See all Motoring AdviceWith summer approaching fast, drivers across the land will be looking forward to their holidays, and for many, that means dusting off the caravan and hitching up. But while the pros make it look easy, towing is no mean feat, and it comes with its own risks and difficulties. So, if you’re new to towing, or you just want to make sure you’re doing it right, this is our guide to making sure you, your vehicle and your caravan are all safe on the road this summer.
Pulling power
Before you even think about towing anything, it’s well worth taking a moment to think about your car. First, is it roadworthy, with plenty of tyre tread, functioning lights and enough vital fluids? After all, breaking down would be a pretty miserable way to start a caravan holiday.
Next, consider whether the car is suitable to tow the caravan in question. Cars have prescribed limits in terms of maximum trailer weights, so make sure the caravan fits inside those limits, and make sure your tow bar is up to the job, too. Ensure you also have functioning electrical connectors that will allow the caravan’s taillights, brake lights and indicators to illuminate when required.
If you’re towing trailers and caravans regularly, it might be worth changing your car for something better suited to towing. Diesel engines and big petrol engines tend to be best, because of the amount of torque they produce, while hybrids tend to struggle with the demands of pulling a heavy trailer. Electric cars produce plenty of torque, which is great for towing, but they are often quite limited in terms of the maximum weight they can tow. This is one area where diesel power is still king. All-wheel drive is a popular choice, too, for added traction on slippery caravan sites.
Legal eagle
As obvious as it may seem, you’d be surprised how many drivers forget their trailer needs to be every bit as safe and road legal as their car. Sufficient tyre tread, working brakes and fully functional lights are all legal necessities, and the Gardaí will take a dim view of any issues with such parts of the caravan. It’s worth making sure everything is as it should be before setting out if you want to avoid an embarrassing and premature end to your holiday.
It’s also worth making sure your licence allows you to tow the caravan with your chosen vehicle. For example, if the caravan is very heavy and the car is also very heavy, you might need more than a standard Category B driving licence. If the combined weight of the car, trailer and cargo add up to more than 3,500kg, you’ll need an upgraded Category BE licence.
Weight watchers
You probably don’t think about vehicle weight much when you’re driving normally, but it suddenly becomes very important when towing. Not only will an overloaded (or even just a badly loaded) trailer be illegal, but it’ll also become very dangerous very quickly.
For example, a caravan with lots of weight in the front might put excess weight (known as ‘nose weight’) on the car’s towbar, which pushes the back of the car down and lifts the front. That could reduce the effectiveness of the steering, with potentially dramatic results.
Heavily laden caravans — particularly those that weigh more than the car towing them — could also begin to dictate the car’s direction of travel, dragging the rear of the car around.
To combat any of these issues, try to keep the caravan light if possible, and keep track of how you’re packing the car and caravan. If you do need to stow items in the caravan, try to position them as low down as you can and spread them evenly across the caravan so as not to upset the weight distribution. It’s also a good idea to secure them so they won’t move under braking and cornering.
Think about it
While you’re cruising along the motorway, it might be easy to forget there’s a massive fibreglass box hitched to the back of your car, but don’t get complacent. Everything from road conditions, weather, and the actions of other motorists can affect your journey at a moment’s notice, and you will need to adapt your response to cater for the caravan behind you.
Crosswinds, for example, may not require much in the way of a response when you’re driving normally, except for a bit of corrective steering, but they’ll turn your caravan’s slab sides into a massive sail, catching the wind and using its power to drag the car around. So slow down and give yourself that bit more control and response time.
Similarly, if you find the mechanics of manoeuvring a caravan a bit challenging, just stop and think about it. Rather than ploughing on and hoping for the best, stop, think about what you’re doing and how the caravan will respond, then act. It might not be the fastest way, but it’ll certainly be the safest.
Consider local laws
If you’re travelling abroad, take some time to read up on the local traffic laws regarding caravans. Some countries impose different speed limits on caravans (in Ireland, it’s 80km/h, while the limit in the UK is 60mph - around 100km/h), while others might demand certain signage or equipment on the vehicle or trailer. Do your research, because nobody wants to have their summer break spoiled by a zealous police officer with a sharp eye and a desire to slap foreigners with a ticket…