Talk to me about caravans

I was hoping for some Caravan advice, or more specifically the parking of a caravan.
I am well versed in the ways of a motorhome, can park and indeed parallel park without the aid of a reversing camera but in August I changed the moneypit to a caravan. So far so good.

My problem is I have no clue about parking and pitching the caravan. I do not have motor movers and do not intend to get any in the near future so could any caravan people advise me on how to park. Is there a turn point? At my storage facility is there a distance I need to be in front before I start turning so I dont hit a neighbours van? How do I get it so the peg is off my left rear?

Please impart your wisdom. Treat me like a 5 year old. For reference the van is 7.1 metres series 5 Bailey Indiana.

 

I did a trailer towing course, just the other side of Hednesford, back in the 90s when we used to tow radio towers around at work but haven't towed anything for years.

I recommend doing a course particularly if you've spent a lot on the van.

British HGV training do a course locally I believe but I've got no idea of the costs.

 

Appreciate the response sadly I am time poor .

 

Ah ok.

I've just goggled learning to tow a caravan and there are quite a few links that may be useful including an RAC video.

 

Yes I have watched a few.

 

If you can find the time, a tape measure, an assistant and an empty car park, there is no substitute for experience.

And maybe some cones..

 

If you know someone with a trailer, borrow that and do some practice on the empty car park Gramaisc mentioned above. You'll be able to see over and round the trailer, making it a lot easier to learn the basics before you try with the caravan.

That said, even though I tow a trailer several times a week I couldn't be arsed when I had the 'van and used a motor mover.

 

Motor movers are a massive step forward - and backwards, particularly.

Lots of practice is the only way to learn reversing a trailer with another vehicle, especially a 'box' that you can't see over.


I remember shipping stuff to Turkey and a driver arriving with a rigid truck, pulling a two-axle trailer. The stuff that was going in the trailer was located in a very awkward place, very tight and round a sharp blind corner. It was suggested that the trailer be unhitched, lifted over with the crane, filled and lifted back to be hitched up to the main truck again. Unfortunately, the driver hadn't a word of English and we had no Turkish speaker available, so it was explained to him in sign language and by showing him where the trailer was going.

Well, we thought it had been explained to him - until he got in the cab and reversed it all the way round in one swift move.

 

K