I have to admit, much as I also hate caravans on the roads (for the aforementioned reasons of underpowered cars etc) I did love going for holidays in them as a kid.

My parents were both teachers, so come the school holidays we were rarely at home. They could still do work, marking etc as if they were at home and my brother and I got to see so much of this country that we would otherwise have missed.
Yorkshire, Derbyshire, the Pennines, Devon and Cornwall were favourites.

It's one of the things I'll give my Dad credit for, he sure could drive well when towing the van. I remember seeing him reverse and park the huge thing on the spot with the minimum of fuss.

If I had the chance I'd like to have a camper van - with a trailer for the bike on the back.


I do agree that most drivers don't know how to tow something that big safely. But isn't it something extra on your test or something now? Or is it missing from a basic licence or summat?

I just remember someone saying they couldn't take my trailer to an event once when I couldn't go because their licence didn't cover it. :?

Personally I think you should have to pass a test before being allowed to tow anything that's too big to move by hand - so anything over the size of one of those little trailers you can buy in Halfords.
Horse boxes, Caravans, they should require some kind of competence test.

If you passed your test over 100 years ago like I did then you automatically have a trailer licence and up to - I think but dont quote me - a 7.5 tonne lorry.

Ive towed caravans (hated it - unstable things) and I used to drive a horse box but now I believe you have to take a separate test.

I really like camper vans too Kate Ive always wanted one but OH says they go to slow :?

Camper vans are too slow... been stuck behind 2 of the critters on the A40 pulling my hair out.. as what are usualy brilliant roads turn into a swear fest as somethings trundling along at 30 mph in a 60 holds up several cars and makes things worse... :lol:

My parents were into the caravan thing when I was younger.. I HATED it with vengance! when your from a family of 6... with a 5 berth caravan... there isnt enough room! even with the awning on.... :lol:

A have a licence to drive an articulated truck, but have never even sat in the cab of one. Go figure. :lol:

surely you had to take a test though? so you must have sat in one :?

whats worse than caravans are them things. there like supercaravans.

there the ones that are permanently stuck in caravan homes, like a house on wheels,

they take up 2 lanes of dual carageway and cog it up doing 20mph,

had to end up overtaking one in a lay by. (i wasnt gonna stay on the A303 for 150 miles behind one of em. )

I took and passed my C+E but not in an artic. I drove a rigid with a draw bar trailor. :wink: I have to be honest, if I ever had to actually drive one, I think I would poop myself. :lol:

TBH I used to poop myself driving the horse box even though I did it for quite a few years - especially if the horses started kicking and getting jumpy :roll: :)

Caravans.

The coolest things on 2 wheels.

:winner:

:notworthy: :takeabow: