How to manoeuvre out of storage bay?

[Pot Bellied Fool]

Hiya peeps

Sounds a bit odd doesn't it, me being a PHer and all but as a relative newbie to caravanning, I'm not afraid to ask for advice!

I'm a pretty confident tower and did the caravan club course a few years ago. Not been out in the van for a couple of years after a nasty accident when my wife was knocked over by a muppet on a bike! But at last, we're heading off for Easter at the weekend. 😀

But where I still find it a bit awkward is confined spaces. Our storage is on a small CL, and a little while ago the owner asked me to move into another storage row. It just feels a little bit tighter but he wanted the longer spaces for longer caravans, which is fair enough!

I struggled a bit putting it into the space two years ago, indeed, I jackknifed and put a small hole in the bumper of the S 60. There was something parked next to it then. The next bay is empty at the moment & gives a bit of wiggle room but may not be empty for long.

I'm just wondering, how you'd advise I easiest get it out of this spot. As you can see, with the car in its hooked up position, there's not an awful lot of space to pull straight ahead. The exit of the storage is off towards the right.

I don't have a motor mover.

I'm sure I'll manage, but it would be just nice to hear how the more seasoned caravanners would approach this little manoeuvering conundrum.

[Pot Bellied Fool]

Thanks guys, I'm actually quite reassured that you think it's not a straightforward extrication - you start to doubt yourself!

From that hook-up position, the car couldn't make the turn itself in a single sweep (when I said exit to the right incidentally, I meant driver's right, not the rhs of the pic - not that it makes much difference) and my concern is indeed the swing if I come out on any sort of angle.

I'll be collecting it myself - and even if I took my missus along, it'd turn stressful! (and she can't push anyway) - but I like the idea of a plank to help the jockey wheel, even if I hitch it up to pull it a foot forward to get the main wheels out of a bit of a dip and then unhitch, push & re-hitch.

We'll be moving later on in the year so may well be looking for somewhere new to store anyhow.

But thanks for the feedback, good to know I'm not going daft!

[Pot Bellied Fool]

Old Tyke said:

You'll have to forgive me here, but as an artic driver I'm honestly not seeing what the issue is. You'll piss that by pulling forward a bit and hooking your car over to the right. There's enough room to clear that caravan in green and you won't be jacking it around enough for the caravan hitch to contact your bumper either. Seriously, you're making a meal out of it. You'll be close the green van, probably within 6" of it but it'll clear, I'll guarantee it.

The photos are a bit misleading, there's not *that* much room straight ahead. Put it like this, from where the car is there, I put it on full right lock and still couldn't make the sweep round and that's without anything on the back. I know it looks like more but you'll just have to blame the iPhone lens, I tried it!

Old Tyke said:

Alternatively, what's stopping you hooking it round to the left and then reversing it into the gap at the other side of the camper in your second pic?

Nothing at all - but they're usually occupied

Hoping they're still empty when I go on Saturday as yes, that'll make it a lot easier.


Thanks all and good advice. I'll be trying a few of your suggestions