Caravan Reversing Advice

I've installed a tow hitch on the front of my Navara and its the best accessory I've ever put on any vehicle. I push my camper up my driveway with 1.5 foot on either side and get it up into the back yard first go each time. It was a nightmare trying to back it in.
Arthur

It would depend on the approach angle, are you backing straight in, or is the drive curved?

Perfectly straight and only about a 6 metre drive.

To help with your advice - I have about 2" each side spare.
Is this possible - in your view?

Enough so you don't scrape it ??? Like driving into a garage with a vehicle that is a bit wider, most these day just miss the side mirrors either side, same thing applies, enough either side so you don't scrape the mirrors. Most standard garage door openings are 2.4 wide, so that gives you 16cm all up or 8cm either side to play with, providing you can reverse up to it dead straight no probs, if having to reverse at an angle guaranteed to hit/scrape it..WHG

Garytee,
I have another approach for you to consider. Obviously you need a slow and very contolled movement into your garage.
I have seen, but not used, a jockey wheel that had a ratchet set-up that allows you to drive the camper forward/back, left /right at a contolled pace. Plenty of time to see what you are doing without losing sight of either side.
regards
ian

Not sure what you mean by the question ' what excess distance is required to accomplish this'.
I would say if you don't hear any crunching noises, you have achieved what you wanted to do successfully.

Practice, practice, practice, that's in my opinion the best way to reverse accurately. And do it SLOWLY.
If you go off line when reversing slowly, you will either be able to correct it or worst case scenario, you wont go too far off line and be able to go forward and start again.
If you try and get it all over and done quickly, generally you finish up way off line, and you have to go a long way forward to line up again.
I have seen people trying to reverse into places and they have had so many goes at it back and forward, their car needs a service after they have finished.
Dave

With only two inches each side to play with, I believe the option of a front mounted tow hitch is your best option.

The problem with many modern vehicles is that what you see in the rear view mirrors is quite often "misleading", especially on the left hand side, with those convex mirrors.


PS - You wouldn't believe how may spelling mistakes I made in posting this response. I read it back and couldn't understand what I had written.
(Must have been the second bottle of red.)

Thank God for spell check! (When you remember to use it)

Bill.

Think it's time to go to bed:-)

If the driveway is level why not unhitch and push it in? That's what the two of us used to do.

G'day Garytee,

I'm a convert to reversing cameras. I'm not dure how practical this is in your case but a reversing camera and a person guiding the rear will allow for some tight places to be tackled.

My reversing situation I considered frightening but now with several dozen reversals under my belt I really can't justify the angst it gave me in the start.

Have a look,

Image Could Not Be Found

I'd say measure and give it a go.

Kind regards

Hi
I had a similar problem and what I did was purchased a cheap 12volt boat trailer winch of e-bay $60 mounted to draw bar on trailer and use camper battery for power and a fixed point where I park the trailer and just winch it in. There is very little load on the winch and I find this very good for me
Greenant

As for front mounted towbars.
I wanted to put one on my cruiser but was advised against it for legal reasons.
Remember its illegal to have anything protrude foward of your bumper bar.
I suggested a removable tongue but the guy I asked said no as its an airbag issue as well and wouldnt do it.

Yes I know lots have them but it could all end in tears if an accident happens and that part injures someone.

Best of luck.

Sometimes the simplest solution is the best. Have you thought about un-hitching from your tow vehicle and once the jockey wheel is in place, pushing (man-handling) the van into position. I too have a restricted parking space and find that by physically pushing it I can have finite control over momentum and direction. Of course if you have an incline to overcome then that's a different proposition.

Have you thought about getting some rails eg timber on the floor to ensure it doesnt touch the sdes. Wheels run between the rails. I have them on my trailer I use to carry my golf cart. Works a treat. Just have to start off at the right angle.

Hi garytee,

One option is to knock the centre Knib wall out and span a decent beam across, May have to come in a bit either end, but it makes access for everythig so much easier.



Cheers Axle.