Hello.
We've been caravanning for 18 months now and I still dread the reversing on 
to the pitch bit, the wife stood just where I can't see her in the mirrors 
arms pointing in all directions, me whizzing the wheel from lock to lock and 
the van doing what it wants. Of course this starts the relaxing break off 
with a row,  sometimes I seem to get it near enough spot on, near enough 
first time, others I have to shunt like a mad shunt! I've listened to other 
peoples advice, read other peoples advice and practised and practised at the 
storage compound but I still get the flutter of nerves when I pull up to the 
pitch. I try not to look at the smirking faces of my new neighbours as I 
slowly back in then out, then in and out then in and out again.....
So today at clumber park cc site I was sat with a cuppa half reading  the 
paper and half nosying at other arrivals doing their own bit of in and 
outing ( but not as much in and outing as me..I might add),and  my new next 
door but one neighbour turned up, stopped in the middle of the road, got 
out, unhitched, took a little remote from his pocket and very quickly, 
smoothly, accurately and bloody easily drove his van onto his 
pitch,brilliant, no in and outing, no flapping of arms, no swearing and not 
a hint of "well if you can do any better then feel free to try....!!" That's 
it I thought I'm having one of those ASAP.
Eagerly describing the revelation I had just witnessed to my wife on her 
return from the showers, she just said "Oh ok, but isn't that cheating 
?".....Cheating,we nearly had a row about how it would stop us having 
rows...but then again is it cheating ?, should I persevere with the 
reversing and try to gain some self respect and be accepted as a true 
reverse anything anywhere caravanner or shall I get one fitted, whizz it 
onto the pitch then get the kettle on and the beers chilling,and to hell 
with the tut tuts from the veterans............
All the best
Richard

Who could you cheat?  Is it cheating to have a water pump, electric 
lighting, gas heater etc?
We had none of these things when we started caravanning over 50 years ago 
but since then have appreciated every facility that makeslife easier.
Buy a motor mover and relax, holidays should not be worrying, there is 
enough stress in the world as it is.


"Firebucket"  wrote in message 
news:O4b4k.45729$yb3.15805@newsfe18.ams2...
> Hello.
> We've been caravanning for 18 months now and I still dread the reversing 
> on
<snip>
<snip>

Firebucket wrote:

>We've been caravanning for 18 months now and I still dread the reversing on 
>to the pitch bit, the wife stood just where I can't see her in the mirrors 
>arms pointing in all directions, me whizzing the wheel from lock to lock and 
>the van doing what it wants. 

Even the comparatively simple task of backing up to the hitch I
find is oddly easier if I do it solo, rather than asking for
assistance.  You might think that it would be relatively easy to
position oneself to have a view of the operation, be visible to
the driver, and indicate how things are going, but I am clearly
failing to understand the nature of the problem.

After many years, straight alignment isn't too difficult, but if
I need to approach the hitch at an angle, it is very hard to see
what to aim for.  Perhaps I should pick up a couple of those
telescopic pick-up magnets, and make my own alignment aid.

Chris
-- 
Chris J Dixon  Nottingham UK
chris@cdixon.me.uk

Have dancing shoes, will ceilidh.

"Firebucket"  wrote in message 
news:O4b4k.45729$yb3.15805@newsfe18.ams2...
> Hello.
> We've been caravanning for 18 months now and I still dread the reversing 
> on to the pitch bit, the wife stood just where I can't see her in the 
> mirrors arms pointing in all directions, me whizzing the wheel from lock 
> to lock and the van doing what it wants. Of course this starts the 
> relaxing break off with a row,  sometimes I seem to get it near enough 
> spot on, near enough first time, others I have to shunt like a mad shunt! 
> I've listened to other peoples advice, read other peoples advice and 
> practised and practised at the storage compound but I still get the 
> flutter of nerves when I pull up to the pitch. I try not to look at the 
> smirking faces of my new neighbours as I slowly back in then out, then in 
> and out then in and out again.....
> So today at clumber park cc site I was sat with a cuppa half reading  the 
> paper and half nosying at other arrivals doing their own bit of in and 
> outing ( but not as much in and outing as me..I might add),and  my new 
> next door but one neighbour turned up, stopped in the middle of the road, 
> got out, unhitched, took a little remote from his pocket and very quickly, 
> smoothly, accurately and bloody easily drove his van onto his 
> pitch,brilliant, no in and outing, no flapping of arms, no swearing and 
> not a hint of "well if you can do any better then feel free to try....!!" 
> That's it I thought I'm having one of those ASAP.
> Eagerly describing the revelation I had just witnessed to my wife on her 
> return from the showers, she just said "Oh ok, but isn't that cheating 
> ?".....Cheating,we nearly had a row about how it would stop us having 
> rows...but then again is it cheating ?, should I persevere with the 
> reversing and try to gain some self respect and be accepted as a true 
> reverse anything anywhere caravanner or shall I get one fitted, whizz it 
> onto the pitch then get the kettle on and the beers chilling,and to hell 
> with the tut tuts from the veterans............
> All the best
> Richard
>

