Our expert tips for stress-free towing

To the casual observer, towing might look like a simple case of ‘hitch it up and off you go’ – but there are important things to remember. Here David Motton shares his top tips for safe and comfortable towing

WE ALL LOVE caravanning, but not every caravanner loves towing. Here are some of our favourite tips to make towing safer and more enjoyable.

1 Play the percentages

The 85% guideline has been the caravanner’s friend for decades. Both major caravanning clubs recommend towing no more than 85% of the kerbweight of your tow car, especially if you are new to towing. It’s a strong recommendation rather than a legal requirement, but you’ll find car and caravan more stable if the car weighs substantially more than the van.

Experienced caravanners may be happy towing up to 100% of the car’s kerbweight, but we’d never recommend going above this weight, even if the car’s legal towing limit is higher. Think of the car as a dog and the caravan as a tail. When the tail weighs more than the dog, if it starts to wag, you could soon be in all sorts of trouble.

2

Load safely

It’s easy to overload your caravan, especially if you’re packing for a fortnight away with the family. Check that you are not exceeding the van’s Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass (MTPLM), which is the most it is permitted to weigh when fully loaded. Weighing each bag individually is a bit of a faff, so investing in a set of scales such as the Reich Caravan Weight Control amounts to money well spent.

It’s not just about how much weight is in the van, it’s where you put it. In the car, load the heavy items first so they are on the boot floor and as close to the rear axle as possible. In the van, make sure heavy items are low down and above the axle or axles.

If you own a caravan with a fixed-bed layout, there will be lots of storage space underneath the bed. However, be cautious when loading under the bed as this is usually well behind the axle. Don’t put anything heavy here. It’s a very good spot for bulky but relatively light items such as an Aquaroll and Wastemaster.

3 Check, check and check again

Make sure your outfit is safe and roadworthy before every journey. Check that the car and caravan tyres are inflated to the right pressure, make sure all the lights are working, and be sure you have hitched up correctly. Winding the jockey wheel back down to make sure the hitch is securely gripping the towball will prove that car and caravan are safely connected.

It never hurts to double-check that the breakaway cable is secure, the stabiliser head is down and the handbrake is off before driving away. It might seem like overkill to some, but having a checklist that you tick off at the start of every journey will make sure nothing important is missed.

4 Always use towing mirrors

By law, you must be able to see four metres out from the side of the caravan at a distance 20 metres behind you. In practice, it’s very unlikely that even a large 4x4 will be wide enough for you to see that far out and behind using the car’s regular mirrors.

But it’s not just about obeying the law for the law’s sake. Having a clear view behind you is essential to stay safe while towing. You can’t change lane safely if you can’t be sure whether another vehicle is about to overtake you.

5 Plan ahead

What appears to be the most direct route isn’t always the best way to travel when you have a caravan in tow. Many campsites will have recommended routes for the last few miles which they outline on their website. If not, give the site a call and ask if there are any narrow lanes or awkward junctions to be avoided.

6 Smoothly does it

It’s understandable that some drivers are nervous when towing, especially if they are new to caravanning. But being on edge doesn’t make for an easy journey.

As any experienced caravanner knows, towing doesn’t feel the same as regular driving. You will notice some pushing and shoving from the caravan, and you can see it moving slightly in your mirrors. If you chase every slight movement with agitated steering corrections, you’ll only make things worse. Instead, keep your steering, braking, and accelerating smooth and relaxed. The car is always trying to pull the caravan straight, so let it do the hard work for you. If your car and caravan are well matched, sensibly loaded, and being driven at an appropriate speed, small corrections with the wheel should be all you need.

7 Never rush

You’re on holiday! Why hurry? Give yourself plenty of time to complete your journey, and allow for regular breaks every couple of hours so you stay alert.

If you allow lots of time, there’s less temptation to speed. You’ll find that car and caravan will be more stable at 60mph than at higher, illegal speeds. In fact, in wet or windy weather you may find that dropping to 55mph or so makes for an easier journey. Remember that your braking distances will be longer when towing, so leave a long gap to the vehicle in front to allow plenty of time to react.

8 Be courteous

A well-driven outfit needn’t hold up other traffic, but on a twisty single-carriageway road you might find a sensible pace is lower than that of other vehicles. If you notice a queue of cars building in your mirrors, pull over when it’s safe to do so. Stopping in a layby for 30 seconds will make little difference to your journey, but you’ll be doing your bit for the reputation of caravanners everywhere!

9 Get some training

Towing a caravan is something any competent driver is capable of doing safely, but there are new skills to learn. For anyone starting out, or a driver who wants to brush up on their skills, a towing course is highly recommended. B-licence holders may need to upgrade to be able to tow heavier car and caravan combinations, but even those of us who have a B+E licence can benefit from instruction. The big two caravan clubs both run towing courses (p78).