What I was taught when reversing with a trailer/caravan. Put your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel and reverse moving your hand in the direction you want the trailer to go. Helped me!
Good morning Karen, having watched most of your vlogs now I think you now are a very competent reverser..Anyone who has survived the narrow British roads and the race tracks they call Motorways is fit and ready for the ultimate trial ....the lanes of Devon and Cornwall
Hi You’re doing great. I drove articulated lorries for a couple of years....struggled a bit with the reversing. My instructor told me the shorter the trailer..the harder it is to reverse because the short trailer/caravan reacts so quickly to the steering wheel movements Safe travels
Travelling K That’s right. I know what you are experiencing with arrivals and departures with the caravan....I used to HATE arriving at a drop off and have to try and get into a tight spot. Of course there would always be receiving staff who would helpfully inform me that “ all the other drivers seem to manage” !!
For slewing the van round when on grass or rough, carry a 4ft plank to put under the jockey wheel as a smooth track. When I arrive home, halfway up my driveway I need to do a 3(!) point turn of the whole outfit in a similar space to 3:20. Having got into like that position, with the car at 45 degrees and no more room front or back, I unhook the van, turn the car round, and hook up again with car facing the other way to complete the turn manouvre.
A bit late for you K, as I'm sure you've already got this all sussed out by now, but a few of the best tips I can share with anybody else who may just be learning to back a caravan, or any trailer for that matter, (sorry if I'm repeating what's already been said as I haven't read all the comments) is to try your best to start the manoeuvre with both the car and trailer in a straight line. I find if you start all crooked, it'll just be all wonky the whole time. Secondly, and this is a big mistake many beginners make. Don't wind a whole lot of lock on, otherwise you'll jackknife in no time. A small movement with the steering wheel has a big influence on the trailer, especially one with a short drawbar. Just make small corrections more often. People tend to panic when they see it going the wrong way and madly wrench the wheel round, making things worse. If it's not going right, you're better to pull forward, straighten up and start again. You've got all the time in the world so go slow and don't panic! And if you're backing into a driveway or a camp site, remember that once you get it going in the right direction you have to start following it around. If you continue turning the opposite way too long, you'll be seeing the trailer appearing beside you! It's a very unituitive process that can only be mastered with practice.
You did everything right getting the caravan going in the right direction the bit where you cocked it up was your follow through. You left your lock on too long (steering) and you could have got closer with your nearside of tge van to your pivot point thus giving you more room to get back in line. Get the van pointed in the right direction then work quickly but smoothly to get the car back in line with the van. When reversing if your van starts to appear in your left mirror then turn steering wheel left hand down and right hand down when it appears in right mirror. I see lots of drivers try to reverse into a spot on their blind side ie if your car is right hand drive they go past the spot on their left then reverse only to find they lose sight of the rear of the van and the spot (we can't see around corners) but if you swap this situation round ie turn the car round and reverse with the spot to your right you will see both van and spot. This info is not aimed at you btw it's just general info from a trucker. 99% of drivers go straight out onto the roads without towing tuition and nobody is born with these skills. When you master the skill of reversing then you stop worrying about what kind of spot you get and you enjoy the challenge.....the first 3 months after passing my class 1 test I spent the whole journey worrying about the drop and how much room there would be...funny I know and for the record I still cock it up every now and then 😁 When out on the road keep a magic meter from the kerb, do all your breaking in a straight line and mirrors mirrors and more mirrors.
I hate reversing my caravan onto the drive, someone always turns up and I end up blocking the road, then I get the angle wrong and have to pull it forward again, so I invested in a moor mover, I still keep trying to reverse every so often when no one is looking, one day I will get the hang of it.
Hey Karen. I don't know if you have heard this one. When I first started to drive articulated lorrys, (tankers) , I was trying to back into a very narrow space between two very large chemical storage tanks. And off a narrow lane too boot. anyway I was making a complete hash of it when this old driver walked by and with out so much as looking up just said back to the driver side. and you know what if you back to the driver's side having already established that the trailer will fit width wise and use your rear wheel as your guide it works great. Great videos. Trying to catch up. Thanks
Half the battle is setting yourself up before the reversing. In other words, if you're backing drivers side 90 degree turn, then at the site you intend reversing into, as you approach, drive to the kurb on the right. As the car passes the site to back into, throw the car left lock to the opposite side and straighten the car on the other side of the road leaving the caravan bent looking as though you've just driven out. This sets you up to c complete the reverse.
