How to assess Australian road conditions for safe caravan towing.
Part of the process when you build or buy a Great Escape Caravan with us entails a detailed discussion about where you want to travel while towing a caravan and, of course, where you can tow each particular caravan model.
When you are considering travelling with a caravan, the first step is ensuring you purchase the right type of caravan for your desired travel. This is essential to ensuring you can travel to your chosen destination safely and without causing damage to your tow vehicle or caravan.
If you are considering purchasing an off-grid caravan (also known as off-road), it’s essential to understand the limitations of your caravan and your tow vehicle.
Consider your caravan tow vehicle.
The first question the Great Escape Caravan team will ask you when you enquire about a caravan or visit us is ‘what car do you intend to tow with?’
This allows us to ensure the vehicle will accommodate both travelling to your chosen destinations and will safely tow your caravan.
What makes a caravan truly off-grid?
Anthony, Co-Owner & Sales Manager at Great Escape Caravans, says “We’ve had many come to us wanting what they call an ‘off-road caravan’ with a tow vehicle that was just not compatible with off-grid towing - and so we’ve turned them away. It's that simple”.
Understanding the limitations of your tow vehicle and the Australian road conditions.
Australia has some of the most extreme travel conditions in the world. You need a reliable tow vehicle and a wealth of knowledge to travel to our most secluded and vast destinations safely. Add a caravan to the mix, and you need an extra level of knowledge and common sense to ensure you arrive at your destination safely and with all in good condition.
Our customers have safely travelled to the most amazing destinations with their Great Escape Caravans, and it’s due to ensuring they have the right tow vehicle, the correct caravan capabilities and a wealth of knowledge behind them before they take that trip!
Not sure if you have the right vehicle for caravanning in Australia’s most rural areas? We are happy to advise, just ask.
Assessing Australian roads for safe caravan towing.
When travelling at any time, it’s vital to evaluate current driving conditions to ensure a safe journey. Strong winds, rain or extreme heat can affect vehicle stability and braking distances.
Considering the usual traffic conditions, such as congestion during peak times, can help prevent your tow vehicle’s engine from overheating and the need to stop roadside for maintenance.
Each area of our vast and beautiful country comes with its own set of caravan towing issues, so speak to the locals, other caravanners in the area and of course, do your research before you travel at any time!
Towing conditions can change quickly, leaving travellers unprepared for what’s ahead.
Assess road conditions such as roadworks, corrugated roads, steep gradients, narrow roads and the status of travel. A ‘4WD only’ marked track is best avoided when towing a caravan.
Whenever travelling, if conditions feel unsafe or beyond your level of comfort, there is always another option: take the longer road, wait until conditions improve, or return when it is safer for you to tow your caravan to your desired location.
It’s always better to get there late, but safely!
An off-grid Great Escape Caravan is built to travel to safe road conditions; it has not been designed for towing on 4WD-only tracks or in extreme off-road conditions.
Our team is here for you beyond delivery day. Always happy to share our knowledge in travelling Australia safely, or put you in touch with a customer who has recently travelled to your planned destination with a Great Escape Caravan.
The team is here to share, and we are listing our essential towing safety tips for your next trip.
Tyre pressure:
Sandy roads and soft surfaces may require tyre pressure to be reduced by 10-15% for ease of towing. Sealed roads require accurate and even tyre pressure to prevent excessive wear and heat.
Brake controller:
Before every trip and throughout your journey, test and adjust your electric brake controller according to your load and travel conditions.
Vehicle temperature:
Monitor engine and transmission temperatures regularly. Towing a caravan will add more strain to your tow vehicle, especially in challenging driving conditions and long climbs. If the temperature rises more than usual, it’s time to pull over safely for a break until your system returns to normal.
Speed:
Maintaining speed is essential to avoid overly straining your vehicle with unnecessary speed changes; however, travelling at a slower speed than normal traffic can be necessary to maintain stability, especially in crosswinds or challenging road surfaces.
Weight distribution:
When packing your Great Escape Caravan, we advise that 60-70% of caravan weight stays forward of the axle to maintain stability and swaying when towing. Consider this advice when packing your camping gear to avoid unnecessary surprises!
One of our most important tips when towing a caravan is for both safety and sanity – especially when caravanning with kids…
Take regular breaks:
When you stretch your legs, have a snack or run to the loo, before you jump back in the vehicle, take a look around. Inspect your tyre condition and pressure, ensure your coupling is secure, and check that the brakes, bearings, and engine are cool.
The safety of yourself, your family and others should never be compromised. It is always better to find an alternative journey or delay your trip than risk your health and safety or damage to your vehicle or caravan.
Here are our recommendations for travel before you take your Great Escape Caravan off-grid.
- Ensure your tow vehicle is suitable to tow your off-grid caravan
- Ensure your caravan is suited to towing to your chosen destination
- Check insurance for both car and caravan is up to date, and ensure both are covered for travel in the areas and conditions you wish to travel
- Revise the individual warranty conditions for your caravan
- Research the area in which you wish to visit and get to know the road conditions
- Check travel conditions before you go
- Revise and recheck travel conditions throughout the day while travelling
- When in doubt, find an alternative route
Ask our team for advice about your next travel destination, and we will be happy to assist!
Remember a safe trip is the best trip.
If you are undecided about whether an off-grid or semi-off-grid caravan is right for you, read more HERE or reach out to our team.
