How to

Towing a caravan can be a daunting task, even for the most experienced drivers. However, with the right knowledge and practice, you can enjoy a stress-free caravanning journey.

To tow a caravan safely, you will need an understanding of a few key areas. Firstly, caravanners need to know the importance of various weight ratings, such as the ATM and GTM, and how they can help in selecting the right towing vehicle. It’s also essential to understand how to properly hitch your caravan for safe towing, along with the various rules and regulations to follow on the road.

When you begin towing your caravan, we recommend you take it slow and make sure you account for the extra braking distance and wider turning circle. Finally, it’s important to also know how to reverse safely and to practice regularly to build confidence.

Understand Caravan Weights

To ensure you stay safe on the roads and never exceed recommended towing weights, it’s important to be aware of the following key ratings:

• Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM) – This is the maximum allowable weight your caravan can be when fully loaded and unhitched from your towing vehicle. This includes the total weight of your caravan, with any fluids, accessories and luggage.
• Gross Trailer Mass (GTM) – The GTM is the maximum weight the caravan axles can hold when fully loaded and hitched up to your vehicle. This rating is always less than the ATM weight because part of your caravan is supported by the tow ball of your vehicle.
• Tow Ball Weight (TBW) – Also known as the Tow Ball Mass (TBM), the TBW is the downward force that’s exerted on your vehicle’s tow ball by the caravan’s coupling. Within Australia, it’s typically recommended that this figure is approximately 10% of the ATM (Aggregate Trailer Mass).
• Unloaded Caravan Weight (tare weight) – The tare weight refers to the mass of your caravan, straight from the manufacturer. It includes any built-in elements, such as axles, wheels and chassis. However, it excludes any additional weight, such as passengers, gear or storage.
• Gross Combined Mass (GCM) – This is the maximum allowable weight for your entire setup, including both the caravan and vehicle. This includes the weight of a fully loaded caravan, with accessories and gear, in addition to a fully loaded vehicle. This value is specified by the vehicle manufacturer, and can typically be found in the owner’s manual.

While manufacturers provide weight ratings for your caravan, it’s important not to rely on these figures alone, as manufacturers don’t always provide accurate weights. We recommend getting it independently weighed by a public weighbridge before payment or pick up, to ensure your load stays within the legal towing limits.

How to Choose the Right Towing Vehicle

When choosing the right towing vehicle, you will need to confirm that your vehicle is capable of pulling a caravan safely. This is where you need to refer to its towing capacity, which is the maximum weight your vehicle can tow safely.

The maximum towing capacity will likely be located within the owner’s manual. You can also contact the manufacturer directly, because this figure can vary significantly between vehicles. You should avoid using simple calculations, as a manufacturer will often factor in additional components such as a vehicle’s chassis strength or engine power, which can be difficult to quantify.

Once you have determined a vehicle’s towing capacity, to ensure you remain safe on the roads, we recommend you consider the following:

• Ensuring your caravan’s ATM does not exceed your vehicle’s towing capacity.
• Double-checking the combined weight of your vehicle and caravan stays within the GCM.
• Confirm that your TBW is within the safe limit of your vehicle.

It’s also worth considering the various accessories on your towing vehicle; such as bull bars, dual batteries, canopies and spare jerry cans. These can quickly add to your vehicle’s overall weight, which reduces your available payload. However, companies such as Lovells offer Braked Towing Capacity (BTC) Upgrades for select vehicles that increase your vehicle’s legal towing capabilities to handle heavier loads.

Preparing your Caravan for Towing

Prior to hitching up your caravan for towing, it’s important to get it ready for use by carrying out a thorough inspection. This should include double-checking the following items:

• Check your tyre conditions – We highly recommend inspecting your tyres to ensure they are in good condition for the road. Check their tread depth and pressure when cold.
• Check lights and indicators – Make sure that all lights (brake lights, indicators, headlights, and reversing lights) are working correctly. This keeps you safe on the roads and helps you avoid any fines.
• Evenly distribute your load–  Make sure the weight is distributed evenly, with the heaviest items placed over the axles. You should never pack heavy items at the very rear or front of the caravan, as this can negatively affect the ride and cause severe sway. Try to aim for 60% of the load forward of the axle’s centre for better stability.
• Ensure everything is secure – Make sure that your caravan is sufficiently secure, with any windows and doors fastened shut. You should also secure any loose items to prevent internal damage and retain balance.
• Fit mirrors – With the extra length of a caravan, you will need to fit extended mirrors onto your towing vehicle to ensure you can see what’s going on behind you. This is particularly important when you are reversing, to give you proper visibility.

How to Hitch up a Caravan Safely

Although hitching up a caravan to a towing vehicle is a straightforward task, it’s still important to ensure you carry out the correct steps. They typically include the following:

1. Reverse your towing vehicle – First, back up your towing vehicle and line it up with the caravan. Slowly reverse until the tow ball on your tow bar is directly underneath the caravan coupling.
2. Lower coupling – Slowly lower the caravan’s coupling on the tow ball by winding the jockey wheel. Once lowered, insert the safety locking pin and lock the coupling in place. Remove the jockey wheel and secure it correctly into its holder for travel. Unless it’s an electric jockey wheel, the whole jockey wheel needs to be fully removed.
3. Attach the safety chains – Attach the safety chains in an “x” position, meaning the left chain goes to the right point of your towing vehicle, while the right chain goes to the left point. This helps to catch the drawbar in an emergency. This will also level the chains.
4. Attach your electrics – Plug in the trailer wiring which connects your caravan’s electrics, including brake lights, indicators and brake controller. Do a full test to ensure everything is working.