Hi Richard,
As Stewart has said WHY is it cheating? its just a help to the hobby.

I know a few people who may I say are a little weak, and not able to handle
the van by them selves so the movers are great.

Now down to myself I was in the same frame of mind, "I would never have one 
of those" things and I even have a "push bar" on the front of the car which 
is great, yes you have guessed it I got one and find it invaluable !

So go for one, and there is a manufacture who do reconditioned ones with a 
three year warranty instead of a five year for a new one !

Metwo

I think caravans of the future will have movers fitted into the hubs.  So 
you can either regard it as cheating, or as being ahead of the game.

This same discussion has come along with every new invention - auto-reverse 
brakes, electric showers, etc.

I would not be without my mover.

On Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:07:44 +0100, "Firebucket"
 wrote:

>one neighbour turned up, stopped in the middle of the road, got 
>out, unhitched, took a little remote from his pocket and very quickly, 
>smoothly, accurately and bloody easily drove his van onto his 
>pitch,brilliant, no in and outing, no flapping of arms, no swearing and not 
>a hint of "well if you can do any better then feel free to try....!!" That's 
>it I thought I'm having one of those ASAP.
>Eagerly describing the revelation I had just witnessed to my wife on her 
>return from the showers, she just said "Oh ok, but isn't that cheating 

It's supposed to be a holiday so whatever makes it easier for you is a
good idea. When they first came out I saw one bloke arrive unhook his
van stand on the pitch and with his hands in his pocket shout come
here and the van moved towards him. It had several people laughing
which  made it worthwhile. 
get a mover fitted ASAP you know you want one. 
Bill Lord
I've taken a vow of poverty To annoy me send money

e-mail messages to bill dot lord at uku dot co dot uk 
( Get rid of the spaces  and use symbols for the hyphen at and dots )

"Firebucket"  wrote in message 
news:O4b4k.45729$yb3.15805@newsfe18.ams2...

> We've been caravanning for 18 months now ... but isn't that cheating 
> ?".....

Of course it's not cheating.

But if you went on a manoeuvring course and explained to your wife how to 
signal you'd save a lot of money and weight. They provide videos or some 
such too. They were no use to use because we don't have a machine to play 
one but Spouse's explanation of what to do was very clear and mad sense so 
it's what we do.

I don't know anyone who's been on one of these courses and been 
disappointed*, you're never too old to learn.

Mary
*sits back and waits for a dozen or more :-)

In message <O4b4k.45729$yb3.15805@newsfe18.ams2>, Firebucket 
 writes
>Hello.
>We've been caravanning for 18 months now and I still dread the reversing on
>to the pitch bit, the wife stood just where I can't see her in the mirrors
>arms pointing in all directions, me whizzing the wheel from lock to lock and
>the van doing what it wants. Of course this starts the relaxing break off
>with a row,  sometimes I seem to get it near enough spot on, near enough
>first time, others I have to shunt like a mad shunt! I've listened to other
>peoples advice, read other peoples advice and practised and practised at the
>storage compound but I still get the flutter of nerves when I pull up to the
>pitch. I try not to look at the smirking faces of my new neighbours as I
>slowly back in then out, then in and out then in and out again.....
>So today at clumber park cc site I was sat with a cuppa half reading  the
>paper and half nosying at other arrivals doing their own bit of in and
>outing ( but not as much in and outing as me..I might add),and  my new next
>door but one neighbour turned up, stopped in the middle of the road, got
>out, unhitched, took a little remote from his pocket and very quickly,
>smoothly, accurately and bloody easily drove his van onto his
>pitch,brilliant, no in and outing, no flapping of arms, no swearing and not
>a hint of "well if you can do any better then feel free to try....!!" That's
>it I thought I'm having one of those ASAP.
>Eagerly describing the revelation I had just witnessed to my wife on her
>return from the showers, she just said "Oh ok, but isn't that cheating
>?".....Cheating,we nearly had a row about how it would stop us having
>rows...but then again is it cheating ?, should I persevere with the
>reversing and try to gain some self respect and be accepted as a true
>reverse anything anywhere caravanner or shall I get one fitted, whizz it
>onto the pitch then get the kettle on and the beers chilling,and to hell
>with the tut tuts from the veterans............
>All the best
>Richard
>
>
Does your wife use an automatic washing machine?

