Learn how to fit a towing mirror
AHitch up, then drive to a point where car and caravan are in line.
BIf you are using towing mirrors that are fixed with clamps, screw the clamps on first, and then slide the mirror arm into position.
That way, the clamps are not already weighed down as you tighten.
If you are using strap-on mirrors, pull the straps on tightly and make sure they are evenly spread.
CNow, before you step back into the car, try to get both of the mirrors close to where you want them to be by manually adjusting them.
DGetting each mirror into perfect position is much easier with two people. Doing this by yourself will either involve uncomfortable stretching (because you want to check the view from the driver’s seat, not the passenger’s) or endless getting in and out of the car.
There are remote control mirrors on the market, but they are not cheap, and you might think that they are not worth the money for the amount of time you make use of them.
ETo achieve perfect positioning of the mirrors, each of the rear corners of the caravan should be visible in each mirror.
FIf possible, stop off in a layby about 10 minutes after you have started your trip, to make sure the mirrors are still firmly attached.
This is particularly helpful when you are heading for a motorway, where any opportunities to stop again will be much more limited.
GDon’t forget to take the mirrors off once you have unhitched. By law, mirrors should not extend more than 20-25cm beyond the overall width of your outfit – which they could do once you no longer have a caravan in tow. This is easy to forget – until the boys in blue pull you over to remind you!
One of caravanning’s biggest attractions is the opportunity it gives you to get outside and back to nature.
Indeed, if you needed any further proof of the benefits of life in the great outdoors, The Camping and Caravanning Club commissioned a survey, the Outjoyment Report, which showed that going camping makes people happier, more connected to nature, and less anxious than non-campers, and can improve wellbeing and mental health, and provide a greater sense of community.
Proof indeed that being outdoors is good for your body and your soul! And with that in mind, here’s our pick of some of the best walking events in the UK and Ireland over the next few months, offering you the perfect opportunity to get out in all that fresh air.
22-24 March 2024 Wander Wild, Killarney, Ireland
Gorge walking, outdoor rock climbing and sunrise dips are just some of the wonderful events available at Ireland’s
Great Outdoor Festival, which offers a full programme over the weekend. Walks and other activities are all individually priced, with, for example, the Torc Mountain guided hike costing €40 per person.
wanderwildfestival.com
2-7 April 2024 Chepstow Walking Festival, Wales
Chepstow Walking Festival returns in 2024, with plenty to entertain visiting hikers in search of their choice of mixed-level hillwalking.
This is a great event for people of all abilities, which showcases the best of the Wye Valley. Chepstow prides itself on being an official ‘Walkers are Welcome’ town. This year’s full programme is yet to be released.
walksinchepstow.co.uk
27 April to 6 May 2024 Ulverston Walkfest, Lake District
This annual walking festival in the Lake District has plenty of choice, offering everything from two-mile strolls in Ulverston itself to a challenging eight-miler on the Dunnerdale Fells, with an 850m ascent.
There’s a £3 per walk fee and you can book places at ulverstonwalks@gmail.com.
ulverstonwalkfest.com
17-20 May 2024 Arran Mountain Festival, Scotland
Scotland’s top hillwalking and mountaineering festival has a fantastic pedigree and includes famous peaks, such as Holy Isle, Western Ridge and Three Beinns Horseshoe. Walks are individually priced and most are designed for more experienced hikers.
arranmountain festival.co.uk
If there’s one thing likely to concern somebody new to caravanning, it’s the thought of having to reverse onto your pitch. Even experienced caravanners can experience a frisson of discomfort as they imagine everyone on site turning to witness their not so perfect parking!
Of course, the truth is we’ve all been there and fellow caravanners are more than happy to help with directions and advice. Once you’ve grasped the basics, you’ll find it gets easier every time, and practice, as they say, makes perfect.
