VIDEO: Five top tips for reversing your motorhome

Published in Caravan Guard News, Motorhoming Top Tips, Videos on   - 19 Comments

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  1. Michael Sawyers says:

    If you keep one hand at the bottom of the steering wheel and move it to the right (6 o’clock to 3 o’clock) you turn that way and left to turn left. Main thing is take it SLOWLY. Even if you end up doing a 10 point manoeuvre, so what!! Slow and safe and keep looking all around

  2. Ger Stones says:

    Some good advice, could I have a motorhome dimensions sticker please

  3. Kathryn says:

    On another manoeuvring issue, this time when moving forwards. Since the rear wheel of your motorhome is the pivot point, remember that when pulling forwards from between 2 vehicles or obstacles, there will be an amount of “backswing” to be accounted for, so always leave room for this. Backswing is the distance that the rear corner of your vehicle moves to the side opposite the direction of travel. I. E. If you are exiting a space to the left, using lefthand steering, the backswing will take the rear right hand corner out to the right of the space. The longer the overhang beyond the rear wheels, the greater the backswing distance will be. Always plan your parking position to take account of which way you will exit your space to ensure that you have room for the backswing as you leave. Happy motoring to all.

  4. Duncan John Mclean says:

    Good tips, can I have one of the stickers please for dimensions.

  5. Victoria Smith says:

    Brilliant tips, as i’m usually the one at the back waving my arms and shouting ‘stop !’
    Please can you send me the measurement sticker, many thanks.

  6. Judith says:

    Great tips …. How do I get a sticker to write the measurements on?

  7. Sharon says:

    When we got our Motorhome the first thing we did was to get front and rear reversing sensors put on. I don’t know why these don’t come either as standard or as an option for Motorhomes as these days most new cars and vans have them as standard.

  8. Madeline Lynch says:

    Where can we get the sticker from to put on the visor to write the height etc please?

  9. paul jenkins says:

    try not to park on kerbs as motorhomes especially long ones flex and you will find if you flex the motorhome chassis too much you will not be able to open the habitation door

  10. Mark Tanner says:

    From our experience I would endorse concern about branches mentioned on the video but not included in the summary.
    I would stress that on full lock the cab moves two metres or so away from the turn which needs to be taken account of. This is not mentioned.
    A Walkie talkie linking the driver to the banksman can be a lot better than arm waving: just need to establish a conversation about all the banksman can see.
    Too much of the article assumes a camspite situation not a stressful road or ferry. Need to practice for these and insist that you will take time for proper preparation and proceed at slow speed (as mentioned).

  11. Richard says:

    Whatever you decide on, make sure you and your co-pilot have a common understanding of the hand signal(s) being used used.

  12. J Brightwell says:

    In the data for the vehicle, which you should always have instantly visible in the cab, is the WEIGHT, in tonnes and kg, as there are often weak bridges which you risk damaging. Width is not the only limit on some of our beautiful old bridges!

  13. Sid Withey says:

    One essential thing is missing, keeping an eye on your front wing when turning the steering wheel to avoid hitting low or other initially hidden hazards to the side eg bollards, kerbs ditches etc.

  14. Ian Sturt says:

    Train your co-pilot to avoid the two common errors in guiding you back.
    1) It doesn’t matter how much they wave at you to stop if they have stood where you cant see them. Your co-pilot needs to stand where they can see the part of the van that needs watching AND where you can clearly see them.
    2) It is not particularly helpful to wave you back until you are about to hit something then signal you to stop. Chances are you are thinking about more than just the one thing they are looking at. If at the point they suddenly change from the keep going to the stop signal, you are looking at one of the other mirrors you could be in trouble. If your co-pilot holds their hands apart by the distance you have left and brings them together at the rate you are closing the gap, that is the perfect information. It enables you to forecast when you will need to stop, not just instantly react to a sudden stop signal. You can then decide whether you need to go tight to the obstruction or whether the front is already far enough back that you can leave yourself plenty of room to walk around the back. You can also decide to stop with a couple of feet to spare to put the levelling ramps down so will be in the right place when you are up on the ramp; otherwise you will have to move the van again later. Showing you the distance you have left is far more helpful than any other signal.


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