Towing your Caravan.

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Tips_and_Tricks_on_towing.
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Towing Guide Lines

You have purchased a caravan and you have a vehicle to tow it with, now all you need is a towbar to put the two together.

Before you purchased the caravan, you will have ensured that the tow vehicle is capable of towing it fully laden. What you need now is a towbar that is capable of pulling that weight.

The first place to start is with the Franchise Dealer, or a towbar specialist. Check what's available from them to suit your needs. Good towbars have a plate attached to indicate the maximum towing capacity and the maximum weight on the tow ball. If you don't know the fully laden weight of your caravan, have it taken to a weighbridge and checked. As a general rule the fully laden weight will be somewhere between 250 and 350 kilograms more than the unladen weight. To work out the weight on the tow ball, you must drive the vehicle onto the weighbridge and check the weight. Then check the weight again, this time with the caravan attached, but with the caravan wheels off the weighbridge. The difference between the two weights is the weight on the tow ball.

When the caravan is attached, it must be level. You may have to buy an adjustable height towbar to achieve this. A caravan that is not level will be unstable on the road and no fun to tow. To check for the correct ball height, measure the distance from the coupling on the A-frame to the ground, it should be nearly the same as the measurement from the tow ball on the vehicle to the ground.

Too much weight on the tow ball will make the vehicle unstable as the leverage effect on the back of the vehicle will take the weight off the front wheels, and tis will affect the steering and braking.

You can purchase a weight distribution towbar, which uses torsion bars to distribute more weight to the front wheels.

If your vehicle already had a towbar fitted when you purchased it, check the towing capacity, as many towbars are designed to only pull small trailers. If you're in any doubt as to the capacity of the towbar, have it changed.

It's time now to take the towing vehicle and caravan for a drive to check how it tows.

After a few minutes of towing you should hardly notice that the caravan is behind you, just don't forget that it's there, especially when overtaking and cornering. You will need to give yourself more room for these manoeuvres.

If the caravan begins to sway, you will need to go back and have a re-think about the set up. Swaying caravans are dangerous, they cause instability and you may end up with the vehicle out of control. There are a number of checks to make to determine the cause.

Check the tow ball height
Check the tyre pressures on both vehicles
Check the weight distribution

If these items are okay, then go to a caravan specialist and have the whole rig checked out. It may be a problem with the design of the caravan or it may be that the tow vehicle and caravan are an unsuitable match.

Either way, don't ignore the problem. The caravan specialist will be able to help you with a solution.

The maximum allowable towing weight in all states of Australia is the manufacturer's stated maximum towing capacity for the vehicle or the maximum capacity for the towbar, whichever is the lesser.

The maximum towing speed limit in all states of Australia is 100 KPH or the posted limit, whichever is the lower. Be aware that some manufacturers place speed limitations on their vehicles when towing.

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Tips and Tricks on towing.

Before setting out on “The Big Trip”, try to have a trial weekend in a nearby Holiday park so you get used to your new caravan.

Also practice reversing in a local car park (e.g. on an Industrial Estate at the weekend) when it is quiet. Form a large circle using items like buckets, which you can see fairly clearly, and practice reversing in an anticlockwise direction, this will allow better vision. When comfortable with this, try reversing clockwise. For safety always have someone watch you practice.

If you are not familiar with towing a caravan then consider attending a towing clinic. Remember the speed limit for towing can differ in different States. For instance in Western Australia it is 100km per hour if the total trailer or caravan is UNDER 750kg. If it is OVER 750kg then the maximum speed is 90km. In Tasmania, it is 90km when towing a caravan or trailer. In SA, ACT, NSW, Queensland, and Victoria local speed signs apply. In the Northern Territory, the rule is “safe speed for the prevailing conditions on the open road”. Also some vehicle manufacturers place speed restrictions on towing, as well as load carrying capacity. Ignore any of those restrictions and you risk not only your life, and others, but you also void your warranty and/or insurance. Check your particular vehicle’s capacity before setting out, not after.

