Top 5 Tips To Safely Loading Your Car, Caravan, Or Trailer On A Road Trip

Whether you've been pulling your own caravan for years or are preparing to embark on your first vacation in a small travel trailer, towing a heavy load is not a simple task. Loading is a critical part of your trip, so you need to ensure to pack the right things and store them the right way. Improper loading of your caravan can greatly affect the stability of both the trailer and your car, which can cause unwanted accidents to happen on your road trip. This article brings you our top tips to safely load your car, caravan, or trailer on a road trip!

• Know the towing capacity of your vehicle

Before hitting the road, you have to make sure that your car can carry the load. Understanding how to pack your load into your caravan properly will ensure that your travel will not turn into a terrible disaster. One helpful tip is to avoid adding extra load behind your car, as this will affect how your vehicle will manoeuvre and stop. 

If you have a lot of baggage but do not want to encounter this problem, consider giving your caravan a test drive. Learn to back up, make turns, and step on the brakes before you hit the road to ensure you get used to travelling with added weight behind your vehicle. 

Additionally, you should know that your vehicle's maximum legally permitted weight may vary based on your car's manufacturer. Manufacturers of caravans must specify a maximum allowed payload, which must be stamped on the caravan's VIN plate. Furthermore, the Caravan Industry Association of Australia advises that single axle caravans carry a minimum of 300kg and tandem axle caravans carry a minimum of 400kg.

• Pack only what you need

Since you will be travelling around in your caravan, you should only bring what is necessary. Leave as much space inside the vehicle to help you move and save time getting items on each pit stop. You should also consider keeping a list of all the most essential items you have to keep track of inside your caravan, such as food, water, tools, camping gear, portable stove, grill, etc. If you want protection from the sun and have more space for your adventure, check out our caravan awnings. This is one of the must-haves you should take with you for a more comfortable outdoor experience with your caravan. 

After packing, double-check all drawers and cupboard doors and ensure they are securely closed to prevent the contents from flying throughout the trip. It's tempting to cram as much as possible into the caravan, but there's nothing worse than not being comfortable during your trip because of all the unnecessary items surrounding you. Therefore, you should know which things to keep in your vehicle and which ones to leave behind. 

• Evenly distribute the weight on your caravan

How a caravan is loaded and the distribution of that weight is critical for your safety. Having an imbalanced vehicle can make your vehicle frequently sway or make the caravan swerve as you tow, which is a significant risk while travelling on the road. Fortunately, today's latest autos and caravans use various technological advancements that assist in preventing your caravan from veering. However, it does not mean that your caravan's brand new tech can compensate if you go over its weight limit. Remember that all systems have their limitations, and systems can also fail. 

When moving additional personal belongings into the caravan, your heavier goods should ideally go in your car. However, if you intend to transport them in your caravan, pack the heaviest objects low and centrally over the wheel axles. In contrast, the lightest items should be packed and spread evenly throughout the vehicle or caravan. The main goal of distributing the weight is to prevent your caravan or trailer from snaking or moving with the twisting motion of a snake.

• Ask for a professional’s second opinion

Towing can place a massive amount of strain on your vehicle, so before embarking on your road trip, give your local caravan mechanic a call before travelling. Ask them if you calculated the right amount of weight your car can be attached to. You should also let them take a look at the safety chain you use for your caravan to make sure it won't give out while you're on the road. You can also ask them to take your vehicle on a test drive so he can make sure nothing feels out of place.

Additionally, it is good to have the brakes on your trailer tested and adjusted to carry a heavier load than it's used to. Ensure that your truck's oil and filter have been changed recently. The brake pads are in good condition, the engine coolant reservoir is filled to the proper level, the transmission fluid is topped off, and the wheel's bearings are lubricated if necessary.

• Study your route before you travel

Before setting off on your journey, study the roads and highways you will be driving in. Certain roads prohibit trailers, and others have weight, height, and width restrictions. Planning your route will save you the time and aggravation of returning to find roads that will accommodate your rig.

It's also a good idea to load your caravan and trailer a week or two before your road trip to ensure everything is in order when you hit the road. Furthermore, consider arranging the vehicle and caravan in the manner you intend to use them on your journey and set up a route to the nearest weighbridge, where the caravan can be weighed by measuring the load on the jockey wheel. Lastly, the most crucial piece of advice we can give you is to stay safe and have fun on your trip!