The dangers of Caravaning brought home.

johnnyb44 · 7th September 2014, 22:01

After spending a few days away one of the most bizarre things I've witness happened while at our campsite. The site is situated on a steep hillside that runs down to the sea. To cut a long story short we had a runaway caravan that slipped off its tow car ( driver not hooked it up properly ) at the top of the campsite and run straight down the whole length of it before smashing into a gate post !!!
It was a miracle that it did not hit anybody or another van. The van as you can imagine was a right old mess. It went down the hillside backwards for about 100 metres traveling around 20 /30 mph before hitting a gate post. The reason for all this was because the caravan owner was being pressurized to get a move on by the new arrival who wanted is pitch.
It always pays to double check everything no matter who your holding up.

RPWC · 8th September 2014, 07:20

Scary stuff, could have happened to any one of us that!

whitevanman · 8th September 2014, 07:28

Nasty, and expensive by the sound of it..But one of them was in the wrong surely? you usually have an am departure time and a pm arrival in my experiance..So if he was late leaving the pressure was brought about by himself

,

If the other guy was early, no pressure just pont him to the beach and tell him to 'Go away'...

HarryM1BYT · 8th September 2014, 09:26

Inexperience or lack of attention to the checks.

Most all modern hitches have a button which shows green when the ball is fully in the socket and whether has or not, the ball release clamp arm will not go down until the ball is fully in the socket. Even he missed those clues, why was the break away cable on?

The breakaway would have applied the brakes and prevented it moving far. I always put the breakaway on first, then finally hitch up on the ball.

Own goal by the sounds of it.

RPWC · 8th September 2014, 17:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryM1BYT

Inexperience or lack of attention to the checks.

Most all modern hitches have a button which shows green when the ball is fully in the socket and whether has or not, the ball release clamp arm will not go down until the ball is fully in the socket. Even he missed those clues, why was the break away cable on?

The breakaway would have applied the brakes and prevented it moving far. I always put the breakaway on first, then finally hitch up on the ball.

Own goal by the sounds of it.

You beat me to it Harry,I was just going to mention the breakaway wire.

johnnyb44 · 8th September 2014, 17:58

I always double check everything before i set off. The wife sits there rolling her eyes making out im paranoid but its to late once somethings happened..
In all fairness though to the unfortunate guy his intentions was just to move it a few feet out of the way so the impatient idiot could get on his pitch

HarryM1BYT · 8th September 2014, 19:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnyb44

In all fairness though to the unfortunate guy his intentions was just to move it a few feet out of the way so the impatient idiot could get on his pitch

It only takes a fraction of second for it all to go very out of control, with a ton or more of van.

I will own up to my only hitching mistake ever...

I had got the van maneuvered into its sited position, got it side to side level, put the handbrake on, jockey wheel down, uncoupled, disconnected the electrics and tried driving away, but with the break away still on. It snapped the cable as it is supposed to do, but took quite some effort to get the handbrake off when it was time to leave

macafee2 · 8th September 2014, 21:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnyb44

After spending a few days away one of the most bizarre things I've witness happened while at our campsite. The site is situated on a steep hillside that runs down to the sea. To cut a long story short we had a runaway caravan that slipped off its tow car ( driver not hooked it up properly ) at the top of the campsite and run straight down the whole length of it before smashing into a gate post !!!
It was a miracle that it did not hit anybody or another van. The van as you can imagine was a right old mess. It went down the hillside backwards for about 100 metres traveling around 20 /30 mph before hitting a gate post. The reason for all this was because the caravan owner was being pressurized to get a move on by the new arrival who wanted is pitch.
It always pays to double check everything no matter who your holding up.

pictures, we want pictures
macafee2

Jim Jamieson · 8th September 2014, 21:35

I always jack up on the jockey wheel as a final test before setting off. If it will lift the car up on the suspension you can be assured the caravans' hitched good and proper

Better to be safe than sorry.

RPWC · 8th September 2014, 21:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryM1BYT

It only takes a fraction of second for it all to go very out of control, with a ton or more of van.

I will own up to my only hitching mistake ever...