Packing checklist: You can use the packing list available on this website, and tick off as you pack. Also use the list when packing up again after each site visited, to minimise leaving items behind. (Request editable packing list) see also our Packing page

Analyse your packing list on your return, and delete those items you did not required and reprint the revised list. You will be surprised that with a bit of care, you will be able to reduce the load in your van considerably. The less your load is, the better the fuel efficiency.

Spread your load evenly throughout the van, and always pack heavy items low and close to the centre of the caravan over the axle.

Run your fridge for at least 24hrs prior to your trip to cool it down, before loading it.

Stop and rest regularly especially on long trips, and use this break to also check that everything is in order in and around the caravan, e.g. tyre pressure, fuel level, radiator, and brakes.

On your first trip, and it is good advice thereafter, to set off at a quiet time when traffic is at its minimum and just take it steady until you get the feel of towing again. Be aware of the extra length and width when turning or over taking.

If a road train or heavy vehicle is approaching from the rear, do not slow down to allow them to overtake as they will have already judged the distance and taken a line of approach. Simply maintain your current speed and position, keeping to the left. If on the other hand traffic is building up behind you, when it is safe to do so, pull over and either stop, or slow down, allowing them to overtake.

If possible when reversing onto a site, approach the site from an angle which will enable you to reverse in from the driver’s side (anti-clockwise direction). This will give you a clearer vision of the side of the van, plus the site, and should allow easier and correct positioning of the van.

For safety always try to have someone watching from the rear when reversing.

On arriving at your destination after a long trip please take the following advice - Do not rush around to set up everything as soon as you get there. It might be best to simply park the van on the site and relax with a quiet cuppa or cold drink, take in the scenery. Try saying “Hi” to the neighbours, or go for a swim, then rush around and set everything up (no – there really is really no need to rush, unless it is very late, or about to rain for instance). It might be that the site allocated does not suit your needs. By taking a little time to relax before setting up camp, you allow time for the issues or problems to surface. It will be easier to move if you have not unpacked everything.

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Camping and Caravan safety

Install a smoke alarm fitted with a ‘hush' button close to the beds in addition to a fire extinguisher and fire blanket. The fire extinguishers should be the dry chemical powder portable type which has a minimum rating of 1A:5B:(E).
The extinguisher should be located near the exit where it is accessible and where escape is also an option.
When towing your caravan make sure that any pilot lights have been switched off.
At camp sites and caravan parks, make sure you know where the safety equipment is located, such as fire hoses.
Make sure that all electrical and gas equipment has been properly tested and is in good working order.
All gas cylinders on your caravan should be external, properly secured with valves facing away from the van. After driving on bumpy roads you should check the connections between the cylinders and van.

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Australian National Caravan & Recreational Vehicle Towing Guide

The National Caravan & Recreational Vehicle Towing Guide has been produced in response to overwhelming public demand. In the Guide you will find a wealth of technical information, handy hints and advice, which, when put into practice, will help you to tow your caravan or other recreational vehicle with a greater degree of confidence and safety. Request a Towing Guide Book to be posted

There are currently over 330,000 registered recreational vehicles - including caravans, camper trailers and tent trailers - in Australia. The popularity of these vehicles is growing rapidly, with new registrations of around 18,000 units every year.

Of course, there are also innumerable other types of trailers such as boat trailers, horse floats and the humble box trailer, which are used for both private and commercial purposes. But no matter what vehicle you tow and what your level of experience (from first timer to old hand) you will find the Guide is an invaluable reference tool.

Refereed by nine technical experts with many years of collective towing experience, the information in the Guide is both practical and, at the time of publication, consistent with the applicable national road and towing regulations. For additional towing information or advice, please contact one of the organisations listed on the last page of this Guide.

The Caravan and Camping Industry Associations throughout Australia are pleased to make The National Caravan & Recreational Vehicle Towing Guide available to you free of charge. We hope you find the publication useful and we wish you many hours of happy, safe towing.

Introduction Touring and towing a caravan or other recreational vehicle is one of the most exciting ways to see Australia. Not only is it an affordable holiday, it also gives you the freedom to travel to the destinations of your choice.

Australian caravans are among the best in the world. They are aerodynamically designed and can be towed easily and safely. However, towing any type of trailer involves more than attaching a towbar to your vehicle and hitching up. It adds another dimension to your driving and there are a number of considerations you should take into account.

