Tempted by a caravan

[Kermit power]

Ever since I have been capable of rational thought, it has been obvious to me that people who buy caravans are not capable of said rational thought. Camper vans I can vaguely get, but caravans are simply evil.

This was one of the few absolutes in the world, right up until last week. Last week, on our camp site in France, I saw a man with a remote controlled caravan!

Not for him the struggle of reversing his car as close as he can to the hitch before manhandling the thing onto the ball joint. Oh no. He just had to put the car somewhere in the general vicinity before using the remote and an electric motor in the caravan to drive the caravan to the tow hook!

Now of course I would never stoop so low as to actually tow a caravan on a public road, so will never actually need to use this feature for the purpose for which it was designed, but the secondary benefits are superb!

You could take your caravan for walks around the site! Maybe teach it to retrieve sticks along the way? Maybe you go for a couple of pints in the site bar, and then come out to find it is raining? Why get wet walking to your caravan when you can get it to drive to you instead?

Lastly, for the Vixpys amongst us, simply fit your caravan with a cow bell. That way, should it become "accidentally misplaced" whilst you are having your beer, you can simply use your remote to shake your caravan around, then just follow the sound of the bell back to your bed!

I wonder if it is possible to acquire a caravan and a campsite on which to house it using Nectar points? I really, really want one now! Just not quite enough to actually part with any cash for it.

[Factory Dorso]

Kermit power said:

Not for him the struggle of reversing his car as close as he can to the hitch before manhandling the thing onto the ball joint. Oh no. He just had to put the car somewhere in the general vicinity before using the remote and an electric motor in the caravan to drive the caravan to the tow hook!

Haha that's an excellent invention!

I have a caravan, it cost about £900, decent inside though maybe could do with a spring clean...

I've never actually taken it away on holiday anyway, but used it when my house was being refurbished (ripped apart and rebuilt!).

In November I plan to take it to the WRC and get there the day before, secure a spot near the stage, and rid myself of the 5 mile walk I had last year when I arrived at 8am to be at the back of the massive que.

Shhh though, don't give everyone the same idea.

[RizzoTheRat]

My parents took up caravaning (oh the shame) when they retired and got got one if those remote kits after seeing someone else with one. This is despite my father, having farmed all his life, being able to reverse a trailer pretty much anywhere. I've not had a go with the remote yet though.

[Kermit power]

My father is rather like that. Spent his entire career building IT systems of great complexity, and now he's retired, phones me up to ask questions about using his PC.

[LouD86]

Petrolhead Caravanner here! Yup. Never thought they would go together eh.

The motor mover you saw is a great way of moving the van, it allows me to place mine in the barn with 2" accuracy through the doors, much easier than on a car, and spin it on the spot, with no need to get all sweaty, especially when you think it weighs 1800kgs.

Not cheap though, welcome to the smiley side of £1100

[Rawwr]

Instead of powering the caravan with an electric motor, how about powering it by some sort of large american V8? Possibly supercharged?

[Garlick]

I really like caravans, so much so that I often go to Michael Jordan Caravans just to look at them.

I admit it openly, I don't care.

Paul Garlick - ex-owner of a 2004 Bailey Ranger 470/4

[Rawwr]

Garlick said:

Michael Jordan Caravans

Well his career has really run off the rails.

[redgriff500]

Rawwr said:

Garlick said:

Michael Jordan Caravans

Well his career has really run off the rails.

As should Garlick's with confessions like that !

[Garlick]

[LouD86]

Rawwr said:

Instead of powering the caravan with an electric motor, how about powering it by some sort of large american V8? Possibly supercharged?

I used to tow it with a noisy V8, now a V8 diesel instead!

Garlick said:

I really like caravans, so much so that I often go to Michael Jordan Caravans just to look at them.

I admit it openly, I don't care.

Paul Garlick - ex-owner of a 2004 Bailey Ranger 470/4

Good man, and a TVR owner, you sir, are a legend!

[entwisi]

Mmmm, could a caravan mover be the solution for those who have tiny garages?

get out outside where ther is room to open the door, remote control it into the tiny garage, no worries of banging door edges and you can position them pretty accurately...

[muley]

My neighbour uses his caravan mover (rubber drive onto each wheel) to get his caravan into tight spaces. I suggested he could us it to tow his car home (backwards) if the car broke down - apparently that would be a slow process..

[redgriff500]

LouD86 said:

The motor mover you saw is a great way of moving the van, it allows me to place mine in the barn with 2" accuracy through the doors, much easier than on a car, and spin it on the spot, with no need to get all sweaty, especially when you think it weighs 1800kgs.

Not cheap though, welcome to the smiley side of £1100

Couple of starter motors, jump pack, some wire... a do able project for £200.

[LouD86]

redgriff500 said:

Couple of starter motors, jump pack, some wire... a do able project for £200.

If only it was that cheap! When your moving 19k of caravan, you want it to work, I have 12 buttons on the controller, I can be extremely accurate, I feel a start motor wouldnt be

[redgriff500]

LouD86 said:

If only it was that cheap! When your moving 19k of caravan, you want it to work, I have 12 buttons on the controller, I can be extremely accurate, I feel a start motor wouldnt be

Where's your sense of adventure - speed adds to the fun !