Here are our trouble-free steps for reversing onto a pitch (the same would apply with any reversing manoeuvre):
Clear view
Position yourself so that the wheels of the caravan are just past the edge of the pitch. Ask your passenger (if you have one) to get out of the car, or ask a fellow caravanner to help, so you have an extra pair of eyes. Get them to stand where you can see them and arrange some easy-to-understand hand signals and/or instructions in advance, for example, ‘nearside’ and ‘offside’.
Now open the windows, so that you can hear any spoken instructions.
Before you begin manoeuvres, make sure you have a clear view down the side of the caravan in your mirrors, and adjust them if necessary.
A perfect steer
At the start of the turn, you need to steer in what seems like the wrong direction. If you want to reverse to the left, you need to move the tow car’s steering wheel to the right to begin the manoeuvre.
This is because the back of the car needs to move to the right to push the front of the caravan to the right, so the back of the caravan swings to the left.
Some drivers find it useful to hold the wheel at the bottom – that way they move their hands in the direction they want the caravan to go. If the turn is a bit tight, apply full lock to turn the caravan hard. If you have more space, one full turn of the steering wheel should be enough.
Know when to turn back
You’ve got the caravan moving in the right direction – great! However, if you continue to steer to the right in the car, you will eventually jack-knife, with the car at right angles to the caravan. What needs to 1 Drive forward until the van wheels are a little past the edge of the pitch (A). Ensure your view down both sides of the van is clear 2 Your next move depends on whether the angle into the pitch is tight. If it is, apply full lock to the steering wheel in the opposite direction to the way you want the van to go (B). So if you need to reverse to the left, you’ll have to move the steering wheel to the right. If the angle is less acute (C), apply fewer turns to the wheel. In either case, you can then slowly start to reverse
3 To avoid jack-knifing the van, gradually wind off the tow car’s lock before the van is straight, allowing the car to ‘follow’ the caravan. At this point, the steering wheel should have gone through the straight position and be in the same place as if you were reversing without a van on the back (D)
happen next is for the car to follow the caravan’s course, as you slowly edge back towards the pitch.
Wind off the lock and gradually turn the wheel back the other way. The steering wheel should be in much the same position as it would be if you were reversing into the same space without a caravan behind you.
Use small movements of the wheel to fine-tune your direction.
If the caravan ends up out of position, don’t worry – just pull forward a little and reverse again. If you see the van looming large in one of your mirrors and you want to straighten up, just turn towards the side where you can see the caravan. If you want to turn more sharply, steer away from the van. A quarter of a turn should be enough.
From escaping the crowds to saving on site costs, there are plenty of benefits to touring out of season. You’ll be able to enjoy beauty spots at your leisure, cruise congestion-free roads and help the local economy in their quiet period. It’s also a great opportunity to see popular areas in different seasons and practise slow travel!
SEPTEMBER Lake District
Best for… Colourful woodland walks, mild weather, placid lakeside trails Don’t miss… Kendal Torchlight Gathering, Cumbria
When 28 September 2024
kendaltorchlightcarnival.co.uk
OCTOBER Shropshire
Best for… Crisp days, lively market towns, peaceful countryside walks Don’t miss… Shropshire Oktoberfest When 4-5 October 2024
shropshireoktoberfest.co.uk
DECEMBER York
Best for… Festive fun, great pubs Don’t miss… York Christmas Festival When December 2024
visityork.org/christmas
JANUARY Cotswolds
Best for… Frosty walks, quiet beauty spots, cosy evenings out Don’t miss… Burns Night events When January 2025
cotswolds.com
FEBRUARY
Causeway Coast Best for… Exploring harbour towns and rugged coastlines
Don’t miss… Belfast Tradfest
When February 2025 (TBC)
belfasttraditionalmusic.com
MARCH Pembrokeshire
Best for… Seeing flora and fauna in spring, coastal walking and cycling trails, hassle-free historic landmarks Don’t miss… St David’s Day
When 1 March 2024
visitwales.com
APRIL Cornwall
Best for… Longer days and warmer weather, quiet, lush gardens, lively festivals and local events
Don’t miss… Roseland Festival When 19-28 April 2024
roselandfestival.co.uk
MAY Eryri (Snowdonia)
Best for… Woodland walks and invigorating hikes, exploring castles, fascinating historic towns Don’t miss… Machynlleth Comedy Festival
When 3-5 May 2024
machcomedyfest.co.uk
Perhaps this is more about being a ‘better off’ rather than a ‘better’ caravanner, but there’s no harm in trying to save a few quid. Here’s our pick of the money-saving tips:
Join a club The Camping and Caravanning Club (£48 a year) and the Caravan and Motorhome Club (£63 a year) provide offers and benefits, including access to a network of parks, especially their low-priced CSS or CLS, particularly on weekdays.
