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.
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Hard work never killed anybody but why take the chance.
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.
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Neil & Lynne
Pinjarra
Western Australia
MY23.5 Ford Wildtrak V6 Dual Cab / 21' Silverline 21-65.3
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
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.
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Hard work never killed anybody but why take the chance.
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.
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
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