Going on a Caravanning holiday can be an exciting experience so you don’t want to be put off by being uncertain or confused about what to take with you. Although some find the packing process exciting and a great sense that their adventures are about to begin, others find it rather difficult to know what to take with them and what they may require when going on holiday.
We have created this handy, guide to help you know what to prepare when you are going on a caravan holiday as well as what you may need before embarking on your journey.
The Pre-Preparation Process
So, you’re going to go on a weekend away in the van! When preparing to go, there are many things that you need to consider before you start to pack your caravan and prepare. As a general rule of thumb, these areas are great to consider before you set out on your adventure:
- Making sure your car/tow vehicle is ready.
- Making sure your caravan is ready to go.
- Making sure everything you need is packed.
- Making sure you have all of the essentials that you may need.
Ensuring Your Caravan is Ready for Travelling
Ensure that your caravan is ready for travel is very important. If your caravan has not been used in a while, likely, you may not have carried out some key safety checks which are highly important for when you are out on the road. The various checks that you can carry out are as follows:
- Check your spare tyre and don’t forget to bring it along.
- Check tyre pressure and visually inspect tyres for bulges or punctures.
- Check around your caravan for mould or other damage.
- Check the interior of your caravan for leakages.
When you’re happy that your caravan is good to go, make sure you check other things such as checking the levels of oil for your cooker (if you use oil) and make sure that your caravan’s water tanks are empty. For water tanks, it’s also recommended to carry water that you may need in your tow vehicle. Carry out a final check of your caravan to make sure that everything is stowed and make sure that you have turned appliances and the 12V control off.
Ensure the exterior locks are latched and locked and that your jockey wheel is wound up, clamped and raised to its highest point. If you are unsure about the checks refer to your handbook holds vital information about your caravan and can assist you further. Remember that around half an hour after you’ve hit the road, it’s great to stop off and carry out another inspection just to make sure nothing has gone wrong that you are unable to see in your towing vehicle.
Preparing for the Caravan Holiday Itself
Now that you are all ready, make sure that you are covered should the worst happen. It’s recommended to have caravan insurance when you are on the road with your van and when your van is off the road. This can protect your investment just in case it all goes wrong and some policies even cover ‘acts of god’ or environmental damage. Remember that your car insurance is not enough to cover your caravan and you need to organise separate insurance for your caravan. Make sure that your breakdown cover also covers you if you are towing your caravan. Finally, check that you have the correct road lighting and license plates when on the road for both of your vehicles to make sure that you are complying with the law. Now that you are ready to hit the road, what items will you need to bring with you on holiday?
Finally – get and have some fun!
We hope that this has made the planning and preparation process of going on holiday easier for you. Remember for all your caravan parts and accessories look no further than Bowers Automotive, call us today on 01782 590 700 or email enquiries@bowersautoparts.net.