I was advised to raise the stabiliser arm before reversing. This is because there is no need for a stabilising action in reverse and it allows the caravan to move more freely on the towball. Must admit though that I don't always remember to do this myself due to all the other stuff that's going on at the time.
And yes your practicing has really paid off, i would say there maybe isn't anything you cant back up at this point since you have been doing your Vlogs...Great job Karen...Vic
A great reversing tip is to only hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand then if your hand moves to the right thats the direction your caravan will move same for the left
I wonder if buying those cheap roadcones from the warehouse would help, and go to an empty parking lot and practice. I recently had to stick a trailer up my driveway to get rid of some greenwaste... my driveway is narrow and also my street is narrow. I feel reasonably confident reversing... BUT... ONLY if I have space to make corrections. And my driveway and my street don't have space for corrections, so I ended up un-hooking the trailer, pushing it up the drive, then backing the car in and reconnecting.
Oh, road cones and a big open space would definitely help. Good call unhooking the trailer. I'm the same - struggle if there's no room to fix the angle.
You don't need to confuse the situation by remembering to reverse right, the car has to go left etc. Take your hands off the TOP of the steering wheel and place them on the BOTTOM. Now, if you want the van to go right, move your hands to the right. (You will see the steering wheel go left at the top, which will steer the car left). Try and get the van at 45 degrees to the turn and avoid trying to jack knife it in. (Which is why you need to go forward!)
I hate reversing caravans too, our previous caravans were kind of old but we now have a 2013 4 berth caravan and it came fitted with a caravan mover and that makes it a lot easier to pitch it and putting the caravan in and out of the driveway. Maybe this would be something that you could have fitted sometime.
Excellent tips there. Whose idea was it to place that huge great rock right next to the bay you are reversing in to? An accident waiting to happen! I've often have the same issue as you, where there is not enough room in front of me to pull forward, either due to trees, shrubs or other cars/caravans on a pitch opposite me. Although I can reverse on to most pitches OK, I've decided to invest in a motormover for those situations where reversing is extremely difficult or just impractical. It will also be great for turning the van round 180 degrees to take advantage of that sea view pitch!
I know! That rock was encouraging me to be very cautious. I completely agree about how handy it would be to have a motormover for the views. My current site would be fantastic if I was facing the trees.
Thanks for the tip using the toy car, as im about to teach my daughter how to reverse her 1st caravan, if all fails, ill fit a motor mover , just need to watch i dont exceed the max towing weight.
Thank you. It is a tricky decision. I went with a caravan because I liked being able to leave the caravan at a campground and drive to the supermarket or just explore with the car. Plus I found it was a lot cheaper to buy the caravan!
If you put your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel then you move your hand which ever way you want the trailer to go. You want the caravan to go right move your hand to the right. At least that is the way it works here in the states. Of course practice make it easier.
I know this is my 3rd comment and all but when a clocked the matchbox logo it took me straight to my childhood....god I'm old lol. Hotwheels took over them in the UK ☹
I had not seen this video. the toy car was a great way to demonstrate things. There's just no way i could fit my rig into those small sites. Reversing is a skill for sure and i avoid it, if at all possible, but a reversing camera does help.
lucky you. Perhaps you can give me some lessons, if we are in the same NZMCA park. You know i avoid reversing to the extent that I google earth every route I'm going to drive to avoid situations where I might have to reverse. Its the 46 foot length more than anything. Just physically impossible to maneuver in tight situations. However I would not trade my rig for any other option out there. :)
when my mates dad wanted me to reverse a light truck with a trailer full of gear on it he just drew a rough picture of the trailer stuck it on the steering wheel with the draw-bar up and said"when you turn the wheel the trailer goes that way..works every time ..as someone else said it's a simple head thing
People may get this analogy when I say reversing a trailer etc is like steering a wheelbarrow whilst holding the handles behind you whilst walking backwards....you you move the handles to your right and the barrow goes left etc....its a brain thing.
