Things to know to tow a caravan

adrijadey
June 15, 2013

There are things to know about and laws you must keep in mind before you buy a caravan and head out on your road trip. The first thing to do is check your driving license and see what it says. It will state what category of vehicle you can tow. If you have passed your driving test before 1st January 1997 you are most likely to be able to tow a caravan or trailer up to a combined Maximum Authorised Mass. However, if you have passed your test after the 1st of Januray 1997 it is most likely that you will need to take an additional test called the car and trailer (B+E) test. The test can be booked in the same way but it will take place at an LGV test centre rather than a normal driving test centre. According to the new laws, if you have passed a category B test after the 19th of January, 2013 you can tow a small trailer up to 750 kg. The only way you can drive a trailer more than 750 kg is when the combined weight of the trailer and the towing vehicle is no more than 3,500 kg. For heavier trailers you will have to take the (B+E) test and then you can drive tow trailers up to 3,500 kg.

Once you are ready to go make sure that you do not overload the caravan and the weight of the caravan must be within the towing abilities of the vehicle. Consult specialists to discuss the weight issues of the caravan or read handbooks and manuals very carefully. It is essential for the safety of your vehicle and for you to maintain legal regulations.

It is essential to test the tow brackets to British or European standards and use the mounting points that have been recommended by the manufacturer of the vehicle. It is also essential to buy a good quality car tow-bar. You can easily buy high quality tow-bars for cheap prices if you research online. When towing a trailer, you need to have proper lighting setup to make sure that the vehicles around you can see the brake lights or blinkers. This ensures your safety and that of your vehicle and it is a road regulation as well. It is of paramount importance to understand the lighting setups that are available so that you can choose wisely. With an array of wiring kits being offered in the market; you need to assess what you will be towing and the wiring capabilities integrated into the trailer design so that you can be in a position to choose the lighting setup that will serve your needs hassle free.

Another important thing to keep in mind is checking the laws the county where you will be towing your caravan. Road laws are different in different countries and it is very important for us to check all these details before you set out.