Towing Advice
Preparing Your Caravan - The Basics
Below are some of the basic, but often missed checks that Caravan Sites Direct recommend you should carry out prior to setting off.
Switch Off The Gas
Better To Be Safe.
Shut Your Windows & Roof Lights
How many times have you seen someone on the motorway with their roof lights open?
Disconnect Your Mains and Switch To 12v Car Charge
Lift Your Corner Steadies
Ensure they are fully wound up before driving away.
Check Your Lights
A two minute job, when you have someone to help.
Check Your Tyres
Before every journey, check the condition & pressure of your tyres. Modern tyres are designed to be used frequently, and because caravans are often left in one place for some time, they can be prone to increased wear from sunlight exposure and loss of shape from weight being placed on one spot of the tyre.
Secure Your Jockey Wheel (Once hitched to your car of course!!)
A loose jockey wheel can drop down and damage both the jockey wheel and your caravan.
Lock Your Fridge
There's nothing worse than arriving at a caravan site to find your fridge has opened during transit, and the contents have been rolling around the floor for the past 100 miles.
First Trip of The Year
Service Your Caravan
Like a car, the best way to ensure your caravan is in good working order is to have an annual service. There are many areas a service covers to ensure your caravan is safe. The key areas they look at are:
- Road Safety Equipment - Including brakes, lights, tyres etc.
- Living Area Equipment - Electricity wiring and supply, gas supply and individual appliances.
Know The Law
Check Your Lights
For obvious reasons, all external lights should be in good working order. Before setting out on every journey, check that all lights are working as they should. Don't forget your side lights if you are planning to travel at night.
Tip - Pack a spare set of bulbs. This will avoid any unnecessary stress just as you are about to set off.
Towing Mirrors
It is a legal requirement that when towing a caravan, you must be able to see a minimum of 20 mtrs behind your caravan on both sides. One mirror must be on your offside, and as it is unlikely that you can use your internal mirror, extension mirrors may be needed.
There are a number of different types of extension mirrors to suit a variety of cars, so ensure you choose one that suits your car and gives you the best vision. Extension mirrors must not extend any further than 250mm past the widest part of your caravan, and remember they should be removed when not towing.
If in doubt, use extension mirrors and avoid a possible fine.
Know Your Limits
Where the speed limit is set at 30, 40 or 50mph, the standard laws apply. However, the law changes when on unrestricted roads. As a guide the speed limit is 10mph lower than the standard, unless told otherwise. For example, a motorway at 70mph becomes 60mph. The table below gives you a guide to help you on your way.
Loading Your Caravan Safely
How Much Do You Weigh?
Whatever you tow, it is important to understand three keys pieces information.
Total weight of your caravan, including your belongings. (Also known as MTPLM).
Maximum towing weight of your car. Generally 85% of your cars kerbweight(Weight without any luggage or passengers).
Your nose weight. Generally between 5% & 7% of the weight of your caravan.
If you change your caravan or car, you will need to recheck the above points. For more information, click on What Car/What Caravan for full information.
Top 10 Tips For Safe Loading
Below are just a few suggestions on loading your caravan as safe as possible
- Where possible, load heavy items in the car rather than in your caravan. For example - the awning.
- Place any heavy items directly over the caravan's axle, and secure them to avoid movement when braking and cornering. Excess movement could change your weight distribution or damage your caravan.
- Avoid placing heavy objects at the back of your caravan. This can cause your caravan to sway from side to side (also known as snaking).
- Medium sized items should be placed on the floor and distributed as close to the axle as possible. This includes water and waste carriers, televisions, BBQ etc.
- Only light objects should be placed in the overhead lockers.
- Avoid loading all your clothes in the wardrobe during transit, as this could affect your nose weight. Where possible either keep them in the car, or distribute them evenly throughout the caravan and store them in the wardrobe when on site.
- Fixed Beds - If your caravan has a fixed bed, don't be tempted to overload this as this can make your caravan unstable when towing.
- Remember to empty your toilet cassette and water carriers/tank, before setting off.
- Double check your nose weight before setting off (with corner steadies lifted). Adjust the items in your caravan accordingly to reach the correct weight.
- Please ensure that the weight is also distributed evenly on the left and right hand side of your caravan.
Important - Your insurance can become void if your caravan noseweight is exceeded.
Using A Stabiliser
Firstly, it is important to remember that a stabiliser is NOT a substitute for poor or incorrect loading of your caravan.
Stabilisers are designed to reduce the risk of snaking in windy conditions or where the road condition may be poor. Most modern caravans are now fitted with a stabiliser, Caravan Sites Direct recommend you use one rather than risk both your safety and investment.
In essence, there are 2 different types of caravan stabilisers.
Leaf Spring or blade stabilisers -
The more traditional of the two, the leaf spring stabiliser is a tensioned bar that fixes to both your caravan and your car, and reduces both side to side and up and down movements. This type, standard tow balls can be used.
Tow Ball Stabilisers -
The more popular of the two today, the tow ball stabiliser is permanently attached to your caravan, and can be quickly hitched and un-hitched from your car. Like the leaf stabiliser, the tow ball device reduces both side to side and up and down movement, by increasing turning friction on the tow ball. For that reason, a special tow bar (often provided with stabiliser) will be needed to avoid damage to the stabiliser and to maintain safe coupling.
Manoeuvring
Remember to allow for the extra length & width when towing. This is especially important when,
- Overtaking
- Towing or manoeuvring in a confined space
- When cornering
Avoid catching the kerb, by taking a wide line on corners keeping an eye out on both mirrors. Watch how a lorry driver goes round a corner, and you will get the idea.
Take your time. Rushing will leave more room for errors and less time to react.
Reversing
Most importantly, take your time.
Remember to turn your steering wheel in the opposite direction.
Keep a watchful eye on where your caravan is going, and don't be afraid to stop and try again.
Turning the caravan too sharply (oversteering) can cause the caravan to jack knife. This can cause damage to both your car and your caravan.
Practice, practice, practice.
Don't get embarrassed if it all goes wrong. It happens to everyone.