-- 
hugh
Reply to address is valid at the time of posting

How could it possibly be cheating - cheating at what?

Bit of an assumption, but I recon you have a caravan so you can enjoy a 
relaxing time, with your family, away from the stresses of every day life.

So if a caravan mover helps you towards that goal that's absolutely fine; 
what's it got to do with other people?

Caravanning is not a "keep up with the Jones'" pass time, it's for doing 
your own thing - but please don't disturb those around you who will equally 
wish enjoy the peace & quiet.

If it makes it easier for you just do it!

Good luck - Mike

"Firebucket"  wrote in message 
news:O4b4k.45729$yb3.15805@newsfe18.ams2...
> Hello.
> We've been caravanning for 18 months now and I still dread the reversing 
> on to the pitch bit, the wife stood just where I can't see her in the 
> mirrors arms pointing in all directions, me whizzing the wheel from lock 
> to lock and the van doing what it wants. Of course this starts the 
> relaxing break off with a row,  sometimes I seem to get it near enough 
> spot on, near enough first time, others I have to shunt like a mad shunt! 
> I've listened to other peoples advice, read other peoples advice and 
> practised and practised at the storage compound but I still get the 
> flutter of nerves when I pull up to the pitch. I try not to look at the 
> smirking faces of my new neighbours as I slowly back in then out, then in 
> and out then in and out again.....
> So today at clumber park cc site I was sat with a cuppa half reading  the 
> paper and half nosying at other arrivals doing their own bit of in and 
> outing ( but not as much in and outing as me..I might add),and  my new 
> next door but one neighbour turned up, stopped in the middle of the road, 
> got out, unhitched, took a little remote from his pocket and very quickly, 
> smoothly, accurately and bloody easily drove his van onto his 
> pitch,brilliant, no in and outing, no flapping of arms, no swearing and 
> not a hint of "well if you can do any better then feel free to try....!!" 
> That's it I thought I'm having one of those ASAP.
> Eagerly describing the revelation I had just witnessed to my wife on her 
> return from the showers, she just said "Oh ok, but isn't that cheating 
> ?".....Cheating,we nearly had a row about how it would stop us having 
> rows...but then again is it cheating ?, should I persevere with the 
> reversing and try to gain some self respect and be accepted as a true 
> reverse anything anywhere caravanner or shall I get one fitted, whizz it 
> onto the pitch then get the kettle on and the beers chilling,and to hell 
> with the tut tuts from the veterans............
> All the best
> Richard
>

Having had a mover for some years I am greatly in favour of them - more I 
have to say for the ease of getting the van onto our slopeing (dogleg) drive 
than for site pitching which nine times out of ten I do the conventional way 
out of habit. This said a few weeks ago a British overnight neighbour on a 
french site somehow in the morning managed to leave one steady down when he 
engaged the mover. He failed to notice it until too late thinking the 
resistance was something to do with the mover motor.  The steady was driven 
deep into the ground,  the screw thread well and truely bent and the steady 
twisted on the base of his three week old caravan 24 hours into an 8 week 
planned trip through France into Spain. Brute force, ignorance 3 hours and a 
collection of assorted caravanners tools eventually got him roadworthy and 
with a dealers address. But I suspect the repair was costly (like very).

Relating the tale at todays annual caravan service the fitter said he 
regularly has a collection of vans in with movers who screw up steadies, 
wreck tyres and displace movers on the frame because of forgetting to take 
the rollers off before towing.

