Towing

fidleyspromise

fidleyspromise

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Sorry all, this is really a yay, go me happy thread, lol.

Extremely nervous this morning as i had my first towing lesson - considering I've borrowed a Discovery so had it yesterday/today to get used to driving it compared to my little Astra. My god, it's like driving a tank.

I got to the place and we went straight to the box. Practiced reversing in a straight line - it was a lot harder than anticipated. :)

The we practiced going from a post, reversing right and into the box. That wasn't too bad and the instructor showed me where people had jack-knifed and dented his box. Thanks :p

We then did the full reversing maneouvre which wasn't great but wasn't bad and got the hang of it. Instructor disappeared to his office to leave me to practice myself and it went a bit tits up. Pull the wheel this way, then that. After a few attempts, I got it sorted in my head again. I MUST slow down!

I did successfully get trailer square in the box not hitting anything so chuffed.

I'll go practice with my trailer, and then to let instructor know if I want more lessons/ straight on course and then test. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEP.

I know the box was empty but I expected to be able to feel it behind me and it just didn't feel like I was pulling anything.

How many lessons did you have or did you do a course?
 
Well Done!

I towed for the first time yesterday,went with the trailer empty for a trial run.My dad came with me and gave me some tips.I struggled with reversing into our narrow gateway and down our steep farmyard,but managed it eventually.Today I took my daughter to Pony Club with the trailer for the first time and it went very smoothly.I struggled with the farmyard again,but I guess practice makes perfect.

The one thing I'll struggle with is backing the car up to the trailer to hitch upand getting it exactly right without someone to direct me.I don't supose there is any way around that though.:confused:
 
mirage said:
Well Done!

I towed for the first time yesterday,went with the trailer empty for a trial run.My dad came with me and gave me some tips.I struggled with reversing into our narrow gateway and down our steep farmyard,but managed it eventually.Today I took my daughter to Pony Club with the trailer for the first time and it went very smoothly.I struggled with the farmyard again,but I guess practice makes perfect.

The one thing I'll struggle with is backing the car up to the trailer to hitch upand getting it exactly right without someone to direct me.I don't supose there is any way around that though.:confused:
Click to expand...

re hitching up... I wedge a schooling whip under my rear wiper in the centre of the rear windscreen, and stand a broom against the trailer in the centre of the front window and line the two up whilst reversing.
 
Sounds like you have a good instructor, leaving you to experiment and learn without pressure,good teaching method. I,m sure you will do well!:)
 
i did a three day course, the reverse manouvure is only the half of it, your coupling and uncoupling has to be in the correct order. your only out to get out so many times on your reverse manouvure, and when you do you have to shut the engine down. Your driving has to be to DSA standard, always doing blind spot checks before you move away, not to much fidling with the gears, after checks when pulling around obstacles etc. I passed first time but should have failed because i didnt couple up correctly, had a complete brain fart! but as my drive around town was so good he passed me. i just explained how i should have done it.
 
mirage said:
Well Done!

I towed for the first time yesterday,went with the trailer empty for a trial run.My dad came with me and gave me some tips.I struggled with reversing into our narrow gateway and down our steep farmyard,but managed it eventually.Today I took my daughter to Pony Club with the trailer for the first time and it went very smoothly.I struggled with the farmyard again,but I guess practice makes perfect.

The one thing I'll struggle with is backing the car up to the trailer to hitch upand getting it exactly right without someone to direct me.I don't supose there is any way around that though.:confused:
Click to expand...

when you are hitched up, find some points that line up in your mirrors. With the trailer i tow, its is wider than the car so i can see both mud gaurds so when i reverse up i just makes sure i have the mudgaurds level in both mirrors. And a towing hitch mirror on the trailer makes a difference!
 
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