Will it fit - Maths question?

[ChrisE]

Originally Posted by AlanF

Seriously however reversing is your best bet at such a tight manouver. Good luck

I don't know if it is just me but reversing, for an unstated distance, a 25ft caravan around a blind right angle bend on a public road isn't something that I would tackle lightly.

[Clifford Pope]

Originally Posted by The Hooded Claw

BUT... only if you reverse it round You'll get a much tighter turn by reversing than you would by going forwards

I don't think that is true. Unless the tyres actually slip, a vehicle going forwards or backwards follows exactly the same tyre tracks.

Imagine filming the sequence, then running the film backwards.

It is true a vehicle is easier to reverse into a tight spot than drive forwards, but on emerging again it will follow exactly the same path.

[RoscoMac]

Thanks for all the tips folks.

I know/think a mover would be the best bet - that way if the rig doesn't fit around the corner, I can unhitch and swing round corner by hand. Unfortunately, lack of pennies discount this one at the moment.

The lane is a dead-end of a public road, so the wood option would be doable and sounds fun!

Given that i virtually failed my Second Year Art, I doubt the Scale model option would work for me, Jim!

Reversing is a no-go, as the lane rises up, then down to the bend, before continuing down hill.

Anyone want to buy a caravan.....??

Cheers folks.

Ross.

[moncman]

I didn't quite understand if you already had the van or it was a prospective purchase. If you have access to that or another van of simliar size get yourself down to a large supermarket style carpark (B&Q, Tesco Extra etc) at 8am on a Sunday and give it a go. Jumpers for goalposts or chalk on the ground. Mark out the meaasurements of the task and try a number of approaches without risk if banging into stuff.

[isleaiw]

Having had a similar problem (before some kind person nicked my caravan!)< i feel for your problem.

I live off an unadopted road that is one car wide and a footpath. I live up a gravel drive that goes off the unadopted road at 90 degrees. I couldnt get the caravan round forward no matter how I tried - if I was wide enough to leave room to swing round the back of the van would hit the wall on the left of the unadopted road as I turned. If i stayed narrower to avoid this, the opposite side of the van tracked too narrow.

I could just get round if I reversed but there was no room for error, so i ended up doing the unhitching piece, but that was hard work with a caravan that was 8 metres (shipping length) long and twin axle! That made me improve my reversing and I did master the art of reversing round - but to be honest, it was one of the reasons i didnt replace the van when it was nicked, too much hassle getting on and off the drive!

Ian

[Rick Barton]

I know this is an oldish thread but I haven't seen anyone point out that if you have to reverse it in, you will probably also have to reverse it out again - and one direction will be uphill I understand. This sounds like a nightmare - I hope that if you try it you are braver than me!

[owyn]

I can work it out for you but need the width of the van.

[jiwilson]

Measure the roads

Layout same on a big (quiet) car park using road paint (b&q)

Try it with car and van in complete safety.

You will need a banksman to watch or video

good luck

Ian