“Caravans are a menace and should be eradicated”

Sorry JD but I agree with what a pain in the ass they are lol

It's not the caravans that are the problem,it's the silly old fart driving the vehicle pulling it! What we have found is if there is a problem with some one holding up the traffic up in front and they are towing a van it's usually old "pa" driving with this attitude of "I'm pulling a 2000kg caravan darl, so I should only travel at 60kph!"

Sounds like the same Bull^%$ they write about Motorcyclists. It seems there is a lot of people out there who hate others having a good time. Why don't they move to Afganistan.
Why can any dick voice his crap in public and gets put out in the media?
Maybe we should all sit at home and watch australian idol for the 400s time.....grrrrrrrrr

Reiner

Yes the ravings of a lunatic (not you jdpatrol, the reporter) - it will of course never happen (eradication/curfew) so why even suggest it as a solution. It obviously does gets on some peoples nerves and in some cases causes road rage (and forum rage by the looks). My solution, slow down with them and enjoy the drive - life's too short to get upset about being delayed for 10 or 15 minutes (or whatever). People should plan their trip and anticipate some delays of various types - reduce stress on your self and you will live a longer happier life...and maybe get a caravan and go cruising:)
Cheers
Greg

RESPECT RESPECT RESPECT to all road users.

Who cares if they are old farts, they have worked and served this country and deserve some peace enjoyment and respect on the roads

Brother hopefully you may be honoured with a sufficiently long life to enjoy to become an old fart meandering along to enjoy a holiday in your caravan.
Brother do you have some elixir of life that is going to stop you becoming old and becoming an old fart.

Why would you want to travel around when there are so many expensive cafe's in the city to be seen at?

I'm a reasonble person and if vanners feel more comfortable driving slower thats fine, BUT when they get a convoy behind jostling to get past, why can't they pull over and let them pass safely? The slow vanners are obviously not in a hurry and it's much safer for all involved.

cackles

The only people who have a problem with vans or trucks or anything else on the road are the people who can't drive. Most times when they come up to slow vehicle they have no idea how to pass. they sit right up behind where they cant see, they don't anticipate a passing opportunity and start a run-up, they just sit there and wait for a 3km straight and take most of that dithering before they pull out.
Bob

Hi JD
I am with you. The people that write such CRAP, never leave capital cities, only fly when on holidays and go overseas.

At least those that are travelling in their caravans are doing what they love, and that is to see the BEST and GREATEST COUNTRY in the WORLD, yes, our back yard, AUSTRALIA!!

People that travel this way spend money all over Australia, and with times the way they are, every dollar spent in towns around Australia, stays in that town, employing local people.

Long live freedom and our Australian dream of getting out there and seeing what is over the other side of the hill.

Stephen

Unfortunately, young Michael (whom I know by the way) has given a one sided view with a very narrow focus on his own perception of "life on the road".

He doesn't bother with broader and more accurate perceptions about how the investment in passing lanes and dual carriage highways has made driving on Australian roads, much safer than it once was.

And why, because he is too young to have experienced the slow vehicle convoys of yesteryear, when only a single lane road snaked its way through the Adelaide Hills, or north to the holiday destinations on the peninsulas, etc. Where even greater delays were caused by vehicles overheating in the almost stalled conditions and further blocking the thoroughfares.

Nothing is perfect and there is always room for improvement, but with a little patience, there is generally sections on most highways now where one can pass a slower vehicle safely.

Alas poor Michael, you have much to learn about life.
Maybe you should stick to your "expertise" as a Sports Editor.

As a regular Caravaner I must agree about caravans travelling in convoy but alot of the trouble is single cars, utes and hoons. Unless you have a rear view camara, that I have, rear view vision with a caravan is very limited and in quite a number of accations these people drive right of your arse where you can't see them. Regarding trucks, I have a CB and talk to truckies and vis versa. This works very well

Well if I can find a way of overcoming the overheating probs with the 4.2 td
When towing the c/van I will drive a little quicker

I don’t always have the off road trailer on the back (sometimes wish I did tho)
Besides I’m never in a hurry at the best of times

Cheers

Hey whatever has happened to the easy going Australian idea of fair go.

No I don't tow a caravan or anything else for that matter, and I have been annoyed when slow caravans hold me up.

It is easy to blame everyone but ourselves when we haven't got organised to allow for sufficient time to get to where we need to are go.

We all pay taxes and the open road is one of our great Oz experiences. Relax and you' find shell be right mate take it easy.ll

Reminds me of a truck driver who was complaining about being held up by a Torana full of ladies dressed for Lawn Bowls travelling between 80 and 90 kph in a 100 km p/h speed limit .

He quietened down very quickly when I told him it was probably my aged mother's car. I was paying for what he was delivering.

Cheers
Phil

he is obviously an impatient driver which may lead to him becoming deceased when on the road

You know what erks me with the car drivers is that they come up behind you (cause I 've slowed down for a bad piece of road etc) and they see the camper trailer behind the 4WD and think I can only do 80 to 90 ks and fly pass and then to sit on 95 bloody ks and then Iam right up there ass doing 100ks up hill and down, now that s""ts me.
Cheers Bruce

I tow a 2 t van I and am definitely not an olds fart, I've been 48 for years!