Drive smart That means keeping your speed regular and a little lower for optimum fuel efficiency – use cruise control and speed limiters to maintain an even speed. Be sure to set the correct tyre pressure, which will be safer and help to reduce your fuel consumption. Be aware that carrying a large tank of fuel will have an impact on consumption (do you really need to fill up to the brim?), as will roof boxes or racks. Shop around for fuel by seeking out the best prices using apps such as Petrolprices.
Sign up to newsletters Yes, sometimes you could do without the junk mail, but consider using a free email address from Outlook or Google, separate from your main email address, so you can sign up for newsletters from travel companies, ferry operators (both P&O Ferries and DFDS have run discounted touring offers in recent months), tourist boards, bodies such as the National Trust, and caravan parks. Plus, of course, Practical Caravan!
Cards count Touring abroad? Then make sure you have an appropriate credit card or multi-currency account to avoid costly exchange rate charges. Consider buying an ACSI card, which offers discounts of up to 60% on campsite fees at more than 3000 sites across the UK and Europe.
Coupons, vouchers, deals Sainsbury’s Nectar card, Boots Advantage card, Tesco Clubcard… they all add up!
Feeling confident behind the wheel allows you to relax and enjoy being on tour. Once you’ve invested in your dream caravan, you don’t want to be held back by dreading roundabouts or worrying about reversing. That’s where driving courses come in – whether it’s manoeuvring, road experience or just a refresher, completing a course can enhance your touring experience in ways that might surprise you! There are plenty of courses to choose from out there, and three of the most popular providers are:
The Caravan and Motorhome Club caravanclub.co.uk
The Camping and Caravanning Club campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk
Towing Solutions towing-solutions.co.uk
BEGINNERS AND INTERMEDIATE LEVEL PRACTICAL CARAVANNING Caravan and Motorhome Club
Length 1.5 days
Price £214pp
Location 18 UK centres
Highlights Hitching and towing, manoeuvring and reversing, rules for load and safety
CONFIDENCE BUILDER* Camping and Caravanning Club
Length One day
Price £195
Location The Camping and Caravanning Club Headquarters, Coventry
Highlights Loading and levelling, road-driving session, towing rules and regulations
REVERSING
Towing Solutions
Length Four hours (one person), five hours (two people)
Price £186-£374
Location Cheshire
Highlights Manoeuvring for corners, safe stopping distances, hitching up
EXPERIENCED DRIVERS CARAVAN MANOEUVRING Caravan and Motorhome Club
Length One day
Price £184pp
Location 18 UK centres
Highlights Levelling, reversing on a curve, straight-line reversing PITCH AND PROGRESS* Camping and Caravanning Club Length One day
Price £215pp
Location The Camping and Caravanning Club Headquarters, Coventry Highlights Driving on different types of road, pitching on site, hill starts *Participants can take both courses on the same weekend with the Two-day Course package
ALL LEVELS
CARAVAN TOWING COURSE Towing Solutions
Length Four hours
(one person), five hours (two people)
Price £186-£374
Location Cheshire
Highlights Pre-towing inspection routine, snaking and instability control, hands-on towing practice