RV FEATURE
If you ’ re not confident to use a public weigh bridge to weigh your rig , look out for an industry run safety check service
UNDERSTAND YOUR TOW VEHICLE
It is true that modern cars are much more reliable and capable than their forbears of 20 years ago . Advances in technology have allowed cars to be more powerful while using less fuel and driving them around the streets , day by day with little more than two people inside , we really don ’ t push them hard at all .
But , when you hook up a caravan and fill both with all the gear you need for an extended road trip , you really do start to push them towards the limits of what they were ever designed to do .
Consider for a moment , with a caravan in tow and a boot full of gear , that the car weighs much more than it normally would . Then you drive it for extended periods , in the heat , with the airconditioner running flat-out and along roads that are far from A- grade . You simply cannot expect to put the transmission selector into D , put your boot into it , and not expect the car to eventually have mechanical issues .
I expect this is the reason why you hear of so many caravanners whose tow vehicles suffer major breakdowns , such as transmission failures , blown turbos and even car fires . We are expecting too much of our vehicles and we are pushing them too hard in the process .
I have learnt that you need to get good advice about your particular tow vehicle from those who know it the best . They can tell you the best way to drive it when towing in adverse conditions and what modifications may help to make it more reliable . I ’ m talking about good mechanics , those with a reputation in the business .
Another good source of information is your car ’ s user manual . It likely has tips for the correct transmission gear selection or speed to drive at when towing heavy loads .
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