Caravans and traffic jams.

Don't stress Mike,

I have a mate who spent 15 years on the road towing a van. His policy was not to look in the rear view mirrors :-)

I have done around 400,000km towing. Some times I used to be able to see the insects on the bullbar of the truck following behind. Come across some very angry truckies too. On the whole they were good. I would tell them the same as you do and pull over at a convenient spot or slow down for them to pass. Most of the time my speeds were around the 60-70km mark and slower in very hilly country. In all my travels I never had a mishap apart from a 'light touch' by a B double on a bridge on the Newell Hwy and a meeting of mirrors with another caravanner also on a bridge near Mildura. Was towing a 27 footer!!

Best thing is not to worry about the idiots behind you.

Cheers

Hi Mikee,

When I tow and someone is on my tail, I use the old indicate with the right blinker twice then wait for them to pull out before slowing slightly. It does however amaze me how many people do not recognise this signal as a "please pass me" sign. It is nice too when I receive the left blinker twice from the passer once they have pulled back in ahead of me, rare as it is.

Cheers

Glenn

Mikee5

Take care lifting the accelerator foot when the trucks go by because you could get a sway up in the trailer. That could be nasty. I keep a constant speed at least until his trailer rear clears the towing vehicle. If it is uphill maybe you could slow a bit but that depends on prevailing winds too..

EV

In WA the problem is the 100 speed limit for trailers ... in other states its the posted speed .. much better .. but then again there are those stupid caravaners driving in a convoy at 70 or 80 and leaving no space between the parties for a 16m combo ...
stupid ..
have fun
gmd

Having just travelled from Vic to Cape York and back towing a camper trailer, I feel compelled to object to you calling me a fool in a car/ute/forby. Your rant shows incredible self-centredness.

Having travelled up the Queensland east coat, I encountered far too many of your kind (caravan towers doing 60-80k). You travel at a speed slower than the prevailing traffic, and then you spout off as if those who need to get past are the villains.

Let me have my spew about those towing caravans who
- Will not move over so I can see if it is safe to pass, you will broach the white line with your weaving van.
- once I get close behind in the slipstream to assist my passing move when it becomes possible, you will slow down so I lose momentum and because I am towing 1250kg (which you can't see ) I can't make it. The you say - look Mavis, at that fool behind us - he's right up our clacker.
- When I finally do make the move, you will bloody well speed up because, in your words, I am a fool in a forby, and so I will be committed and vulnerable and may well have to chop across in front of you, which you will no doubt interpret as me being an idiot rather than yourself being at fault for speeding up.
- When I am finally past and begin cruising at my 100k again, you will do the same to the next fool (your description).
- Consider overtaking to be a dying art, and will do everything in your power to make sure that is a prophesy.
- Will slow down for the windy sections and hillclimbs, building up a nice following. As soon as a bit of clear road appears or you crest the hillclimb, you will not allow your prisoners to go by, but trap them for as long as you can.

Selfish Clowns, some of those caravanners.

Interestingly we have travelled extensively around australia (in a single 4by) and never had any trouble with caravaners, truckies or single vehicle travellers. We were always been able to get past when we wanted and if not, well our diesel patrol doesn't go much faster anyway so we just sat behind and enjoyed the tow!!!

the only vehicles we have had trouble with are new 4bys towing camper trailers on dirt roads who refuse to slow down - on our last trip, between 2 vehicles we got 47 stone chips and cracks in our windscreens and bonnets all from campertrailer/4by set ups. Our theory is that their 'stone deflectors' designed to deflect stones from their own back windscreens flick the stones sideways into our vehicles. we ended up stopping and turning at right angles to the road everytime we saw one of these convoys coming as guarranteed they would'nt slow down at all!

Why do people blame caravanners for travelling at the speed they want to travel at?

After all, travelling at 70 kph enables virtually everyone behind ample opportunity to accelerate and overtake safely, when it is safe.

We all pay for, or have paid for, the roads to get us from A to B. Not A to B in a certain time. Not to allow us to start our journey half an hour later than we should. Not considering that the speeds vehicles are capable of now are 50% higher than they were when the roads were built.