It was searching for a 'how to reverse' video that brought me to your excellent channel Karen. I'm really glad that it did as I am thoroughly enjoying going through the past twelve months of content. Congrats on 2K subscribers! One extra added here from the UK.
What I was taught when reversing with a trailer/caravan. Put your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel and reverse moving your hand in the direction you want the trailer to go. Helped me!
Good morning Karen, having watched most of your vlogs now I think you now are a very competent reverser..Anyone who has survived the narrow British roads and the race tracks they call Motorways is fit and ready for the ultimate trial ....the lanes of Devon and Cornwall
those British roads were interesting!!
Hi
You’re doing great.
I drove articulated lorries for a couple of years....struggled a bit with the reversing.
My instructor told me the shorter the trailer..the harder it is to reverse because the short trailer/caravan reacts so quickly to the steering wheel movements
Safe travels
Thank you!! Guess I’ve now done it enough times...
Ah yes, I’ve heard that it’s harder with a smaller trailer! Reacts quicker??
Travelling K
That’s right.
I know what you are experiencing with arrivals and departures with the caravan....I used to HATE arriving at a drop off and have to try and get into a tight spot.
Of course there would always be receiving staff who would helpfully inform me that “ all the other drivers seem to manage” !!
For slewing the van round when on grass or rough, carry a 4ft plank to put under the jockey wheel as a smooth track.
When I arrive home, halfway up my driveway I need to do a 3(!) point turn of the whole outfit in a similar space to 3:20. Having got into like that position, with the car at 45 degrees and no more room front or back, I unhook the van, turn the car round, and hook up again with car facing the other way to complete the turn manouvre.
3 point turn! Good idea disconnecting and getting van at the right angle.
A bit late for you K, as I'm sure you've already got this all sussed out by now, but a few of the best tips I can share with anybody else who may just be learning to back a caravan, or any trailer for that matter, (sorry if I'm repeating what's already been said as I haven't read all the comments) is to try your best to start the manoeuvre with both the car and trailer in a straight line. I find if you start all crooked, it'll just be all wonky the whole time.
Secondly, and this is a big mistake many beginners make. Don't wind a whole lot of lock on, otherwise you'll jackknife in no time. A small movement with the steering wheel has a big influence on the trailer, especially one with a short drawbar. Just make small corrections more often. People tend to panic when they see it going the wrong way and madly wrench the wheel round, making things worse. If it's not going right, you're better to pull forward, straighten up and start again. You've got all the time in the world so go slow and don't panic!
And if you're backing into a driveway or a camp site, remember that once you get it going in the right direction you have to start following it around. If you continue turning the opposite way too long, you'll be seeing the trailer appearing beside you! It's a very unituitive process that can only be mastered with practice.
Good advice 😀 I’ve ended up having plenty of practice and eventually got the hang of things.
Congratulations on backing up. I don't know how I'd do... Looking good there.
I was terrible at the start 🤣
good job! reversing with trailers is tricky!
You did everything right getting the caravan going in the right direction the bit where you cocked it up was your follow through. You left your lock on too long (steering) and you could have got closer with your nearside of tge van to your pivot point thus giving you more room to get back in line. Get the van pointed in the right direction then work quickly but smoothly to get the car back in line with the van. When reversing if your van starts to appear in your left mirror then turn steering wheel left hand down and right hand down when it appears in right mirror. I see lots of drivers try to reverse into a spot on their blind side ie if your car is right hand drive they go past the spot on their left then reverse only to find they lose sight of the rear of the van and the spot (we can't see around corners) but if you swap this situation round ie turn the car round and reverse with the spot to your right you will see both van and spot. This info is not aimed at you btw it's just general info from a trucker. 99% of drivers go straight out onto the roads without towing tuition and nobody is born with these skills. When you master the skill of reversing then you stop worrying about what kind of spot you get and you enjoy the challenge.....the first 3 months after passing my class 1 test I spent the whole journey worrying about the drop and how much room there would be...funny I know and for the record I still cock it up every now and then 😁
When out on the road keep a magic meter from the kerb, do all your breaking in a straight line and mirrors mirrors and more mirrors.
