RV FEATURE

These are my five cardinal rules for safe towing . This list is by no means exhaustive ; rather , it is just the main things I consider when towing any new caravan , and I recommend that you do too , especially if you ’ re new to towing caravans .

THE SIZE OF IT

First and foremost , I quickly come to terms with the size of the van . In my line of work , I tow caravans and campers of all shapes and sizes on a regular basis . As I haul the van along the highway , I remain mindful of the space the van is taking up in the lane , and try to visualise its presence in relation to other traffic .

I find this especially useful in relation to overtaking manoeuvres and lane changes . While extension mirrors do a good job , I sometimes find they don ’ t provide

an accurate sense of the distance between the van I ’ m towing and the closest other car . By properly appreciating the size – particularly the length – of the van , I am able to evaluate the motoring conditions in conjunction with input from the mirrors .

It also extends to cornering . A caravan will take a shorter path around a corner than the tow vehicle , and while it ’ s sometimes good practice to perform the turn once the van ’ s wheels are in line with the object you ’ re turning around ( such as a kerb ), it ’ s not always practical or safe to be looking in your mirror to ensure the wheel set is where you want it to be before turning . Another reason to develop an appreciation of the size of what you ’ re towing .

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