Driving with a caravan or trailer is not that difficult, providing you undertake careful planning and preparation before you embark upon your journey. Here are some of the key areas you should consider before setting off.
Check list
Your driving licence will show the categories of vehicle you may drive, including the size of caravan/trailer you are legally allowed to tow. Make sure you are adhering to the correct rules, as otherwise it can invalidate your car insurance.
Make sure your 4×4 is roadworthy and if there are any parts looking a little worse for wear, get them replaced.
Get an EU approved tow bar professionally installed to ensure it is a correct match for your vehicle; if towing a caravan, you will need to get extension mirrors fitted.
Once you have hitched up, check that all stabiliser legs and the jockey wheel have been fully wound up and are secure, and the trailer’s tow hitch is correctly connected to your car’s tow bar.
Ensure all electric cables are securely plugged and the trailer’s lights are working; check your trailer has an identical number plate to your car and conforms to the relevant British Standard.
Finally, make sure your load is packed for even weight distribution and well secured.
On the Road
It is paramount to give yourself more time and space for all manoeuvres, as well as to brake and accelerate more slowly. Carefully approach corners, allowing more width than you would normally. Do remember that legal speed limits are often lower when you are towing.
Snaking and Pitching
Swinging from side to side is ‘snaking’ and if the front end moves up and down it is ‘pitching’. The best way to avoid either is to have a well-matched vehicle and caravan with a load which meets recommended guidelines. In the event you do experience either scenario, take your foot off the accelerator and gently slow down, avoiding the instinct to brake and keeping your steering in a straight line. Trying to steer out of the sway can make the problem worse.
Reversing
It will definitely take you a little practice to get this right. The key is to plan ahead and not steer too tightly: steer a little and reverse very slowly. Think ahead and begin straightening up before your trailer or caravan reaches the required angle, otherwise it will turn too far. If this happens, simply pull forwards a little to straighten up, and try again.
Be towing-ready and get all your 4×4 requirements fulfilled by CWS 4×4. Contact us today.