Caravan Towing Advice
Caravanning is seeing a surge in popularity as more and more people look for cheaper alternatives to the foreign holiday. Caravans do of course need to be towed but this can be a daunting experience for someone who’s never done it before. Towing a caravan is simple provided that you use common sense and follow a few simple rules. Read the rest of this article to find out more.
Tow a Caravan
- The most crucial thing to pay attention to is the weight. All caravans have a maximum weight, as does the car that will tow it. The formula used to work this out is the total loaded mass of the caravan which is then divided by the weight of the car and the resulting figure multiplied by 100. The caravan weight to car weight ratio should never be higher than 85%.
- It’s vital that you load your caravan properly and ensure the loading is even. The most heavy items should be placed over the axle and on the floor. Modern caravans for sale will have things such as built in full fridges and cookers which are heavy. To keep the caravan as balanced as possible, these are usually placed over the wheels too.
- When you’re towing caravans, the use of a stabiliser is important. Reducing the pitching and snaking of a caravan is the main job of a stabiliser. When you start snaking, gently slow the outfit down, using the brakes as little as possible. Excessive speed and strong winds are the main causes of snaking. Slow and sensible driving is the key to staying safe. You also need to remember that stopping distances will be considerably greater.
- There’s laws that need to be observed when you tow a caravan in the UK. You’ll have to use towing mirrors if the caravan is wider than the tow car. You’ll also need to 2 reflective triangles, 2 sidelights and a fog light to go with the usual indicator and brake lights etc..
- Proper maintenance of the caravan is important to safety. Any signs of corrosion on the tow bar or the chassis need to be looked at. The tyres need to be correctly balanced, correctly inflated and in good overall condition. Obviously, the brakes and electrics need to be working correctly.