Towing a caravan means prioritising safety and making the experience as pain-free as possible. The last thing you want on your holiday is an incident, so you need to do everything on this list and more before you set off. Caravan towing takes driving responsibly to a whole new level and can take some time to get used to if you are new to it. But following steps and being mindful each time you drive with your caravan will eventually develop into a vital habit. Here are five tips for safely towing a caravan.

Choose The Right Car

First, you are going to need to choose the right car to tow your caravan. Think about power and performance over everything else. It needs to be able to bring the caravan with you and have the ability to pull it up hills. It’s not an easy task, and not every single car is going to be up for it.  A Toyota that made RACV’s best cars for towing a caravan list is the Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series GXL 4×4 auto. With a V8 diesel engine, this Toyota 4WD can go almost anywhere and is regarded as one of the best towing vehicles on Australia’s car market.

Extended Towing Mirrors For Safety

Extended towing mirrors are a must for safety and maneuverability. The usual car mirrors fitted on vehicles are not big enough to see around a caravan, making towing dangerous while driving on roads, highways and parking. Extended towing mirrors are inexpensive and worthwhile.

Choosing The Best Towbar

Rather than just looking at the car, make sure you have a look at the towbar. There are different types of towbar, with a flange towbar being the most popular choice. You can also choose from a fixed towbar, a removable towbar, a swan neck towbar, to name a few. Compare all of the different elements of the towbars, your car and your caravan, and you will be able to work out which will benefit you the most. Make sure that you spend the extra money to get a high-quality towbar that will hold and that you won’t have to replace it in a few months.

Make Checks Before You Set Off

Making checks on the equipment before you start towing the caravan is a must. Check the tyre pressure and tread depth, the caravan driving lights, the hitching procedure and A-frame, the wheel nut torque, and more. Refer to your users manual for a list.

Ensure the caravan is securely attached to the towbar and that the towbar is securely attached to the tow car. Also, ensure you give your car a once over to ensure that it is in total working order and that tyres are safe before you try to tow your caravan. If you have any suspicions that something isn’t right, wait until you have had your car checked before you get going.

Load Properly For Safety

Finally, make sure that everything that is in the caravan is loaded correctly. You don’t want things to get damaged because they weren’t secure. Close all the doors securely on your way out, and lock them if they have locks. Unfortunately, doors that are left open mean flying debris all over the road and into another vehicle.

While these tips for towing a caravan isn’t an exhaustive list, don’t forget the importance of road safety. Being mindful that you are towing a caravan when going at high speeds or taking corners is essential. Regularly check your rearview mirror to ensure the caravan is stable. Towing a caravan introduces another level of driving responsibility but adhering to a checklist each time means your time away will be more enjoyable than worrisome.