Towing - a few do's and don'ts

Before I move any caravan, be it my own or a customers, there are a number of checks I carry out to make sure it's safe for the journey. Here's a quick guide on some of the checks I undertake with links to Amazon on the products I use. Note: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases should you make a purchase after following my links.

First the tyres - how old are they? Caravan tyres do nowhere near as many miles as car tyres so you'll not be looking to change them due to wear and tear. Did you know that they might look fine on the outside but can be completely perished internally risking a blowout when towing. It's recommended that you change your tyres every 5 years. For this reason we don't move any caravans with tyres that are older than 7 years old. The year of manufacture is on the side wall as a 4 digit code (week number followed by year). So now you know they're safe age-wise then before each move you should check the tyre pressure (we suggest using a pump with a digital readout like the Ring tyre inflator) and the torque (we use the Draper wrench). Tyre pressure and torque settings can be found on the plate on the side of your van.

Towing mirrors - You must have an adequate view of the road behind you. Fit suitable towing mirrors if your caravan is wider than the rear of your car. You can be fined up to £1,000 and get 3 penalty points for towing without proper towing mirrors (www.gov.uk). Mirrors come in different shapes and sizes. Personally I use Milenco Grand Aero Platinum to give me that extra width for towing 8ft caravans. For smaller widths the Milenco Grand Aero are ideal.

Ready to hook up - Modern caravans are 13 pin hook up with older vans being 2 x 7 pin hook ups. You can get an adapter to convert the 13 pin to the 2x7. Don't forget to add a breakaway cable - should the towbar become detached from the van this should pull the brakes on to limit movement of the van - this is a legal requirement and doesn't cost much.

Hope you find this information useful. If there's a topic you'd like me to write about let me know.