So, while they are a real asset best to check everything at least twice 
before you enagage the mover or set off on your travels.



"Firebucket"  wrote in message 
news:O4b4k.45729$yb3.15805@newsfe18.ams2...
> Hello.
> We've been caravanning for 18 months now and I still dread the reversing 
> on to the pitch bit, the wife stood just where I can't see her in the 
> mirrors arms pointing in all directions, me whizzing the wheel from lock 
> to lock and the van doing what it wants. Of course this starts the 
> relaxing break off with a row,  sometimes I seem to get it near enough 
> spot on, near enough first time, others I have to shunt like a mad shunt! 
> I've listened to other peoples advice, read other peoples advice and 
> practised and practised at the storage compound but I still get the 
> flutter of nerves when I pull up to the pitch. I try not to look at the 
> smirking faces of my new neighbours as I slowly back in then out, then in 
> and out then in and out again.....
> So today at clumber park cc site I was sat with a cuppa half reading  the 
> paper and half nosying at other arrivals doing their own bit of in and 
> outing ( but not as much in and outing as me..I might add),and  my new 
> next door but one neighbour turned up, stopped in the middle of the road, 
> got out, unhitched, took a little remote from his pocket and very quickly, 
> smoothly, accurately and bloody easily drove his van onto his 
> pitch,brilliant, no in and outing, no flapping of arms, no swearing and 
> not a hint of "well if you can do any better then feel free to try....!!" 
> That's it I thought I'm having one of those ASAP.
> Eagerly describing the revelation I had just witnessed to my wife on her 
> return from the showers, she just said "Oh ok, but isn't that cheating 
> ?".....Cheating,we nearly had a row about how it would stop us having 
> rows...but then again is it cheating ?, should I persevere with the 
> reversing and try to gain some self respect and be accepted as a true 
> reverse anything anywhere caravanner or shall I get one fitted, whizz it 
> onto the pitch then get the kettle on and the beers chilling,and to hell 
> with the tut tuts from the veterans............
> All the best
> Richard
>

Firebucket wrote:

> whizz it onto the pitch then get the kettle on and the beers chilling

How can that be cheating?

Buy one, use it and enjoy life.  Those who say it's cheating, IMHO,
secretly want one.  Sister has one, it allows her to carry on
caravanning as both her and her hubby have some difficulties ... they
see it as nothing but a positive influence on their caravanning
experiences.


-- 
Paul - xxx

'96/'97 Landrover Discovery 300 Tdi 'Big and Butch'
Dyna Tech Cro-Mo comp "When I feel fit enough'

"Firebucket"  wrote in message
news:O4b4k.45729$yb3.15805@newsfe18.ams2...
> Hello.
> We've been caravanning for 18 months now and I still dread the reversing
> on to the pitch bit, the wife stood just where I can't see her in the
> mirrors arms pointing in all directions, me whizzing the wheel from lock
> to lock and the van doing what it wants. Of course this starts the
> relaxing break off with a row,  sometimes I seem to get it near enough
> spot on, near enough first time, others I have to shunt like a mad shunt!
> I've listened to other peoples advice, read other peoples advice and
> practised and practised at the storage compound but I still get the
> flutter of nerves when I pull up to the pitch. I try not to look at the
> smirking faces of my new neighbours as I slowly back in then out, then in
> and out then in and out again.....
> So today at clumber park cc site I was sat with a cuppa half reading  the
> paper and half nosying at other arrivals doing their own bit of in and
> outing ( but not as much in and outing as me..I might add),and  my new
> next door but one neighbour turned up, stopped in the middle of the road,
> got out, unhitched, took a little remote from his pocket and very quickly,
> smoothly, accurately and bloody easily drove his van onto his
> pitch,brilliant, no in and outing, no flapping of arms, no swearing and
> not a hint of "well if you can do any better then feel free to try....!!"
> That's it I thought I'm having one of those ASAP.
> Eagerly describing the revelation I had just witnessed to my wife on her
> return from the showers, she just said "Oh ok, but isn't that cheating
> ?".....Cheating,we nearly had a row about how it would stop us having
> rows...but then again is it cheating ?, should I persevere with the
> reversing and try to gain some self respect and be accepted as a true
> reverse anything anywhere caravanner or shall I get one fitted, whizz it
> onto the pitch then get the kettle on and the beers chilling,and to hell
> with the tut tuts from the veterans............
> All the best
> Richard
>

Buy one. You will not regret it. Sod all the other people and what they
think or what we think they think. I'd suspect that mostly they don't think
much at all and just bored. Probably with a touch of judgmental thrown in.

