20 August, 2024 By: Brendan Batty
There's a lot to remember when you hitch up a caravan for a trip away. To help relieve some of the mental burden, we've compiled a list of some of the most important things to check before each trip. There's also a downloadable, printable version at the end.
The week before you leave
There's only a week or so left before you'll be hitting the road. Everything seems so far away, but also so close. Here are a few things you should check over while there's still time to make sure everything goes right.
1. Registration, insurance and roadside assistance
Particularly if your caravan is reserved for summer holidays, it can be easy to overlook the life admin of keeping your caravan's licence, insurance and roadside assistance up to date. If registration falls due while you're away, you can renew it up to three months in advance to make sure there will be no issue.
2. Regular maintenance
A week out, you might be hard-pressed getting your caravan in for a service, but it's still possible if that's a job you haven't actioned recently. A decent caravan service will make sure your bearings are good, the suspension is serviceable, the tyres are decent and that hitches and other fittings are still in working order. You might also get batteries and electrical and plumbing systems checked. Now's also a good time to check for any water leaks or damage that might have occurred while it was in storage.
3. Your tow vehicle
Your tow vehicle is just as important to check for the trip ahead. If it's time for a service, this should be organised so you've got enough time to sort out any issues. If you have camping-specific accessories that get fitted - like awnings or recovery gear - now's the time to knock over those jobs.
4. Cleaning and freshening
Hopefully, this is a job you did as part of your post-trip process last time, but if it's been a while or the caravan is on its first trip, most things may need a wipe down or a spin in the washing machine. Check your van's linen and dining ware are clean (and that it's made it back to the van), and think about opening some windows to get some fresh air through it. Hope for the best, and check the toilet cassette.
5. Systems checks
Now is a good time to check that everything works, whether the van is new or tried and trusted. Does the fridge work? Air con still good? What about hot water and heating? Any lights need replacing or plumbing need attending to? Do the trailer's lights and indicators work? A quick flick of switches and turn of taps now will help eliminate the problem of something you only use on holiday only breaking when you're on holiday.
6. Smoke and CO alarms
When were the batteries last replaced? Now's a good time to check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Check your fire extinguisher is in date.
7. Do a test tow
Particularly if your van is new or it's been a while since you last towed it, hitch it up and take it for a test drive (skip to ‘The morning you leave’ for a pre-tow checklist). Ensure the trailer tows well and brakes properly. Use this as an opportunity to work out if you need a weight distribution hitch if one can be fitted.
The day before you leave
Finally, work is done, and you can focus on getting on the road. Checking just a few things now will make life easier before you leave and get to camp.
1. Gas, water, fuel
Do you have enough of all these things for your trip? You'll thank yourself for checking them now rather than only remembering as you're hitching the van up tomorrow.
2. Batteries
Have they held charge while in storage?
3. Fridge
Three-way fridges are reasonably efficient when they're already cold, but they can take up to 24 hours to properly cool down, especially if you've got a freezer. If you have access to power, plug in the van and turn the fridge and freezer on, or if not, use the gas setting. 12/240V compressor fridges don't take as long to cool down, but getting an early start doesn't hurt.
The morning you leave
It's go-time. You're madly shoving the last groceries into the fridge and pantry and wondering where one of the kids put their other shoe. You've told everyone you're leaving at 8am in the hope you're on the road by 10am. Here's what you need to check.
1. Cords
Did you plug the van into power last night to get the fridge cold or charge the batteries? Make sure you unplug that cord before you drive off. If you turned the gas on at the bottle, turn it off before you leave and switch the fridge to 12V mode if it's not automatic.
2. Windows, doors, hatches, roofs, awning, slide-outs
Everything you opened while packing the van can now be closed (until you need to open them again to pack the things you forgot). Inside the van, make sure all the cupboards and drawers are closed and latched, along with the fridge and any sink or stove covers, bathroom doors and shower heads. Close and latch all the windows and roof hatches and stow the TV. If any part of your caravan pops up or out, make sure it's popped back down or in, along with the awning.
3. Bikes, kayaks, boards and toys
Holidays aren't holidays without the right toys. Whatever you bring, make sure they're secured well, in a way that avoids rubbing and excessive movement, especially if they're inside the van.
4. Stabiliser legs
If your van has stabiliser legs, make sure they've been wound in and folded away correctly and that the handle has been put away safely, not left on the last leg you wound up.
5. Hitches
If you're the driver, don't trust anyone to hitch the van for you without personally inspecting that it's done correctly. Even better, do it yourself. Make sure the tow ball's safety pins are correctly fitted and that the ball is fastened tightly. Is the caravan safely hitched, and are the chains and plugs fitted? Has the breakaway cable been connected properly? If you haven't personally checked, assume they're not.
6. Weight distribution hitches
If you use a weight-distribution hitch, hook it up and visually inspect the car and caravan to ensure the sag in your rear suspension has been mitigated.
7. Jockey wheel
Make sure it's been removed from the draw bar and stowed properly (somewhere in the van, ideally, not back in the shed). If it's a swing-arm type, ensure it's locked in place and any handles removed.
8. Lights and indicators
Now you're hitched, do all the lights work? If they don't, a common issue is that the pins on the plug are squashed and not making a proper connection. Use a small screwdriver to open them up slightly and try again. If you have electric brakes, you can check they're working by listening for the solenoid to engage.
9. Tyre pressures
Use a tyre pressure gauge to check that your car and caravan's tyres are correctly inflated. If not, pump them up or plan a stop at a service station very early in your trip to do so. Remember that you should run higher pressures in your tyres with heavier loads.
10. Wheel nuts
Grab your wheel brace and check all are tight. Work in a star pattern rather than a circle, as you check.
11. Visual inspection
Now that you're hitched and ready to go, do a last visual inspection, looking down the sides and under the van to make sure everything is closed, latched, and not hanging loose.
12. Front door
Have you locked the front door at home? Phew.
On the road
You made it out of the driveway but the last few checks are still ahead of you, so plan a quick stop just before you hit the highway to make sure these things are all good. Some are worth checking again after driving for an hour or so and then regularly afterwards.
1. Brakes
As you roll out of the driveway, check that the brakes are working and set up correctly. Click the manual override to ensure they engage. Adjust them as needed - you shouldn't feel like the car is excessively pulled or pushed by the caravan as you brake.
2. Hitch
Do you still have a caravan? Are your chains still attached, and the plug still plugged? Is the safety catch on the hitch still properly engaged?
3. Windows, doors, hatches, roofs
Are they all still closed?
4. Bikes, kayaks, boards and toys
Are they all still there? Is nothing rubbing on something it shouldn't? Things on roof racks tend to shift as you drive, which can cause straps to loosen, so check the straps are still tight.
5. Wheel nuts
Are they all still there? Are they all still tight?
6. Hubs
Every time you get out of the car, hold a hand over your hubs to make sure they're not overheating. Warm is okay, but hot-to-touch might indicate a problem with the bearings or brakes.
Printable checklist
Download a printable version of this checklist. Stick it inside the doorway of your caravan for a quick and easy reference.
Safe travels.
Are you on the right level of Roadside?
You may need to temporarily increase your level of cover for your road trip. Review your Roadside Assistance to make sure you're covered for breakdowns and other emergencies while you're travelling across WA.
