The year of the caravan has arrived, with domestic travel within Australia becoming popular once again. The demand for caravans has soared, with sales increasing by up to 242% and waiting times for new caravans extending up to a year. The second-hand market has also experienced a boost, with caravans selling almost twice as fast compared to the previous year.
Caravan manufacturers are struggling to meet the growing demand, as production has been disrupted due to the forced lockdown closures in Melbourne. This, coupled with increasing demand, is expected to drive up prices across the board.
According to Caravan Industry Association of Australia spokesman Keelan Howard, the pandemic has created a new market of caravanners, who are keen to enjoy the camping lifestyle with the “unmatched safety benefits” of self-contained kitchen and bathroom facilities.
If you are looking to buy a new caravan, it is important to do your research. Caravans can cost upwards of $50,000, and it is essential to understand RV linguistics and towing arithmetic. Towing a caravan can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience, but it’s essential to ensure that you’re safe and legal on the road. Here are some tips to help you prepare for a smooth and safe journey:
1. Know your weight calculations
Understanding how much your car and caravan weigh and how that weight is distributed is crucial to ensuring your rig is legal and safe. You must check the four weight calculations, which are gross vehicle mass, aggregate trailer mass, tow ball weight and gross combined mass, and ensure that they are all within legal limits. You can do this by checking your weights at a public weight station before you attempt to tow.
2. Pack wisely for a smooth ride
Where you carry your weight matters. You must pack your heaviest items over the caravan’s axles, as too much gear up front will put too much weight on the vehicle and too much at the rear can cause the caravan to fishtail. Be frugal with what you pack and travel with full water tanks to lower the caravan’s centre of gravity and minimise weight shifting.
3. Secure caravan before hitting the road
Before setting off, you should have a system in place to ensure that you have completed all the necessary checks and cross-checks. After hitching up, check that all electrical vehicle points are connected, chains are in place, handbrake is off and the breakaway cable is attached. Make sure all windows, hatches and cupboards are closed, check the caravan brake, indicator and clearance lights are working, and don’t forget to wind down the TV antenna.
4. Take a towing course if you’re a first timer
If you’ve never towed before, enrolling in a towing course is a worthwhile investment. Tow-Ed runs accredited Drive and Manoeuvre Trailers towing courses at sites around Australia, which teach drivers how to hitch up, manoeuvre safely on the road and reverse park.
5. Follow the maximum towing speed
Limit your maximum speed to 100kmh or less and maintain a steady speed, giving yourself more time to react if something goes wrong. This will also help you get better fuel economy. If a road train comes thundering up your rear, move as far to the left as safely possible, maintain speed and let them pass.
6. Load your caravan correctly to avoid swaying
A swaying trailer is the caravanner’s worst nightmare. If the van starts to sway, especially when being overtaken, DO NOT brake. Instead, maintain or slowly increase your speed. Failing to do so puts you in danger of rolling your rig or being sucked into the side of a passing truck.
7. Use the push-pull method for easy reverse parking
Reverse parking is the great instigator of caravan park barnies. Tow-Ed advocates the push-pull method. The passenger stands at the rear of the driver’s side of the caravan and uses simple push and pull commands to direct the driver.
8. Make slow and wide turns
As a heavy vehicle, you need to take it slow and wide – turning the steering wheel when your vehicle’s rear tyre is level with the corner of the intersection to avoid clipping the curb and collecting any street signs.
9. Plan ahead
Plan your route in advance, even if it extends your journey time. Don’t let Google Maps take your through a narrow rabbit warren of backroads to save a few minutes. GPS units like the Hema HX-1 can be programmed to avoid low-clearance bridges and unsuitable roads. Whilst we’re on the topic of planning, we recommend checking out our Ultimate Guide to Australia before you hit the road!
10. Purchase the must-have safety gadgets
Caravan reversing cameras, electronic stability control (ESC) and other enhanced safety features are worth every cent. Some insurance companies even offer discounts if you have ESC, so do your homework and don’t skimp on upgrades that will make your journey safer.