Its irrelevant if its cheating or not. If it helps save the tension,
apprehension rows, then get one. You won't regret it.

Graham

"Firebucket"  wrote in message 
news:O4b4k.45729$yb3.15805@newsfe18.ams2...
> Hello.

...

> Eagerly describing the revelation I had just witnessed to my wife on her 
> return from the showers, she just said "Oh ok, but isn't that cheating 
> ?".....Cheating,we nearly had a row about how it would stop us having 
> rows...but then again is it cheating ?, should I persevere with the 
> reversing and try to gain some self respect and be accepted as a true 
> reverse anything anywhere caravanner or shall I get one fitted, whizz it 
> onto the pitch then get the kettle on and the beers chilling,and to hell 
> with the tut tuts from the veterans............
> All the best
> Richard
It looks as though there's an extraordinary 100% agreement on this one!

Let us know what you decide :-)

Mary

Firebucket formulated on Thursday :
> We've been caravanning for 18 months now and I still dread the reversing on 
> to the pitch bit, the wife stood just where I can't see her in the mirrors 
> arms pointing in all directions, me whizzing the wheel from lock to lock and 
> the van doing what it wants. 

They nearly always do, but even when they don't, the hand signals are 
unintelligible :-)

> Eagerly describing the revelation I had just witnessed to my wife on her 
> return from the showers, she just said "Oh ok, but isn't that cheating 
> ?".....Cheating,we nearly had a row about how it would stop us having 
> rows...but then again is it cheating ?, should I persevere with the reversing 
> and try to gain some self respect and be accepted as a true reverse anything 
> anywhere caravanner or shall I get one fitted, whizz it onto the pitch then 
> get the kettle on and the beers chilling,and to hell with the tut tuts from 
> the veterans............

Nothing at all wrong with cheating, I cheat too - or rather I make life 
as easy as I can for myself. I look for a pitch which makes it easy to 
get back out of, where I can turn gravity to my advantage when it is 
time to go. Before I start to reverse in I work out which is the 
easiest way to do it. I don't have a motormover - I have more essential 
things to take up my payload, but I did give in to an Hitchdrive a 
couple of years ago. These are an hand cranked jockey wheel (if you 
have not come across them) and on a reasonable plus not too steep 
surface give you perfect control to maneuver.

-- 
Regards,
        Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

"Harry Bloomfield"  wrote in message 
news:mn.72857d866e377db5.86812@NOSPAM.tiscali.co.uk...
> Firebucket formulated on Thursday :
>> We've been caravanning for 18 months now and I still dread the reversing 
>> on to the pitch bit, the wife stood just where I can't see her in the 
>> mirrors arms pointing in all directions, me whizzing the wheel from lock 
>> to lock and the van doing what it wants.
>
> They nearly always do, but even when they don't, the hand signals are 
> unintelligible :-)

Too general - even with the smiley. After Spouse's manouevring course he 
explained the hand signals, which are simple and understood by anyone who's 
done such a course. It makes the process very simple - but of course both 
parties have to agree on the signals AND be prepared to follow instructions 
without question - that's not always the case with many men, who don't think 
their wives can do things properly. They might have a point, their wives 
married them ...

Men's signals aren't always intelligible either. If there's one thing I hate 
it's a man waving me into a parking place as if I couldn't do it without 
him.
Perhaps it's because he needs help when he tries to park. Most drivers - men 
AND women - seem to drive into a parking place and shuffle. Waste of time, 
fuel and tyres.

