Let’s be honest, towing a van is a lot more complex than simply hitching up and heading off to your holiday destination. If you’re a first-time caravanner, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. There are so many things to think about, but once you understand what you need to do, it’s less daunting, we promise.

Here are some essentials to know before getting on the road.

Understanding caravan weights

Knowing the weight of your towing vehicle and caravan is vital for safe and legal towing. If your caravan exceeds your car’s capacity, there are many safety risks involved.

Understanding calculations like gross vehicle mass, gross trailer mass, gross combined mass, tare mass and payload are critical to determining the success of your holiday towing. Familiarise yourself with these terms and check your weights before you attempt to tow to guarantee a safe and legal journey.

Learn the basics from the experts

The caravan lifestyle is a learning curve for many, so if you’ve never towed before, there’s no shame in seeking guidance through a towing course.

Towing involves a unique set of skills and knowledge, and a course is a proactive step towards learning what you need to know for a safe and enjoyable experience. Courses are designed to help you learn things like how to hitch up, manoeuvre safely on the road and how to reverse park.

Prioritise routine checks before you head off

Regular inspections (both professionally and yourself) form the foundation of a trouble-free caravan journey. By conducting checks consistently, you can identify problems early on, preventing them from becoming problems when you’re towing out on the road.

You want to check things like the hitch and wheels, the seals around the windows and doors, the roof, that the lights and signals are operational and the same goes for the handbrake and the brakes.

Make sure to also take your van in for a service with a professional before your next big trip – they’ll be able to make sure your van is in tip-top condition and find any problems you can’t solve yourself. 

Plan your trip

Resist the temptation to rely solely on Google Maps and plan your route strategically, prioritising suitability over speed.

Make sure you know where you’re going (you don’t want to find yourself stuck on a narrow back road just to save a few minutes) and you know what kinds of roads you’re driving on and keep in mind that not all roads are smooth, sealed highways, some require off-road capabilities.

Also be mindful of weather that can impact road conditions and consider the presence of other traffic, such as road trains on those outback highways out west.

Pack smart

Make sure you pack strategically for safe towing. Avoid overloading – less is more for safety. Focus your heaviest items over the caravan’s axles to maintain balance – too much weight upfront strains the vehicle and too much at the rear can lead to fishtailing or swaying. Pack thoughtfully and you’ll be fine.

Be prepared

Be realistic about your trip – challenges are inevitable, particularly when it comes to your car and caravanning.

If you’re prepared for things like flat tyres, malfunctioning lights, or encounters with wildlife, you’re going to be way less stressed when these things happen.

Towing alters your vehicle’s dynamics and despite meticulous hitching and proper connections, external factors can induce things like swaying on the roads. Strong winds, passing trucks, high speeds and gravel roads are potential contributors. Without careful attention, your caravan may sway unpredictably, posing a significant safety risk.

Practice reversing a caravan

You’ve heard the saying practice makes perfect but, in this case, practice is essential. Take your van out to somewhere quiet (or do this at home if you have enough space) and practice reversing during a quiet time of the day.

Take your time and bring a friend who can help you if you can. Remember to stay calm and be patient with yourself and don’t worry if you start going off course, you’ll be great in no time.

Stick to the speed limit

Let’s be honest, road trips are fun. But when you’re towing, the need for speed stays at home. Slow down – not just to take in the views. Excessive speed can put you in a dangerous situation (Caravan sway is one of the most common causes of caravan accidents) and no one wants that. Obey the speed limit and stay on the safe side.

Be patient and remain focused

Towing isn’t an everyday gig for most folks, so keeping track of the extra considerations might not be second nature.

Minimising distractions is crucial to staying focused while towing. While you can’t control everything (noisy kids anyone?) you can manage music volumes and turn off phone notifications.

Make sure to prioritise regular rest stops to combat fatigue, especially with the extra added factors to juggle during your journey.

Take care while driving and allow more distance between you and the car in front and if you’re overtaking, make sure there’s enough space for you and the caravan.

Remember it’s an adventure, you’re not rushing to work – so make sure you’re on top of your game. There is never a good enough reason for driving dangerously