I listen to radio, television and read papers, and I'm of the humble opinion that it is journo's that should be eradicated, or at the very least desexed at birth (lol).

Regards Bob

Just stirring up sales for a flagging medium I guess--papers unlikely to exist in futire years--and who reads Sunday papers from Adelaide anyway?--and thats not picking on people from Adelaide.

Ding(old fart with van)

Now tell me jdpatrol why are you reading the Sunday Mail? It's worse than Woman's Day.

My other half used to be a journalist for the Advertiser (not the most reputable job she says) and even they used to laugh at how much of a rag the Sunday Mail was!

Seems like all you can do is hope that people do actually use their brains and see these type of articles for what they are, the editor telling their journalists to write something controversial. Not necessarily true, just controversial.

Barnesy

Come on JD your reading a Sunday paper in SA. enough said... he.he..

Richard

Yeah...........well what can I say? You have covered all the viable options...
As to sniping at the "CafeSet" well fair suck of the sav, that really lets the side down...I travel with my espresso machine & bread maker, I have only since reading this realised what total fwits we must look, sitting @ a roadside rest area sipping Muggachinos & nibbling on home made raisin toast....I try not to travel in convoy but at times to reduce submarine attack is is necessary, then I take the option of swerving all over the road to ensure that I cannot be passed thus giving moronic cretins an excuse to publish garbage in the papers....

"Yet more ill-informed, irresponsible ‘pearls of wisdom’ from the boring, hollow, do-nothing, know-nothing Cafe set – the mob that consistently knock people who have an interest in this wonderful country of ours, its landscapes and other endless highlights and experiences. " Hey Gramps is this evidence of more pimply faced tossers?

We read it too, and had a good laugh.

They guy was trying to be funny. Nothing serious there that I could see...............

I have been more piss**ed off with drivers comeing towards me, not slowing down and throwing stones as they pass then I have ever had with people towing caravans !! And guess what? Those drivers are invariably still wet behind the ears!

Anyone saying that caravans should not be allowed on the road should remember that the everyone has a right to "pass and repass" on a public road, something to do with a document signed in 1215 at place called Runneymead. But you young fellas probably never stayed at school long enough to learn about that!

The artical refered to was probably written by a 'walk off' anyway.

And I don't own a caravan or camper trailer.

I'm a caravanner and proud of it, I don't care if you call me a mobile road block it's just water off a ducks back. I tow at 90-95 kph on the flat and slower in the hills of course as the GQ petrol simply won't hold speed up the hills unfortunately. I constantly watch the mirrors to gauge how many vehicles are behind me and for what length of time and will either pull over or simply wait for the next overtaking lane if it's not too far away.
I have the UHF CB and will talk to truckies if they are behind me to let them know I will either pull over or go to the next overtaking lane and invariably they are OK with that. In fact, last weekend when I offered to pull over for a B Double he simply replied "don't worry mate, I'll round you up at the next overtaking point".
Here's an excellent point of view from a truckie on the MSN caravanners forum regarding overtaking and it's applicable to all of us towing vans around the country.
Regards Andrew.

"First of all a comment on speed . If you are comfortable towing your van at 80k 90 k 95k do it , it is a lot safer for all road users to do so than to try and keep up with the rest of the traffic but stay at that speed as best you can dont sit on 80k on single lane then speed up as soon as you hit a 3 laner or divided section . I have had this happen to me many times and later have spoken to the driver and tjhe answer was to get out of my way .
OK A truck comes up behind you on the road your sitting on eg 90k
If you have a UHF give him a call on 40 that way he nos you no he is there and have a radio
When he pulls out dont hit the brakes stay constant speed
when the truck is well on the way lift you foot count to 3 then put it back down you will drop maybe 5ks it is amusing how much easier it is to overtake with a small drop in speed like that.
When the back of the trailer or trailers is past you give the high beam a couple of flashs that lets the driver no its clear to come back in .
If there is a stuff up and the truck has just pulled out and something comes the other way DON'T hit the brakes stick the boot in otherwise you will end up in a braking duel .Watch what the truck is up to if he is reight beside you and something comes you can hear if he powers off and hits the brakes stick the foot into it and if there is room move over but keep the power on
Mick themungrel"

What nonsense. I've come across more stupid, dangerous inconsiderate drivers NOT towing caravans than I have who are towing.

If this sort of rot gets up, what's next? Banning 4WDs?

Swore I wouldn't even responnd to this cr@p, but couldn't help myself.

And no, I've never owned a caravan.

Makes a change from the 4WD bashing!! Or is that next week's instalment in Adelaide's premier BBQ cleaner and oil soaker-upper?

Cheers
John

I reckon its a fantastic idea! but maybe not as early as 11pm. still good drivign hours to be had there

People people people, he really got you going didn't he. It was only a "Journalist".

Well I'm a not so old fart who tows a van and the only time you see me doing 60kph is: if that is the speed limit or some dozy bugger in a Volvo or Honda is holding me up. ;)

anyway, make allowances for the idiot - he/she is a journalist, afterall.