Exploding caravan... myth or reality

Andrew,

That report was an interesting read! My assessment being that the Jongs were inexperienced and possibly badly advised. You are quite correct in suggesting that it should be compulsory reading for anyone planning to join the grey nomad caravan journey. Quite possibly an avoidable tragedy and certainly an eye opener about set up and the like - and knowing what you are dealing with.

Kind regards

You obviously don't tow a caravan. I've towed one for several years all aroubnd this country on a variety of roads covering 10's of thousands of KM.

Most 4WD mirrors are very good without fitting extensions. Especially the left side which shows things closer. I fit extension mirrors and the increase visability is negligable as they don't actually let you see being the van when some IDIOT is right up the rear of the van in the blind spot. They then pull out suddenly and we're expected to know they were there.

Semi drivers are no better than most motorists, they too sit in the blind spot and pull out without warning which generally does not alolow us enough time to adjust our position on the road and pull further to the left..

Unless you have a rear camera setup you are blind. On straight roads I tend to "swing" the van so I can see the road behind me. Corners or bends assist as well.

Most vanners are usually very situationaly aware, as we have to be. Other road users, rather than get bleep of with us should understand its not all beer and skittles for us either.

Don't sit in the blind spot.
Drive with your headlights on ALL the time
Poke your car out first let us know you are there and overtaking.
Be a little more patient you will get past us eventually

Wizard,
I have a camera set up on my truck and camper, so much of this doesn't apply to me anyway.
However, a couple of things you said don't make much sense to me ........
You mention:
1). "when some IDIOT is right up the rear of the van in the blind spot. They then pull out suddenly and we're expected to know they were there."
My question is, how come you were not aware they were in their (in your blind spot) in the 1st place. Surely you'd be aware of someone approaching from behind and then "disappearing" into your blind spot?
2). " Semi drivers are no better than most motorists, they too sit in the blind spot and pull out without warning which generally does not alolow us enough time to adjust our position on the road and pull further to the left."
Same thing with this point....... PLUS, if you have a blind spot big enough to swallow a semi trailer, then you REALLY do have a problem, me thinks!!!

Sorry, not trying to pick an argument.....it's just that I was brought up to always "know" what was behind me. If you are aware someone has pulled into your blind spot, you automatically keep that in mind until they come out from it.

Semi drivers have the exact same problem, only more so.

Not really wishing to stir here but I have often wondered about the signs on the big rigs "if you cant see my mirrors then I can't see you" and like Roachie I find that even with obscured vision at times I would always know what is behind me. Maybe I have always driven with one eye in the rear view since my boy racer days.

I have always been lead to believe that it was my resposibility to know, ie to have correct mirrors/cameras or the like. But I have been wrong before! So those signs have always been a bit of a mystery for me.

Kind regards

Well Mr Wizzard, I dont know where you have been for a long while but you can get Mirrors to now see behind your van mabey its time you made a visit to a Spare Parts Shop as I tow a van 8ft wide and have mirrors to see whats behind me at all times but also you must look in the mirrors.
Hope I dont come up behind you in my travels,
So go look at the Aussie Truck Mirrors and you will notice whats goin behind you.

djpatrol

Doesn't only happen to caravans, only last year I watched as the drivers door was sucked off a car by a passing semi and sucked everything out of the car including the seat covers and the drivers handbag and I had to dodge the lot. The car was parked on the side of the road with 2 wheels still on the white line and the driver was bending over doing somthing on the seat with the door resting against her bum, how she did not go under the wheels I dont know but it was all pretty scary stuff. I would not have believed it possible if I had not seen it happen.

Highway was a hellava lot narrower back then as well from memory about 3/4 the width of what you would consider a proper width road nowadays. often with deadly shoulders so if you left the bitumen you had a fight on. havnt seen a speeding truckie for many years but it used to be common. i remember dad flogging our old valiant up to 90mph to stay in front of a truck west of kimba to avoid getting passed on those one lane roads which passed as double lanes

Davoe
quote : havnt seen a speeding truckie for many years but it used to be common/

Go and get an old truck from the seventies and I'll show ya one ....

"havnt seen a speeding truckie for many years"

ROFLMAO

Where have YOU been hiding???? Don't tell me you believe that speed governing crapola LOL

Yep i do plenty of driving through the night i usually plan my trips that way I could not tell you the last time i saw a truck speeding (maybe a few ks over but thats it) and we have pleeeenty of truckies on the road over here at night

They must be more relaxed over your way Davoe. Over here it's a case of pick the truckie NOT speeding :)))