Mary

On Jun 14, 1:57 pm, "Mary Fisher"  wrote:
> "Harry Bloomfield"  wrote in message
>
> news:mn.72857d866e377db5.86812@NOSPAM.tiscali.co.uk...
>
> > Firebucket formulated on Thursday :
> >> We've been caravanning for 18 months now and I still dread the reversing
> >> on to the pitch bit, the wife stood just where I can't see her in the
> >> mirrors arms pointing in all directions, me whizzing the wheel from lock
> >> to lock and the van doing what it wants.
>
> > They nearly always do, but even when they don't, the hand signals are
> > unintelligible :-)
>
> Too general - even with the smiley. After Spouse's manouevring course he
> explained the hand signals, which are simple and understood by anyone who's
> done such a course. It makes the process very simple - but of course both
> parties have to agree on the signals AND be prepared to follow instructions
> without question - that's not always the case with many men, who don't think
> their wives can do things properly. They might have a point, their wives
> married them ...
>
> Men's signals aren't always intelligible either. If there's one thing I hate
> it's a man waving me into a parking place as if I couldn't do it without
> him.
> Perhaps it's because he needs help when he tries to park. Most drivers - men
> AND women - seem to drive into a parking place and shuffle. Waste of time,> fuel and tyres.
>
> Mary

I had a Reich Mover fitted to my caravan when I had it from new and I
am so glad I did it.

Previously I had a jocky-wheel mover but found that somewhat
unreliable and had to get herself to sit on the A-frame to give it a
bit more purchase. I had to have this because I suffer from a long
term back problem and I have had to adapt my caravanning accordingly.

The main place I appreciate the mover is when putting the caravan on a
narrow downwards twisting drive. If I did not do this with the mover
I'm sure that I would have demolished the neighbours hedge by now - if
not his house!

I make no qualms about using the mkover and, when the ground is soft,
I find that sites prefer you to use a mover than risk churning up the
ground.

When parking the caravan on site herself is totally useless <thwack -
"sorry dear"> when it comes to directing me in or even hitching up
when we leave so the  mover is used even from a small movement onto
the car,

I did have one problem when I misjudged the width and the right hand
side hit the kerb in a mnotorway service area and when I tried to set
it at the next point of call the hex shaft had broken and fell apart.
This cost me (or more correctly, the insurance company) the princely
sum of £600 but had it fitten on site just two days after arrival.

wrote in message 
news:068d0949-1af4-4f8e-98d5-220447b4816a@d1g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...

...

> When parking the caravan on site herself is totally useless <thwack -
"sorry dear"> when it comes to directing me in or even hitching up
when we leave so the  mover is used even from a small movement onto
the car,

So  your instructions have been poor.

Mary

Worth every penny mate, what are you waiting for go for it

"Firebucket"  wrote in message 
news:O4b4k.45729$yb3.15805@newsfe18.ams2...
> Hello.
> We've been caravanning for 18 months now and I still dread the reversing 
> on to the pitch bit, the wife stood just where I can't see her in the 
> mirrors arms pointing in all directions, me whizzing the wheel from lock 
> to lock and the van doing what it wants. Of course this starts the 
> relaxing break off with a row,  sometimes I seem to get it near enough 
> spot on, near enough first time, others I have to shunt like a mad shunt! 
> I've listened to other peoples advice, read other peoples advice and 
> practised and practised at the storage compound but I still get the 
> flutter of nerves when I pull up to the pitch. I try not to look at the 
> smirking faces of my new neighbours as I slowly back in then out, then in 
> and out then in and out again.....
> So today at clumber park cc site I was sat with a cuppa half reading  the 
> paper and half nosying at other arrivals doing their own bit of in and 
> outing ( but not as much in and outing as me..I might add),and  my new 
> next door but one neighbour turned up, stopped in the middle of the road, 
> got out, unhitched, took a little remote from his pocket and very quickly, 
> smoothly, accurately and bloody easily drove his van onto his 
> pitch,brilliant, no in and outing, no flapping of arms, no swearing and 
> not a hint of "well if you can do any better then feel free to try....!!" 
> That's it I thought I'm having one of those ASAP.
> Eagerly describing the revelation I had just witnessed to my wife on her 
> return from the showers, she just said "Oh ok, but isn't that cheating 
> ?".....Cheating,we nearly had a row about how it would stop us having 
> rows...but then again is it cheating ?, should I persevere with the 
> reversing and try to gain some self respect and be accepted as a true 
> reverse anything anywhere caravanner or shall I get one fitted, whizz it 
> onto the pitch then get the kettle on and the beers chilling,and to hell 
> with the tut tuts from the veterans............
> All the best
> Richard
>