Parking your Caravan without getting a divorce
I found long ago that I am a stickler for having our caravan parked in the perfect spot against the caravan park slab.
I would always reverse the caravan to the best possible spot and then make numerous minute (yes minute) adjustments.
This manoeuvring was most important when I was establishing camp for the family on our regular two and three week holidays at Site 50, ‘Dunny Lane’, Kingscliff, in the Tweed Region of northern New South Wales.
Sadly, Dunny Lane is now long-gone – along with all the permanent vans and the close family culture that carried on from the ‘60s. But, I digress…
Why the importance of parking your caravan accurately?
The reason for this fine tuning was that the annex walls needed to come down on the edge of the slab at the front of the van and on the outside of the slab. Parking the van in this manner prevents the predictable south-easterly winds blowing under the walls and into the kids’ sleeping quarters.
Here’s the Trick for parking your caravan
I always carried a length of cord with knot ties forming a triangle.
Why a triangle?
One side of the triangle was the distance from the front inside corner of the slab (where the front annex side wall needed to land) to the outside of the caravan’s passenger side tyre. Let’s call this ‘X’.
Another side of the triangle was the distance from the edge of the slab (where the inside tyre needed to be) to the outside of the caravan’s driver side tyre. Call this ‘Y’.
The third side, naturally joined the outside tyre’s position to the front corner of the slab such that it held the two other sides at right angles. Call this ‘Z’.
With a loop at each corner, you peg the cord down with each corner in their respective positions and you have instant landing points to aim for.
One advantage of using this triangle cord is that the person guiding you in knows exactly what points you are aiming for and why.
Another advantage is that you are able to put a marker of some sort (a shoe, thong, empty can or witche’s hat etc) on the driver’s side marker and aim for this when approaching the site with the slab on your ‘blind side’. By landing on this outside marker with the van parallel to the slab, you can be sure that the annex will be lined up.
Other Uses for the Triangle
Naturally, the same principle can be applied for accurately locating the desired position of your caravan or camper door; slide out kitchen or BBQ etc.
Just measure the important dimensions and make yourself a triangle – and keep it handy.
Camp Hero Status
As regular readers of my page will know, ‘Camp Hero Status’ is an important aspect of camping.
This is where you are able to pull something off while making it look so simple – or better yet, without people actually noticing what you’ve done.
Keep the cord handy and do the pegging out quickly, and no one will know… they’ll just see you park the rig within exacting standards and the whole setup will look as smart as a ‘shiny new penny’.
I’m not talking ‘showing off’ here – that’s a different thing.
Want to read more then head to our blogs
Extra space when camping
Tentworld stocks an incredible option for camping, travelling and even for those who want to stay overnight. A kid-friendly bunk that goes up in a flash. In fact the bunk can be a bunk or beds or a place to sit…follow the link and check it out for yourself.
Another view of parking your caravan.
Reverse a caravan for dummies.