Thank you - I was really nervous when I first got the caravan about getting stuck in a dead end road! Nearly happened a few times too...
I hate reversing my caravan onto the drive, someone always turns up and I end up blocking the road, then I get the angle wrong and have to pull it forward again, so I invested in a moor mover, I still keep trying to reverse every so often when no one is looking, one day I will get the hang of it.
As soon as someones watching - it's harder! A motor mover is on my wishlist. Particularly for when I want the caravan windows facing the other way.
Hey Karen. I don't know if you have heard this one. When I first started to drive articulated lorrys, (tankers) , I was trying to back into a very narrow space between two very large chemical storage tanks. And off a narrow lane too boot. anyway I was making a complete hash of it when this old driver walked by and with out so much as looking up just said back to the driver side. and you know what if you back to the driver's side having already established that the trailer will fit width wise and use your rear wheel as your guide it works great. Great videos. Trying to catch up. Thanks
I’ve heard of this since!! A great tip 😀
Half the battle is setting yourself up before the reversing.
In other words, if you're backing drivers side 90 degree turn, then at the site you intend reversing into, as you approach, drive to the kurb on the right.
As the car passes the site to back into, throw the car left lock to the opposite side and straighten the car on the other side of the road leaving the caravan bent looking as though you've just driven out.
This sets you up to c complete the reverse.
I was advised to raise the stabiliser arm before reversing. This is because there is no need for a stabilising action in reverse and it allows the caravan to move more freely on the towball. Must admit though that I don't always remember to do this myself due to all the other stuff that's going on at the time.
Hmmm that's interesting. I haven't heard of that tip before! Thank you 😀
Very usefull and very generous to share this tip. You are an Angel 👍
And yes your practicing has really paid off, i would say there maybe isn't anything you cant back up at this point since you have been doing your Vlogs...Great job Karen...Vic
It's been a handy skill to have :)
Hey! You go girl! I deliver caravans and motorhomes... You did good! Stay safe.... Me, in the UK! A top tip, don't overthink it 😊 well done you xx
That's great Rachel!
A great reversing tip is to only hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand then if your hand moves to the right thats the direction your caravan will move same for the left
Hmmm, that's a really interesting tip!
hmmm I need to try this... even tho I dont have a caravan and have never backed up trailer yet lol
I wonder if buying those cheap roadcones from the warehouse would help, and go to an empty parking lot and practice. I recently had to stick a trailer up my driveway to get rid of some greenwaste... my driveway is narrow and also my street is narrow. I feel reasonably confident reversing... BUT... ONLY if I have space to make corrections. And my driveway and my street don't have space for corrections, so I ended up un-hooking the trailer, pushing it up the drive, then backing the car in and reconnecting.
Oh, road cones and a big open space would definitely help. Good call unhooking the trailer. I'm the same - struggle if there's no room to fix the angle.
You don't need to confuse the situation by remembering to reverse right, the car has to go left etc. Take your hands off the TOP of the steering wheel and place them on the BOTTOM. Now, if you want the van to go right, move your hands to the right. (You will see the steering wheel go left at the top, which will steer the car left). Try and get the van at 45 degrees to the turn and avoid trying to jack knife it in. (Which is why you need to go forward!)
This is the great tip, thank you. I still need to improve on my gradual reversing and get it in one go... I'll get there :)
edward charles
I smell a truck driver....sound advice buddy.
A farmer friend taught me to reverse trailers using my hand at the bottom of the steering wheel. Makes everything so simple.
I hate reversing caravans too, our previous caravans were kind of old but we now have a 2013 4 berth caravan and it came fitted with a caravan mover and that makes it a lot easier to pitch it and putting the caravan in and out of the driveway. Maybe this would be something that you could have fitted sometime.
A motormover is definitely on my one day wish list 😀
Yes, think that is " one of my main points jumping in the car going places.. plus a caravan has more space.. thank you.
Excellent tips there. Whose idea was it to place that huge great rock right next to the bay you are reversing in to? An accident waiting to happen! I've often have the same issue as you, where there is not enough room in front of me to pull forward, either due to trees, shrubs or other cars/caravans on a pitch opposite me. Although I can reverse on to most pitches OK, I've decided to invest in a motormover for those situations where reversing is extremely difficult or just impractical. It will also be great for turning the van round 180 degrees to take advantage of that sea view pitch!
