There are certain laws in caravanning you dont argue with. Like when the wife gives you directions to aid reversing. She tells you to turn left. You know you should turn right and do so. You end up in the position she intended and then she proceeds to tell you how grateful you should be that you have her to advise you. The law of silence at certain times is one that is not questioned.
Sir Issac Newtons law of gravity is another. Simply put: what goes up must come down. Now I know this. I had a similar experience to Sir Issac, but it wasnt an apple that hit me on the head. It was a cricket ball. You would think that the experience would indelibly stamp the law into my brain, but no and I expect Im not the first caravaner to receive a first-hand demonstration of the law in action.
Let me explain. Prior to unhitching your van you lower the jockey wheel and tighten the clamp. You now proceed with all the other operations necessary to put the van away until your next trip. Its at this point some of you might have noted that I highlighted the operation of the jockey wheel and clamp. Its also at this point that those who have experienced a similar event to that I am about to convey shudder at the memory.
It had been a while since our last trip and we were looking forward to our two weeks away on the Coral Coast. The car was loaded to bursting point with all the essentials including the Waeco freezer which was filled to capacity.The van was in position on the road and the only thing remaining for me to do was reverse the car up to the van and hitch up. Now for some reason my wife always likes to oversee the hitching up operation and here I refer to the start of the story The Law of Silence. I can usually reverse the car to within a few millimeters of the hitch without any reversing aids, unless of course you count the image of my wife in the rear view mirror doing impersonations of someone either swatting flies or landing an aircraft. With everything in position I proceeded to wind the jockey handle to raise the van to the correct height for hitching.
At this point Newtons law of gravity kicked in and all hell let loose. The van had risen to the correct height, only to drop again in a series of short, jerky movements until the A frame was resting on the jockey wheel. Thats not supposed to happen, my wife exclaimed. I tended to agree with her, but my language might have been a bit more colourful.
How did that happen? my wife asked. I was about to explain the law of gravity when I thought better of it. Sheepishly, I explained that I had not checked the tightness of the jockey wheel clamp. I had assumed that because I had tightened it when unhitching the van a couple of months ago it would still be tight. Its amazing the things you learn through experience. By this time we had quite an audience. Youll have problems lifting that, one of my neighbours exclaimed. Talk about stating the flaming obvious.
No problem, I replied, as if this was an everyday occurrence. Ill put a jack under the A frame, lift her up, loosen the clamp and drop the jockey wheel down again.
Where was the jack? You guessed it - in the back of the car under all those essentials including the Waeco fridge.
We all learn from experience. What had I learnt? Firstly, if Sir Issac Newton had owned a caravan instead of an apple tree he would have saved himself a bump on the head. Secondly, always place your jack where you can get at it easily. And lastly, carry a piece of strong tubing with you that will fit over the jockey wheel clamp handle making it longer enabling you to tighten it just that little bit firmer.
Agree with you there Grahame, seems to be the main form of entertainment in Caravan parks, watch the new arrivals unhitching or setting their awnings up etc.
A few days ago I had to hitch up a camper trailer and had pulled up to the top of the drive, when something told me I hadn't put the tow hitch lever down, got out and yep, hadn't done it!
Someone I knew (and experienced vanner by the way, but getting on a bit) forgot to lock theirs on, and the chains acted as a pendulum when it came adrift while travelling acting like a battering ram and damaging the rear of his vehicle.
Great post by the way, keep them coming.....
-- Edited by Duh on Wednesday 18th of July 2012 04:56:46 AM
I can relate and sympathise. As a sole woman towing a 20ft van with a landcruiser I seem to attract a bit more attention than all the other vanners. I parked up neatly in Lakes Entrance, unhooked everything which needed unhooking, I thought, and hopped into Rosy my tug, to pull away. Crash, clatter, thud!!!!! What the h.ll! Oh, how embarrassing! The damned chains. I forgot to unhook the damned chains. Bugger! My jack was reachable, but one of the park staff came to my rescue - the damsel in distress. The only real damage, apart from my ego, was the jockey wheel. It was almost an abstract work of art. Oh, beautiful! Fortunately jockey wheels are one of the cheapest parts one can buy for a caravan.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
Not having started my travels as yet, and will be doing it in a MH, I dread doing something silly in front of all other more experienced campers. I have a vision of myself with a check list, sitting on the dashboard, and talking away to myself to make sure everything is in place. Guess, that will happen as it is from being with an airline pilot for 34 years who had check lists for everything, maybe there was a method in his madness after all. I know he had to have it for flying, but use to drive me crazy when we were packing to go away or had a project on the go. Now I am seeing the error of my ways of not taking more notice. Yup the clip board, yellow printed and laminated list, and hopefully I will be able to navigate my way around the country without too much drama, with an angel on my shoulder.
