When Bill and Diane Stallan sold their North Queensland home last year to travel full-time they knew there was one perennial grey nomad problem they wouldn’t have to worry about … reversing the caravan!
Having owned their Golden Eagle Eureka for eight years, they were familiar with the van and they had already ‘survived’ the teething problems faced by many novice vanners.
“When we started out, arriving at any site was always stressful and this was overtaking the pleasure,” said Di. “We certainly had some testing sites over the years … the Town of 1770 where we were given a sloping sandy site that eroded in the rain; Dubbo where the high concrete verge required 4WD to be engaged; and numerous tight sites with power poles and other obstructions to negotiate … and all with a bevy of critical observers looking on.”
Bill and Di have developed a system for reversing their caravan.
Eventually, the couple had what they call a ‘light bulb moment’ and decided that Di would largely abandon her ‘left a bit’ or ‘right hand down a bit’ instructions and driver Bill would rely more on the use of his mirrors.
“When we arrive at our site, we now both get out of the car and take a good look at the lay of the land and Bill then picks a spot for me to stand to give him something to aim for!” said Di. “I make sure I can see him in his wing mirror or the reversing camera and he does the rest … with me watching for overhead obstructions and to stop him with hand signals when he reaches the back of the site.”
Nothing to it! Evidence of another successful reversing manoeuvre.
When the pair come across extremely tight sites, they use two-way radios to call emergency stops rather than getting involved in ‘frantic shouting’ and ‘angry gesticulating’.
But there is a downside.
“I suppose it does take the fun away from the gathering neighbours,” laughs Di. “And, if some Good Samaritan does come along to give verbal encouragement, Bill ignores them while I try to distract them!”
The couple’s van has an internal length of 19’6 and they love the living space, and the ease and economy of towing.
“We plan to travel for as long as our health allows,” said Di. “And, whilst on the road, we are keeping a lookout for potential relocation sites for when we want to put roots down again.”
• Have you got a great ‘reversing the van’ tip? Comment below.
Entries close tomorrow to two of our new members-only competitions. It’s you chance to win Scrubba Wash Bags, and a Rescue Swag First Aid Kit. Click here to find out more about our fantastic competitions … and to join us.
I travel solo, and am absolutely useless at reversing. I can never figure out where the back of the caravan is, so I’ve had a Purpleline Caravan Mover fitted. It makes such a difference to unhitch and use a remote control to position the caravan. I still look for drive through sites, but I can go anywhere now.
well done
Mobile Phone on Bluetooth
Step out the approx distance from rear of van to stopping point eg 5-6m. Then mark same distance from where you are sitting in driver’s seat of vehicle. Stop at that marked point. Voila!
Fathoming the instruction ‘ down right ‘ to move the trailer left, and vice versa to move it right seemed very complicated to me. Best advice I have heard (given by a woman) is this; UP left to turn the trailer left and UP right to turn right, using hands low on the steering wheel.
we did caravan course, but even before then we found it much easier to put wify in the drivers seat and I direct. so much simpler, how can you direct if you don’t know how to back a trailer.