I know! That rock was encouraging me to be very cautious. I completely agree about how handy it would be to have a motormover for the views. My current site would be fantastic if I was facing the trees.
So you will not back into the power box?
Great tips. I always get Jarryd to reverse when we have a trailer. Maybe next time I should give it ago. Cheers
Yes! It's a handy skill to have ;)
Thanks for the tip using the toy car, as im about to teach my daughter how to reverse her 1st caravan, if all fails, ill fit a motor mover , just need to watch i dont exceed the max towing weight.
I really learnt through practice... goodluck!
Brilliant info as I'm undecided about caravan tourer or just buy a camper motorhome.
Thank you. It is a tricky decision. I went with a caravan because I liked being able to leave the caravan at a campground and drive to the supermarket or just explore with the car. Plus I found it was a lot cheaper to buy the caravan!
@@TravellingK plus caravans have more room for the $$$, I see some lovely caravans but Ive convinced myself they would be too hard
If you put your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel then you move your hand which ever way you want the trailer to go. You want the caravan to go right move your hand to the right. At least that is the way it works here in the states. Of course practice make it easier.
That's a great tip!
We call them drive through sites here in Australia
Ah nice!
I know this is my 3rd comment and all but when a clocked the matchbox logo it took me straight to my childhood....god I'm old lol. Hotwheels took over them in the UK ☹
hahah guess they are still around in New Zealand then 😜
I had not seen this video. the toy car was a great way to demonstrate things. There's just no way i could fit my rig into those small sites. Reversing is a skill for sure and i avoid it, if at all possible, but a reversing camera does help.
I guess I keep getting into situations where I need to reverse😂😂😂😂
lucky you. Perhaps you can give me some lessons, if we are in the same NZMCA park. You know i avoid reversing to the extent that I google earth every route I'm going to drive to avoid situations where I might have to reverse. Its the 46 foot length more than anything. Just physically impossible to maneuver in tight situations. However I would not trade my rig for any other option out there. :)
Glad you like your rig! I was swapping stories with other RVers and the 'getting stuck' stories started coming out. It happens.
if i get stuck somewhere, maybe you could do a quick youtube video, with your toy car on how to get out. :)
haha that's a plan
when my mates dad wanted me to reverse a light truck with a trailer full of gear on it he just drew a rough picture of the trailer stuck it on the steering wheel with the draw-bar up and said"when you turn the wheel the trailer goes that way..works every time ..as someone else said it's a simple head thing
Oh I like this tip 😀
You made it look so easy
Took a while to get my head around it, but got there 😂
K you’re a legend!
hahah thank you!!
People may get this analogy when I say reversing a trailer etc is like steering a wheelbarrow whilst holding the handles behind you whilst walking backwards....you you move the handles to your right and the barrow goes left etc....its a brain thing.
Well done :)
People must like this vid, man, 18,000 views!
I think people want to know how to reverse a caravan😜
It was searching for a 'how to reverse' video that brought me to your excellent channel Karen. I'm really glad that it did as I am thoroughly enjoying going through the past twelve months of content. Congrats on 2K subscribers! One extra added here from the UK.
great tips!!
thank you i havent yet towed my caravan. im a bit scared
I was terrified at the start! But it got easier the more I did it.
I'm about to try now. First time God help us all 🤣
I damaged the clutch on my brand new car reversing THE CARAVAN completly burned it out
Ouch! That would have been an annoying expense!
No just an inconvience the car is still under Warranty
Ah, I'm sure it was a hassle. My brakes started playing up when I was in Queenstown and it was awkward trying to get them sorted.
Buy an Automatic i think they are better when towing.
spelt caravan wrong on the video title its self.
Bit of a word play with 'Travelling K' 😉
Check your spelling of "spelt" in your dictionary. It has nothing to do with the word spell or spelled. Spelt is a grain.
.... 😁jolly good carryon pip pips
your're very brave! I would hit that tree lol
Oh, I was average at the start!
I am good backer upera