I had got the van maneuvered into its sited position, got it side to side level, put the handbrake on, jockey wheel down, uncoupled, disconnected the electrics and tried driving away, but with the break away still on. It snapped the cable as it is supposed to do, but took quite some effort to get the handbrake off when it was time to leave

Been there twice, lol

7th September 2014, 22:01	#1
johnnyb44 I really should get out more....... Rover 75 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: north wales Posts: 2,698 Thanks: 1,774 Thanked 902 Times in 507 Posts	The dangers of Caravaning brought home. After spending a few days away one of the most bizarre things I've witness happened while at our campsite. The site is situated on a steep hillside that runs down to the sea. To cut a long story short we had a runaway caravan that slipped off its tow car ( driver not hooked it up properly ) at the top of the campsite and run straight down the whole length of it before smashing into a gate post !!! It was a miracle that it did not hit anybody or another van. The van as you can imagine was a right old mess. It went down the hillside backwards for about 100 metres traveling around 20 /30 mph before hitting a gate post. The reason for all this was because the caravan owner was being pressurized to get a move on by the new arrival who wanted is pitch. It always pays to double check everything no matter who your holding up. __________________ Replaced pcv filter, springs, plenum spy hole mod,Bonnet cable divider mod. Wax oiled.Air con recharged. Auto box oil changed , Jules plenum guard fitted .Smoked wind deflectors fitted.S/S Compensator.Club Grill Badge kindly donated by Andyg2011.. Last edited by johnnyb44; 7th September 2014 at 22:04..

8th September 2014, 07:20	#2
RPWC This is my second home 75 model car Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne Posts: 20,177 Thanks: 4,008 Thanked 5,083 Times in 3,114 Posts	Scary stuff, could have happened to any one of us that! __________________ Cheers. Rich…

8th September 2014, 07:28	#3
whitevanman This is my second home 2001 Connie SE CDT, 2002 2.0Petrol Laguna SportHatch Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Althorne Posts: 3,122 Thanks: 319 Thanked 441 Times in 318 Posts	Nasty, and expensive by the sound of it..But one of them was in the wrong surely? you usually have an am departure time and a pm arrival in my experiance..So if he was late leaving the pressure was brought about by himself , If the other guy was early, no pressure just pont him to the beach and tell him to 'Go away'... __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Today the 23rd of April I will mostly be: Kids, bikes, dog, kids, bikes, dog...Seems to be a pattern forming here Car: Connie SE CDT Manual, Mods: O-Rings, Silicon intercooler hose, Stainless EGR Bypass, BMW PCV Mod, 160 Upgrade, DD Unit, Projector Headlights, Powerflex Bottom Mount, Remote Clutch reservoir, SS Compensator; Inline Stat To Come: cat gut (when replacing iffy section). Meteors after refurb..

8th September 2014, 09:26	#4
HarryM1BYT This is my second home 75 Contemporary SE Mk II 2004 Man. Sal. CDTi 135ps, FBH on red diesel, WinCE6 DD Join Date: May 2010 Location: Leeds Posts: 17,273 Thanks: 2,160 Thanked 2,061 Times in 1,586 Posts	Inexperience or lack of attention to the checks. Most all modern hitches have a button which shows green when the ball is fully in the socket and whether has or not, the ball release clamp arm will not go down until the ball is fully in the socket. Even he missed those clues, why was the break away cable on? The breakaway would have applied the brakes and prevented it moving far. I always put the breakaway on first, then finally hitch up on the ball. Own goal by the sounds of it. __________________ Harry How To's and items I offer for free, or just to cover the cost of my expenses... http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...40#post1764540 Fix a poor handbrake; DIY ABS diagnostic unit; Loan of the spanner needed to change the CDT belts; free OBD diagnostics +MAF; Correct Bosch MAF cheap; DVB-T install in an ex-hi-line system; DD install with a HK amp; FBH servicing. I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.

8th September 2014, 17:58	#6
johnnyb44 I really should get out more....... Rover 75 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: north wales Posts: 2,698 Thanks: 1,774 Thanked 902 Times in 507 Posts	I always double check everything before i set off. The wife sits there rolling her eyes making out im paranoid but its to late once somethings happened.. In all fairness though to the unfortunate guy his intentions was just to move it a few feet out of the way so the impatient idiot could get on his pitch __________________ Replaced pcv filter, springs, plenum spy hole mod,Bonnet cable divider mod. Wax oiled.Air con recharged. Auto box oil changed , Jules plenum guard fitted .Smoked wind deflectors fitted.S/S Compensator.Club Grill Badge kindly donated by Andyg2011..

8th September 2014, 21:35	#9
Jim Jamieson This is my second home Rover less ! Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Tarbolton Posts: 3,442 Thanks: 393 Thanked 888 Times in 542 Posts	I always jack up on the jockey wheel as a final test before setting off. If it will lift the car up on the suspension you can be assured the caravans' hitched good and proper Better to be safe than sorry.