Caravan safety 101: 10 tips for safer driving

With ever increasing numbers of new caravanners on the road, here are our 10 tips for a safer drive.

1. Know your capability

Before hitting the road, make sure you are ready for the challenge. Towing a caravan poses unique challenges and requires different skills than driving a standalone vehicle. Caravans have a considerable impact on the handling and braking capabilities of the towing vehicle. If you have yet to tow, it’s wise to seek training or advice from an experienced driver. Practice on a safe backroad to feel how the van and vehicle combination move when cornering and braking. Confidence comes with practice and makes better, safer towing.

2. Don’t rush

Don’t be cajoled into doing something you aren’t confident in doing. Sure, it’s best to go with the traffic flow out on the highway, but only if you feel safe. Stay in your lane, keep speed constant and signal your intention in plenty of time. Allow more time for your trip. Even with years of towing experience, you won’t go as quickly as without a van hitched up. Some states have a limit for van and vehicle combinations (GVM) of over 4.5T of 100km/h. A lot can happen if things go pear-shaped at high speed, so many experienced drivers consider 100km/h the maximum safe speed. We agree. That bloke who overtook you towing a van and speeding off into the distance at 110km/h might think he has everything in hand. Well, he has, until he hasn’t. There isn’t a recreational vehicle on the road designed to tow a 3T van at high speed, so why should you.

Of course, once you are confident, keeping up a reasonable pace is essential to traffic flow. Many experts recommend around 90km/h as a good compromise on the open road. 

Remember, there’s a much heavier load to slow down when descending long hills. Consider using a low gear and don’t ride the brakes — they will heat up and become ineffective. Overtaking can be tricky on some narrow roads. Consider if overtaking is necessary; if in doubt, don’t bother.

3. Make sure the tow vehicle is up to the task

Ensure your tow vehicle is safely capable of pulling your caravan. Generally, the car needs to be heavier than the van. Because of the nature of the towing physics, a heavy van can push a light vehicle around and make it difficult to control. If in doubt, check with an expert. 

The car and van must be in top condition with regular checks on wheel nuts, tyre pressures, brakes, tyres, brake lights, turn signals and wheel bearings. Regular checks each day when travelling are essential. Most caravans will require a set of extended mirrors on the tow vehicle for safety and the law.

4. Know your weights

There are maximum legal weights for your loaded vehicle and van. You mustn’t overload the specified weights on the vehicle plates. The various definitions around weights are set out below, and you need to understand what they mean for your setup. Don’t guess what the van and car weigh — check your car and van setup on a weighbridge to ensure you are legal and safe. It doesn’t take much of a load for many vehicles to exceed their maximum GVM when hooked up to a caravan. Consider a GVM upgrade from a company like Tough Dog 4WD as seen in our Operation 200 series online.

5. Distribute the load

A poorly loaded van is one of the most common causes of caravan accidents. Too much weight at either end will unbalance the load. Excess weight at the back is especially dangerous, and even loading a couple of bikes on a rear rack can cause the van to sway at speed. But a heavy load at the front can overload the ball connection. A tow ball scale isn’t expensive and will give an accurate idea of how much weight is up front. Heavy items should be in the low centre cupboards over the axles when loading the van. Aim for a tow ball weight around 10 per cent of your loaded van and a good guide is that the van should sit level on the hitch.

Sometimes a flat tyre, wind or a large truck overtaking can cause sway. If this happens, don’t brake heavily. It will only make the situation worse. Take your foot off the accelerator and apply the trailer brake. That’s the push button on a REDARC system and a slide-on older-style controllers. Practice this manoeuvre in a safe place to instinctively activate the control.

6. Be mindful of your fellow road users

Keep an eye on following traffic through extending mirrors or a rearview camera. Adopt a defensive driving style that anticipates anyone overtaking and cutting in. A caravan is an invitation for other drivers to throw caution to the wind and get past, so stay alert in heavier traffic to respond to the changing dynamic. Signal your intent to turn with plenty of time and keep a safe distance from traffic ahead so you can stop in an emergency. If travelling with other vans, keep a reasonable distance between your companions so other traffic can overtake. 

7. Use a UHF radio 

Out on the open road a UHF radio is the best communication, especially with heavy vehicles. Trucks operate on channel 40 on most roads and channel 29 on the Pacific Highway between Sydney and Brisbane. A UHF might be the best accessory you can fit if you travel long distances. Don’t be afraid to use it to let truck drivers know that you will let them overtake when it’s safe. Wait to slow down until the truck has moved into the passing lane. And yes, it’s legal to use a radio when driving.

8. Slow down in overtaking lanes

Or at least don’t accelerate. Even if you are travelling close to the speed limit on relatively busy roads, some traffic will likely build up behind you, even some heavy vehicles. To avoid antagonism, you should help vehicles pass whenever it’s safe. On roads with regular passing lanes, the most annoying thing you can do is speed up when the road widens. This is the main complaint we hear from trucking associations. Trucks are speed-limited; if you increase momentum, they can’t get past, and frustration builds. Don’t be a nuisance. Back off and enjoy the scenery.

9. Take regular breaks

Towing is more demanding than driving unhitched. There is more on which to concentrate, and fatigue is the enemy of long-distance travel. Heavy vehicle drivers have strict time limits before they rest, and stopping regularly might be a good pattern to follow. To avoid straying stock and wildlife, getting into camp before dusk is always a good plan.

10. Know your caravan height

A low-level bridge or tunnel will appear one day in the middle of nowhere. So, Dymo tape the caravan height to the dash so there’s no doubt about getting under. You might only use it once, but you don’t need an extra skylight.

Weight definitions

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