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Prepping For A Great Caravan Holiday - A first-timer's Guide

Legal and safety checks

You’re ready to head on your first journey with your caravan and it’s exciting; but with all this excitement and eagerness to get on the road, it can be easy to forget to carry out certain safety checks! Any respectable motorist will carry out basic vehicle checks before heading on a particularly lengthy journey, this typically involves checking the cars oil, tyre pressure, and of course fuel; however if it’s your first time towing a caravan, even on a short journey, it’s important to make sure both your vehicle, and your caravan, is as safe and secure as possible. Prepping your vehicle for the journey is more than just about safety, it’s also about the law. If your vehicle fails to meet certain legal requirements, it could result in you being met with some pretty hefty fines, and points on your licence. Don’t let your holiday become spoiled by something that’s easily prevented. Check the gov.uk website for a full spectrum of information and guidelines on towing your caravan and make a checklist. For first time caravan towers, we suggest getting your tow bar fitted by a professional. Not only will this give you peace of mind that your towbar has been expertly fitted, but also a chance to talk to a professional about any other towing queries you may have. Here at the Peter Bowman Towing centre, we provide a friendly and professional tobwar fitting service. We also sell a range of towbars for a wide range of vehicle manufacturers so whether you’re in need of a ford focus towbar an audi a1 towbar or a land rover towbar, we’ve got you covered.

Plan your route

Whether your journey is going to be long or short (we suggest keeping it short for your first trip) it’s always wise to view your route on more than one form of map beforehand, as well as your sat nav. One version could be more outdated than another, and checking your route from more than one source will mean you’re less likely to encounter anything that will delay your journey and steer you off schedule. Schedule stops along the way for toilet breaks, and try and share the task of driving if possible. If you will be the sole driver, make sure to stop if you become restless and uncomfortable, it’s important to have a break every now and again, so make sure to schedule time for these breaks too. Charge all electronics and make sure to pack charging equipment in a place that’s easily accessible to passengers, this includes chargers for your sat nav, phones, and entertainment devices.

Plan your arrival

With all the planning that goes into the journey and the holiday itself it’s easy to forget about the things you’ll need upon arrival. Make an easily accessible folder that includes your important documents such as tickets and passes for campsites and forms of identification. It also may be a good idea to pack a separate bag that includes things you and your family will want as soon as you arrive, some good examples of things to include would be drinks and snacks, toilet paper and wipes, hand soap or sanitizer, a few of your children’s favourite toys and a blanket. Packing these essentials separate to your other luggage will mean no scrambling around in those carefully packed cases before you’re ready to fully unpack. If you want to keep costs down on your trip scope the local area online before hand, there could be some great deals on restaurants and entertainment in your area, not to mention tips from other holiday makers.

Relax

This is the reason you have a caravan, right? Fretting about your trip defeats the purpose of owning or hiring a caravan. Give yourself plenty of time, allow for some little slip ups and mistakes and enjoy yourself!
Products in this article
aks3000
AL-KO AKS1300 Caravan Stabiliser
The AKS1300 lighter weight Alko stabiliser hitch is designed for use on caravans with a maximum weight of 1360 Kg, which covers most single axle caravans currently on the market.
£249.95
(Ex £208.29)
aks3004
AL-KO AKS3004 Caravan Stabiliser
Genuine ALKO stabiliser hitch is designed for use on caravans upto 3004 Kg, which covers most single and twin axle caravans currently on the market.
£379.95
(Ex £316.62)
powrtouch evolution
Powrtouch Evolution Single Axle Motor Mover
Powrtouch Evolution Single Axle Motor Mover Full 5 year guarantee. Price includes FITTING at our Bury workshop.
£1135.00
(Ex £945.83)
powrtouch evolution
Powrtouch Evolution Single Axle Mover Auto Engage
Powrtouch Evolution Single Axle Auto Engage Motor Mover Full 5 year guarantee. Price includes FITTING at our Bury workshop.
£1340.00
(Ex £1116.66)