Risky caravan behaviour set to rise

As cooped-up caravanners start to head back out into the traffic -- or head out for the first time with their flash new post-pandemic rig -- industry experts are warning of complacency around towing safety and rig maintenance that could lead to a rise in caravan crashes.

Colin Young from the Caravan Council of Australia says out-of-practice caravanners need to ease back out onto the highway, brushing up on safety tips and skills after a long stay-at-home period caused by bushfires, floods and a pandemic.

"(It's expected) that both the driver and the 'van will be a bit 'rusty' and out of practice," explains Young, whose website explains in great detail many of the pitfalls and precautions around towing an often unstable and unpredictable caravan.

"Both (caravan and driver) need to get back 'up to speed', and be in good reliable condition, to best ensure safe and happy motoring," he says.

"Other 'vanners will no doubt be in the same mode, and quite possibly frustrated and cheesed-off by having been 'in storage' for quite some time."

Before blowing the cobwebs off and heading out on that big, cross-state adventure, Young recommends some "short local shake-down runs to refresh the mind before embarking on a long trip".

As well as a refresher course on caravan safety and towing, Young also recommends planning ahead for the trip to avoid any other unwelcome surprises en-route.

"It is essential to plan ahead, and make sure all intended facilities are open for business," he says.

The golden rules of caravanning

If you really want to do everything possible to avoid damage or injury when next out with your 'van, we highly recommend spending some time running through all the checklists and detailed advice located on the Caravan Council of Australia website.

In the meantime, here are a few pearls of wisdom to keep in mind before and during your next trip...

Ensure your rig is safe

Inspect your rig (tow vehicle and caravan), by a professional if necessary, to make sure it's both in a safe condition and legally compliant.

Things like making sure towing aids like mirrors and load levellers are correctly fitted; the braking system including brake controller adjusted correctly, tyres in good condition and at the right pressure, and correctly-rated safety chains and D-shackles attached...

Also read: Are you towing illegally?

Ensure your rig is balanced

Make sure you're van is not overweight by running it over a weighbridge. In many cases the tow ball mass should be around 10 per cent of overall van weight. The towing rig should also be level, and packed so as much payload as possible is located low down near the axles....

Also read: How to pack your caravan

Use a pre-trip checklist 

Create a personalised and comprehensive pre-trip checklist and tick off the items before heading off. Do the same when packing up to head home. Even basic stuff like making sure the tow hitch is secured properly is crucial to a safe trip...

Also read: Do you need a caravan checklist?

Keep your speed down

Unless you're rig is really well balanced, you're towing a really light caravan or you have a very capable and heavyweight tow vehicle, it's best to keep your highways speeds under 100km/h -- 90km/h is a much safer and more relaxed speed and will keep your fuel costs down too.

Also read: How to avoid a roll-over

Expect the unexpected

Roadside animals, big trucks passing, cross-winds, pot holes, inconsiderate fellow road users -- there are potentially a lot more things that can go wrong when towing a caravan than when driving solo, so you need to be constantly on the look out for potential hazards and driving accordingly.

Always be courteous to other road users, particularly trucks, and err on the side of caution or it could end up something like this...

Also read: Why you shouldn't overtake when towing

Also read:

Pre-holiday inspection encouraged

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