These include:

the towing capacity of your vehicle;
the type of tow bar you should fit to your vehicle and the maximum load capacity of the coupling;
the type of trailer you are towing and whether it complies with all the regulations governing trailers in Australia;
the type of equipment you may need to fit to increase the trailer's stability when being towed;
whether your trailer is correctly loaded;
the ways in which towing can affect your driving;
the safety checks you should make prior to and during your trip; and
the type of insurance most suitable for your caravan or trailer.

This guide will help to answer your questions regarding these issues.

Published by:
The Caravan and Camping Industry Association of NSW Limited
ABN 63 002 223 449
PO Box H114
Harris Park NSW 2150
Tel: 02 9615 9999

Your trailer needs to be insured, but choose your policy wisely. You should also bear in mind that a claim could be denied if your trailer fails to comply with legislation, or if its ATM exceeds your vehicle’s towing capacity, or if it is un-roadworthy, or overloaded.

When shopping around for a policy, consider the following:

Is the policy premium competitive?
Is the policy an Agreed Value or a Market Value policy?
Does the policy include the annex and accessories, such as air conditioners, for break downs, theft and damage?
Does the policy cover personal contents?
Does the policy cover emergency accommodation, loss of deposits paid to a caravan park and urgent repairs to the trailer?

Just as you can cover your motor vehicle for 24-hour road side assistance, you can also arrange the same coverage for your trailer through National Road Trailers Australia.

For more information call them on 1300 550 161.

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Packing up ready to leave

Inside the caravan, make sure that:

the gas is turned off, and the bottle secured for travel
all items in the cupboards are stowed correctly, and cupboard doors are securely closed & locked
the refrigerator door is locked and no loose items are left in there
the fridge is switch to 12 volt if applicable (Do not travel using gas)
the bench tops are cleared of all items not attached
the stove lid is secured
the windows and hatch are securely closed
the front stone shield is closed & secure
other items which may need to be considered such as solar panels, aerials etc set-up outside the van, need to be stowed inside etc
any extra items should be stowed securely and correctly taking into account weight issues eg heavy items are stored low and over the wheels.
there are no loose items in, or attached to the caravan which will move in transit.
any roll-up awnings are fully rolled up, and travel catches are secured.
your entry door is open when you lower (or raise) your pop top roof.
the steps are raised and secured.

Before towing make sure that:

the power is disconnected from the site.
the 12 volt lights are all turned off.
the door is locked & safety catch is on.
the jockey wheel is removed & stowed.
the levelling jacks are fully wound up.
the tyre pressure is checked, & OK on the van & the towing vehicle
the wing mirrors are still in the right position for optimum vision and are clean.
the vision from all vehicle windows should be clear & clean if possible.

Getting ready to tow:

Ensure the caravan is correctly coupled to the tow vehicle. Then, check your safety chain/s. Two chains are normally fitted. Crisscross the chains and use 'D' shackles to connect them to the secure points on the towbar.
Ensure that the electrical plug between the caravan and tow vehicle is connected. Then, check the brake lights, tail lights, turn indicators, clearance lights and electric brakes (if fitted) to make sure they are all working. (have spare globes in case needed)
Release the caravan handbrake
Finally, walk around the caravan for one last safety check before driving off. It can be very expensive as well as embarrassing to drive off with a lead or something still attached.

Hints
After travelling 15 minutes or so, pull over where safe and check to see if everything is still in a secure position

You should slide the manual over ride button on your brake controller a few times, when you start travelling. This will dislodge dirt and surface rust on brake drums so that your brakes do not grab on application.

When towing your tow vehicle may require more pressure in the rear tyres, check your vehicle owner's manual for directions.

If you happen to encounter corrugated roads, consider letting some air out from the tyres on your caravan or camper trailer approximately 10 psi. This is one way to help ease the shock on your caravan by letting the tyre absorb the rough road conditions. Return the air in your tyres to normal pressure as soon as possible. (have your own compressor to do this)

Dropping tyre pressures too much can cause damage to your tyres, so care should be taken to ensure tyre pressures are not low on bitumen, rocky, or sharp stony roads.

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