So you are going on a road trip and towing your caravan. Whether that be for a weekend escape, a few weeks or months or years, before you head off you should do some pre-drive caravan checks along with your pre-drive car checks. No matter if the caravan has been sitting in storage or you are packing up and moving on from a caravan park, checking all is in order before moving on is very beneficial to ensure safety and keep costs down.
Whether you are a newbie to caravanning or a novice, pre-drive caravan checks will help you keep your caravan in tip top shape.
Table of Contents
Pre-Drive Caravan Checks
I’ve divided my suggested pre-drive caravan checks into three categories. That is interior checks, exterior checks and final hitch up and towing.
Interior Caravan Pre-Drive Checks
I usually check the inside of my caravan first. I:
- put appliances and essential caravan equipment away.
- ensure items are secure. Close all drawers, cupboards, the fridge door and internal doors.
- turn off electric and gas appliances. the TV, other electrics and the gas is off. Don’t leave your antennae out!
- place heavier items on the floor over the caravan’s axle. This helps to ensure proper weight distribution and stability.
Exterior Caravan Pre-Drive Checks
Once you have checked the inside of your caravan, start checking the outside of the caravan.
- start by checking the caravan’s tyres. Check their pressure and add air if required. Also look at the tread as you don’t want the caravan slipping and sliding as you drive.
- put away the caravan awning and secure it.
- stow all outdoor furniture.
- ensure you have disconnected the utilities. Stow away any external power chords and water hoses.
- turn off any gas bottles.
- close all windows and hatches and storage doors.
- disconnect from the utilities and stow away any external power chords and water hoses.
- Walk around the outside to ensure you haven’t left your underwear drying anywhere!!
Hitch-Up and Towing Checks
- raise and secure the jockey wheel and corner stabilisers.
- hitch caravan to car and confirm the coupling is securely fastened to the tow ball and that the safety chains are correctly connected.
- check the overall load so you do not exceed weight capacity and that weight is correctly distributed.
- fit and adjust your towing mirrors.
- release handbrake after lowered onto the tow ball.
- check lights and indicators. Get someone to walk around the caravan to check all caravan lights – the tail lights, brake lights, indicators and other lights to ensure they are all working
One last check
I always do one last check before driving off. I quickly check inside, then walk around the outside ensuring I haven’t accidentally left any underwear drying somewhere! And now I’m ready, to hit the road.
TIP: If you are new to caravanning, practice setting up and packing down. The more you do it, the quicker you will be, particularly if you need to do it during bad weather.
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