for a few nights in September, no idea what we were doing.  The mirrors kept folding inwards if a truck passed us, couldn't back for nuts then we had a little crash on our own gate when we returned home!!!!!!!  But we had such fun.  I want to do such a trip again.  Slowly and carefully as I learn.

Alan Scott wrote:

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Thankyou Anne

 

Yes this is a hard hard time but I am determined to give it a go.  Have you had any experience?  We did one trip from Perth to Dongara for 3 nights as a test run about 6 weeks ago.  Loved the experience, took the dogs too!!!!  Where will you head first up?  What kind of van do you have?

 

Regards Bronwyn

No experience at all. I am looking at  buying a motorhome which as others have said is 50 of 1 and 50 of another. I just feel I would more confident in a motor home. I would head to my sister's place in Gloucester for a start and am welcome to stay as long as I like. They have a lovely large green area outside their home in a cul de sac, plus would be able to use their toilet. I would plan on actually living in my motorhome rather than moving in with them. I too have too small dogs who would be more than happy there.

I also plan on seeing my two nieces who will be living further up the coast - Port Macquarie and Tweed Heads. As they will be renting for a at least a year I have asked them to consider a quieter wider street or a drive way for the home so I could stay and catch up with them rather than paying to stay in a caravan park!

As to further adventures I will plan those in the future. Preferably settling into a free camp for a while if I found someone good while moving onto more interesting pastures when I want to.

Best of luck and hope to read how you get on. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Hi bronwyn,

my condolences on the loss of your husband Alan. A very difficult time for you. 

cannot advise on learning to drive caravan but lots of here will be able to point you in the right direction.

when you are able, there are womens groups you can join who go on trips together. We have seen them on our travels.

cmca and from memory there were a few groups on fb. To.

stick around here, you will make lots of friends.

kind regards. rocket

Alan Scott wrote:

.  Slowly and carefully as I learn.

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 Hi Bronny 

Wow, sorry for your loss.....this life can be so short. 

I can't offer much in the way of knowlege about losing people so close to you....but I can tell you you're more than capable of travelling alone & towing a van. 

Ive been on the road a while now by myself, and while you learn something everyday, your words up there (slowly and carefully) are key to your success. 

Just today I offered to move (reverse) my van (24.6') back so a lawn mower dude could mow under me and he said "can you reverse that?".....hahahaha 'no sh.t Sherlock, I'm not sure I'm on the road this long without being capable' lol, I find I rely on my skills as a human being more than anything else......lol.....

I did say to him the only stupid mistakes I'd seen in my time on the road had been committed by menfolk. My biggest advice would be to stop everything you are doing if a man comes to help out and you haven't asked for it. I have more than a few horror stories of them invading and thinking they need to 'help' you....usually while destroying your stuff. In fact just yesterday that happened to me, although that guy was willing to step back when I said 'go away' and just was feeling bad that I was doing it when he maybe should of been (van in for repairs). 

Good luck mate, but like I said....you're a human, you have the same cognitive skills as anyone else. Don't let anyone tell you you can't do it. Make sure you read lots about weights and forces and be respectful of road conditions. You'll be all good and you'll love the life. 

I am sorry to hear about your loss Bronny. I admire your resolve to keep on doing what you both had planned to do.

When I first purchased a van I had absolutely no idea of what I was supposed to do. As other more knowledgeable people on this site have pointed out, just do a bit of research and then get into it. I remember the first 5 kilometres I drove with a van hooked on the back were rather daunting, to say the least, then after that it just felt great.

If you go to a caravan park and don't feel confident about backing or parking the van, just ask for some assistance. Proprietors and your fellow travellers all help. It is not in the proprietors interest to have some poor person hitting the fence or the tap, they want your stay to be pleasant, just like you do.

If I am unsure about anything I have a look on the internet and then if still confused, I come on here. Always plenty of help available if you just seek it. Everyone learns something new all the time.

Just go for it. It will surprise you just how quickly you get the hang of things and before you know it, you will be advising others.

Hope we meet up somewhere along the road. I really admire your sense of adventure.

Condolences Bronwyn.

Yes, go follow your dreams.

Joe.