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Sharon
Dream it, believe it, live it.
4WD with a ford ranger. The possibilities are endless.
Nobody is infallible. Even very experienced drivers have moments of forgetfulness.
None of us are invincible either. The driver can become unable to drive for a simple little thing like something getting in their eye. I suggest to you Grahame, and all the other drivers who dont find the "helpful" directions given to be very helpful, that you find an empty carpark on a Sunday, hitch up, and go and have a practice at backing and giving signals that you both understand and find useful. Its important that you both take turns at this, there is no better teacher than to wear the others shoes.
Its nerve wracking to have to drive under duress when your partner's suddenly indisposed, but it can happen, and the practise makes both of us more aware of driving needs of the other.
Have you noticed that if no one is around you can back into a spot with a few inches clearance each side. First time Soon as someone turns up to watch it takes for ever to get into a spot wide enough for two caravans. I also appreciate assistance but it is very hard when three people are telling you something differant.
I'm glad to hear someone else sing the praises of the other driver. It only takes a very small incident to stop the driver from driving. I've been encouraging the "co-pilot" for years to just try towing. You only have to do it forward, at least to the next safe parking spot. So come on girls and partners, get in the c o ck pit, have a go. It's really not hard. It just take practice to give you confidence. You can do it.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
The first time I had to reverse Lulu a fair distance into my sisters front yard, which included ducking around a tree to my 'allocated' parking space, I did it first go. And brother and brother-in-law were watching. I got lots of praise.
Alas I've never done it that easy since! I know, practice makes perfect!
So come on girls and partners, get in the c o ck pit, have a go. It's really not hard. It just take practice to give you confidence. You can do it.
It has always amazed me when I hear women say that "he" does all the towing. Not sure why that would be, except sexist rubbish.
There is no reason why one sex should be better than another at towing or reversing.
I'm not always confident, but I'm happy to challege myself..... specially about reversing lol.
Rip and I share the driving, whether the van is on the back or not.
Yep, my sister and her hubby share the driving, and she does the reversing and he directs. Works well for them. Just between you and me, she's a better driver.
I'm not encouraging a competition, but I do think women can be more patient, can't we girls? I think the worst I've seen is when "he" got out of the driver's seat, and "she" got in, put both hands on the wheel, and took now further conscious part in the reversing operation. You see, he gave the instructions, and she blindly (well she could have been blind folded) "obeyed", and it all worked out just right. I was astounded, and asked her if she knew what he was telling her to do. "No. He just tells me what to do and I do it". In other situations I've seen the couple park the van up because he's fallen and broken something which prevents him from driving, and she wouldn't. So it was the expense of calling the RAC, RAA or NRMA or whatever, putting the tug on the tilt tray truck, and towing the van to somewhere, and the couple get a plane home after medical treatment. Now if it was me, I'd just stay put until I could move one. Home is where I'm parked.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
Now CG that tow idea might be a good idea for me heading up the Toowoomba Range when I head up there next, it was bad enough coming down but no way would I attempt going back up in with my car and A'van, last time heading home I had to give Brissie a miss and go inland from Rocky..........I wonder how much they charge for the tow !!
Gee Grizz, you're so chivalrous in these things. Such a charitable gentleman. Mind you I did learn a few tricks of my own out in the cattle station paddocks.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
Now CG that tow idea might be a good idea for me heading up the Toowoomba Range when I head up there next, it was bad enough coming down but no way would I attempt going back up in with my car and A'van, last time heading home I had to give Brissie a miss and go inland from Rocky..........I wonder how much they charge for the tow !!
Toowoomba Range isn't the only way to get across you know. We use the Gatton-Clifton Road when towing. It's about 44kms south of Toowoomba. Heading north, turn right off the New England Hwy about 3 kms past Spring Creek. It's a lovely drive, good road usually, and there's a free camp at Heifer Creek #615 in Camps 6.
I know, practice makes perfect! 
Yep, my sister and her hubby share the driving, and she does the reversing and he directs. Works well for them. 
Just between you and me, she's a better driver. 