20 years ago, it was trucks that were travelling at 60 kph. and you lot were probably whinging then.

There is no requirement that anyone travels at or greater than the speed that is safe for them to do so. Rather the opposite. You would all be whinging if caravans and trucks were continually being involved in accidents because they were travelling too fast.

Stop blaming slow vehicles for the increased traffic volumes that make overtaking difficult.

Stop blaming slow vehicles for the fact that the condition of the roads makes overtaking difficult.

Stop blaming slow vehicles for the lack of road improvements that provide enough overtaking opportunities.

Stop blaming slow vehicles for the fact that you were never taught patience. That you always want instant results, and are not prepared to allow anything to delay you in your rush to the end of your life.

Stop blaming slow vehicles for your inability: to appreciate life; to adopt the laid back Aussie approach to things; to enjoy the moment; to acknowledge another's existence; to be glad for someone else's pleasure.

Stop blaming...

Jeez, a thinking person could carry on for ever.

But no doubt all you impatient b***t**ds can't even take this ideal opportunity to spend a moment to reflect on things and perhaps resolve to relax for a change.

Whoosh, breath released, spew delivered, now has anyone blown their stack?

Well, the message is: R E L A X.
Let the pressure drop and live longer.

Ken
(with all the best intentions...)

As far as I know the LAW in Qld is that one may not exceed a certain speed but does not say one must maintain a certain speed
Keep left and courtesy to other road users would seem to be an way to live and survive

As the song says O lord its hard to be humble etc. etc.
Duke

And just to blot my copybook even worse...

I hate tailgaters too.
They are not trying to overtake, they probably just have lousy eyesight and need to be close to you so they can see you and feel safe. Of course that means they shouldn't be driving at all, but who am I to determine that?

Occasionally, when I am seriously concerned about one, I take the attitude that I should drive defensively.

Normally that means drive at sufficient distance from the vehicle in front that you can safely stop, or take what action is required as a result of their actions. The three second rule applies, or roughly 1 car length per 10kph is good enough for me most of the time.

With tailgaters, since they don't appear to be applying the recommended discipline, I am pleased to do it for them.

That means that I gradually slow down to such a speed that the gap they leave is sufficient for them to take whatever avoidance action might be required of them.

Nothing aggressive, just gentle braking (to show my stop lights, that's the law).

When the gap is so small that I can't see their headlights, that probably means we sohould only be doing 10 kph.

Of course, at a lower speed, they then have the best, safe opportunity to overtake me.

When the gap is sufficient for the speed we are doing, then after a brief time to ensure their driving has stabilised, and they have chosen not to overtake, then I will gradually speed up, monitoring the gap so that my speed and their gap is always within the safety recommendations.

Gap reduces, my speed reduces. Gap increases, my speed increases. But at any time I get the impression they wish to overtake, then I keep everything constant so they have the best opportunity.

It works for trucks too, and after they go down a few gears, I find that my gradual increase in speed tends to be faster than theirs.

What is wrong with that? (Unless you are the ****wit behind me!)

Ken

Had three trips to the mainland from Tassie twice towing van,when you come up behind a roadtrain all his left hand wheels are on the left hand side white line when you come up behind a caravan his right hand wheels are sitting on center white line making it very difficult to see if road ahead is clear,you often have to drop well back to get a view then have to make up ground to pass.
Ronnie

Buy a 100 Series Turbo Diesel Landcruiser or a Nissan with a V8 Chev in it. Solves all yer overtaking problems.............

My former TD 'Cruiser used to tow a 3 tonne 18 foot van, come up behind a road train at 90 kmh or whatever, and then go past it at 140 kmh without so much gear change.

The Nissan V8 does the same but not with quite the same quiet, smooth, sophisticated aplomb ;)

I've had it up to here with tow vehicles that are slow when towing. Much safer if you've got "grunt on tap". Either that or don't overtake.

My old Ford Mav used to put my heart in my mouth sometimes!!

Bilbo