tips for towing a caravan Page 675

Before you hitch up, check your vehicle’s braked tow rating, GVM/GCM, and that the caravan’s ATM sits comfortably under them—numbers matter more than bravado.

Distribute weight so roughly 8–12% of the van’s mass sits on the tow ball, keep heavy gear low and over the axle, and use weight distribution hitches if needed.

Tyres love attention: set pressures for load, torque those wheel nuts, and don’t treat a 20‑year‑old spare like a life plan.

Fit towing mirrors, make sure you’ve got working trailer brakes and a controller, and ease into it—leave longer gaps, brake earlier, and keep speeds sensible.

Practice reversing somewhere empty, because nothing tests a relationship like a tight caravan park at dusk.

And finally, service both car and van, check breakaway systems and lights, and carry the boring essentials—fuses, sockets, chocks—because outback irony is savage.