Caravan towing for beginners

Some of the most fun we can have in South East Queensland involves hitching up a caravan and exploring our beautiful part of the world. Whether you’re setting off for a coastal getaway or thinking of venturing into the hinterland. It pays to be prepared before setting off. Towing isn’t for the faint of heart though. If it’s your first time towing a caravan, following this easy to follow guide will help you get there safely.

Towing a caravan changes the whole dynamics of your vehicle. It requires more knowledge and different skills. Drivers need to understand the general principles of towing a caravan before attempting to hit the highway and being amongst traffic.

Driving with a Caravan take’s practice. Remember:

• Apply the accelerator, brakes and steering smoothly and gently at all times to avoid any unnecessary sway. Especially in wet conditions where these effect can be amplified
• Allow extra space when entering traffic, merging and changing lanes due to the extra length and width of the caravan
• Avoid any abrupt lane changes and or change in direction
• Leave a longer stopping distance between you and the vehicle ahead, increase the gap with heavier caravans. Allow even more space again in wet weather and poor visibility conditions
• Keep your eyes up and look further down the road to allow yourself more time to react to traffic and or road conditions
• Allow more time and distance to brake and overtake other vehicles. Remember to allow for the extra length and avoid cutting off the vehicle you have just overtaken when returning to the left lane
• Be ready for the increased effects that passing vehicles and poor road surfaces will have on your vehicle and caravan combination. Cross-winds and heavier vehicles e.g. Trucks, may cause the vehicle to sway
• If the caravan does begin to sway or ‘snake’ avoid applying the towing vehicles brakes. If the caravan has been fitted with electronic brakes that can operated independently, apply them gently. Otherwise a steady speed or slight accelerate until the swaying has stopped
• Slow down well before entering corners and curves. Caravans add extra weight to the vehicle and in turn require larger distances to slow down
• Swing wider on corners and curves to allow for the caravans tendency to ‘cut in’
• Always engage a lower gear in both manual and automatic vehicles whilst travelling down steep descents to increase control and reduce strain on your brakes
• When reversing, have a person located at the rear / side of the caravan giving clear directions
• Avoid holding up traffic on single lane roads, pull over when safe to do so. Allow faster vehicles to overtake and reduce a build-up of traffic
• If travelling long distances, plan plenty of rest stops as towing can be stressful and more fatiguing than normal driving

Legal Requirement:

•  The tow vehicle and caravan must both be roadworthy and registered
• You can only tow 1 trailer at a time
• Persons must NOT travel in caravan while in motion
• The caravan must have a visible rear number plate

Caravan’s may not be covered by comprehensive insurance if:

• It does not comply with Queensland registration and vehicle standard legislation
• The on-road mass exceeds your vehicle’s towing capacity
• Fail’s to meet roadworthy standards and is not safe
• Overloaded

There is no speed restriction apart from the signed speed while towing a caravan. However, you should always drive to road, traffic and weather conditions. Even if this means driving under the signed speed limit, always drive within your capability. Consider taking a caravanning towing safety course. Courses range from 1 to 2 days and can be easy booked at Roadcraft, Getabout Training Services and Learn 2 Tow. Now that you know what to expect on the roads, be sure to check out our Pre Trip Caravan Checklist before hitting the road. If you do encounter a flat tyre in your travels be sure to check out our step by step guide. With tilt tray and towing abilities, Quicktow can get your caravan and vehicle to your desired destination safety. The next time you’re broken down, think QUICKTOW.