I hate reversing, especially into a tight spot !!!!

Been to the Tow-ed course, and I CAN do it, but I HATE it !!

I do anything to avoid it, especially when we get home, and its got to get in the gate, and there's no avoiding that.

I reckon next time, I'll bring it in the middle of the night, when there's no traffic and no neighbours............... ugh !!!

Now someone is goning to come on and tell me they can reverse park their rig between cars in the main street ........................... and I'm going to cry

Oh now that's funny Chris lol

Michelle

Was asked to back our van into a very, very tight spot at Charleville c/park.

Staff came out and said to me they would direct me in, I asked the lady could she tell me exactly where she wanted the van.

Placed the van in with inches to spare and she said, "Sorry, I should have asked what you do for a living, obviously you are a truckie."

"No," I replied, "I have been a driving instructor for twenty years."

The secret has been revealed, keep your hand at the twelve o'clock position, and only move steering in small, smooth turns.

I keep telling students that the easiest part of a driving test is the reverse park.

After a few lessons, they agree.

Ken

When we have to  reverse somewhere tight or when hooking up we always use a pair of handheld radio's that way we don't miss seeing anything that might be in the way

msg wrote:

---

Me either HW. Thats why I bought a MH that fits in a normal car park. but hate those reverse angle parks in a lot of towns. Mostly give them a miss.

---

 I think the angle parks are much easier than parallel parking...without the van naturally.

I've become better at reversing with the van on, but still get it wrong alot and have to start again.  Where it's parked up at a friends place, there's 5 acres to play around on, so where it ends up is where it stays.

Know what you mean,

I guess like many others i have put a towball on the front of my Navara, just slide the hitch in when needed, then drive the van in the tighest of spots, little messing around un-hitch then re hitch but well worth it.

And No, it dosn't protrude past the front of the car when not used !!

Miroku12g

Never used this method of hitching car to van.But one solo lady had it down pat so to say.She taped a broom and a mop to eaither side  of her the van with the handles protruding out from van ,and bingo she just backed in between the handles ,and hitched up.Have keept this tip in the grey mater . 

vk6tnc wrote:

---

The easiest way I found to reverse is to place one hand at 6 o'clock on the steering wheel, then move your hand in the direction you want the rear of the van to go.

---

 I'm a 6 o'clocker too.  Works for me.

My problem may be that I like to initially go full lock to get the van turning & then gradually turn towards opposite lock to straighten it as the wheels approach the aiming point.  I can watch the van wheels because I start with the site/slab on the passenger side. I try to continue a metre or so beyond the aiming point (ie where the wheels should end up).  By this time in theory, the tug's wheels are straight.  I get out & check for level and where necessary put down ramps & pull the van forward onto the ramps & level with the aiming point. 

At the start of it all SWMBO stands near the front of the slab & raises her had to signify that the rear of the van is past her & I am positioned to start the manouver. She also ensures  that I don't go back to far & knock over any taps, power box, or go into any neighbouring van or tree etc..  (edit) She also helps by waving her arms around in strange fashions.  I take no notice except for the stop signal and tell her what a good job she has done when we are finished.

The 'problem' is that my habit of turning full lock as a first move always gets me into trouble with box trailers and the like.

To hitch up, I first raise the van hitch to knee level (Correct height to match the ball on flat ground) & fit the trailer aid (piece of V shaped steel) on the tug. Then I get as far forward as possible and in line with the van.  I have a piece of dymo tape on the tug's rear window & a similar one on the inside of the van boot lid.  With the boot lid up I reverse slowly back using the rear vision mirror aligning the two marks.  I stop & get out to check when a few meters from contact & check for alignment & height.  I then continue reversing very slowly till I hear the 'clunk".  I finally come forward an inch or so & volar! all done.  In theory at least.

One day I'll fit a reversing camera .. maybe.

That's the main reason I bought a ute and slide-on. But then I have this to contend with (but only once).

Been using the front hitch for 40yrs, only way to go in tight areas like driveways, I have about 50mm clearence each side of van & it easy.

You must learn to use the mirrors. Recently seen a bloke looking over his left shoulder when backing a van, now just what was he going to see there, only the front of the van.