Understanding Towing Rules

To stay safe on the roads, it is important to understand the various laws and regulations regarding caravan towing. Each state will have its own rules, so we recommend researching and familiarising yourself with the specific laws in your state or location. Some of the general rules to follow on the road include:

State speed limits

Within Australia, the maximum speed limit for towing a caravan can vary by state or territory:

• Western Australia – The maximum towing speed is 100 km/h, regardless of the vehicle and trailer’s weight.
• New South Wales – Drivers can adhere to the posted speed limit, unless the combined gross mass (vehicle + trailer) exceeds 4.5 tonnes, in which case the maximum speed is 100 km/h.
• Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory, and Tasmania – There are no specific towing limits, with drivers recommended to follow posted speed limits and adjust depending on conditions.

Weight ratings

In Australia, you must follow the weight limits set by the caravan manufacturer. Exceeding these limits is illegal and can lead to your insurance being voided and heavy fines if caught. To ensure you stay legal, caravanners must stay within the recommended limits of the following:

• ATM (Aggregate Trailer Mass)
• GTM (Gross Trailer Mass)
• GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass)
• GCM (Gross Combined Mass)

Licence

In Australia, a full standard vehicle licence (class C) will allow you to tow a caravan with a GVM of up to 4,500 kg. Learners (L-plater) and provisional (P-plater) drivers are generally restricted, although this will depend on the state. For example, in Victoria, learners cannot tow a caravan, while provisional drivers may be allowed to do so for work-related reasons.

Safe Driving Tips for Towing

Towing on the road can be challenging, and by considering the following safe driving tips, you can ensure your next adventure is trouble-free:

• Take it slow – You should always drive at a comfortable speed, which is within the maximum speed limit for a caravan, usually at 100km/hr. However, we recommend you stick to speeds closer to 90km/hr if possible, for a more comfortable journey. Try to keep an eye on your mirrors, because if traffic starts to build up behind, it could be time to pull over.
• Adjust for different weather conditions – Weather can add an extra layer of difficulty to towing. For example, gusty winds can lead to greater sway, while rain can significantly increase the braking distance and lead to poor visibility. If weather conditions are severe, consider reducing your speed by 10-20 km/h, avoid overtaking and turn on your vehicle lights.
• Understand the wider turning circle – A caravan will add length to your vehicle, which is an important factor to consider when turning. To stay safe, you will need to swing wide when turning to avoid an accident. Always check your mirrors during the turn to confirm that your caravan wheels are clear of any obstacles.
• Maintain smooth inputs – To help reduce the effects of sway and improve stability, avoid any sudden or abrupt movements. Aim to accelerate, brake, and steer smoothly throughout your journey.
• Plan your route – Planning your route prior to setting off is recommended to ensure you avoid any steep hills or tight turns that can be tricky when towing.
• Take a towing course – To help you learn all the skills and safety requirements, specialised towing courses are available for drivers. These courses are highly recommended for new caravanners, covering all the essentials such as the correct pre-trip setup, safe handling, weight distribution, reversing and parking.

Braking When Towing a Caravan

Because of the extra weight of a caravan, braking will be a much more important factor to towing safely. Caravans are heavier, which means they will take longer to stop, so you must allow for extra braking distance. This figure is also directly proportional to the speed you’re travelling, as the faster you go, the greater the braking distance. Even when travelling at 60 km/hr, a 2,500kg trailer can add an extra 10 metres to your stopping distance. Therefore, we recommend allowing extra distance between you and the vehicle ahead, with a minimum 3-4 second gap.

It’s also important to have the correct braking system fitted. Caravans over 750kg ATM must have their own independent braking system to reduce the strain on the tow vehicle. If the GTM exceeds 2000kg, electronic brake controllers are legally required. An electronic brake controller helps improve control and safety by working in conjunction with your towing vehicle. Whenever you use your brakes, instead of the caravan decreasing at a different rate, it will brake at the same time for greater control. It can also brake independently from your towing vehicle, to help control sway.

How to Reverse a Caravan

Reversing a caravan while towing can be an extremely difficult process, especially for beginners. However, with enough practice, you can gain the confidence to reverse your caravan with ease.

We recommend finding time before your next road trip to practice reversing in an open area with plenty of space. This helps to take away the pressure of other travellers around you and gives you a valuable opportunity to understand how a caravan works when reversing. Beginners will find this tricky because steering the tow vehicle in one direction will cause the caravan to move in the opposite direction.

Try to line yourself up as straight as possible with the intended target before slowly starting to reverse, making small corrections wherever necessary. Whichever directions you turn your steering wheel the caravan will go in the opposite direction. So if you go right hand down, the caravan will move to the left.

Make sure to pay attention to your towing mirrors to ensure you’re positioned correctly and that any unseen hazards are avoided.

When reversing long distances, watch your mirrors and whenever the caravan starts to move out of alignment, steer towards that side. So if your caravan starts to drift left, move your steering wheel to the left to realign.

The biggest tip for reversing is to always take your time and remain calm. If your caravan starts to move out of line, don’t be afraid to stop and slowly straighten yourself up.

When reversing in busy camping areas, organise for someone to stand outside the vehicle to help guide you through this process. This person can be vital to preventing any accidents, as they can look further ahead, cover your blind spots and identify any hazards.

Towing safely and correctly can ensure you have an enjoyable, stress-free adventure. You can gain confidence in towing by understanding the local road rules, the steps for hitching your vehicle and the tips for driving safely. For further advice, please contact the team at Dreamseeker Caravans for more information.