ADVICE - Top 10 Tips for Caravanning

With the Easter long weekend coming up, many people are thinking about hitching up the caravan and getting away from it all - down the coast, into the regions or somewhere well off the beaten track. Regardless of where you’re planning to spend your caravanning holiday, or how long you’ll be away, here are some important tips that can help make that Easter getaway a dream instead of a nightmare.

Jayco, Australia’s caravan experts and one of the most respected voices in the industry, has compiled the following Top 10 Tips for caravanners, based on their own vast experience and feedback from their many, many customers.

While certainly applicable for the Easter long weekend, these tips apply throughout the year, so keep them in mind, or refer back to this article, when you’re planning a winter weekender, school holiday getaway or that long awaited summer break over Christmas. 

Jayco’s top 10 caravanning tips

1. Carry a small tool kit for repairs and adjustments, along with spare globes, fuses and bearing kits, so you have replacements on hand when you’re a long way away from a spare parts retailer.

3. Ensure there’s an even distribution of load and placement across the centre of your van/wheels for better stability.

3. Develop a system to ensure you’re hooking the van to your vehicle correctly, locking it securely and checking all van lights.

4. Before leaving the caravan unattended, lock the windows and hatches internally, keep blinds open, close drawers, secure the awning correctly and tighten knobs.

5. Be aware of the weight limits for your tow vehicle - and caravan - to avoid overloading.

6. Maintain at least 10 per cent of the van's tow-ball weight as a minimum.

7. Regularly check tyre pressures (checking caravan tyres at the same time you check tow vehicle tyres is a good habit to get into) and replace tyres that are over 10 years old.

8. Create and follow a checklist before leaving home or the caravan park/campsite to ensure everything is in order.

9. When reversing your van, approach from the left side of the nominated site for a better view over your right shoulder.

10 .When reversing, place a highly visible object or a lookout person on the spot you want the right rear corner of the van to end up (using a phone or two-way radio helps).

These tips should help you have a safe and enjoyable caravanning experience over the Easter long weekend.

Images: Jayco