The Ultimate Caravan Towing Guide for the School Holidays

Understand your tow vehicle & caravan weights.

It’s very important to understand the towing weights of both your vehicle and caravan, which is determined by the individual manufacturers to ensure you can tow your caravan safely & legally.

The weight limits of your towing vehicle & caravan should on their respective compliance plates or located in the respective owner’s manual, otherwise contact your local dealership.

VEHICLE TOW WEIGHTS

Braked towing capacity (BTC) – the maximum weight that your towing vehicle can legally tow.

Tare weight – the weight of your empty towing vehicle with all fluids and 10L of fuel.

Tow ball download (TBD) – the maximum weight that can be imposed on the tow ball by the coupling of your caravan.

Payload – the maximum weight that can be added to your towing vehicle.

Gross vehicle mass (GVM) – the legal maximum loaded weight allowed of your towing vehicle, which includes the weight of the vehicle, fuel, passengers, payload and the tow ball mass.

CARAVAN TOW WEIGHTS

Tare weight – the weight of your empty caravan, which doesn’t include the weight of your water tanks and gas bottles.

Tow ball mass (TBM) – the weight of your caravan’s coupling on the tow ball.

Aggregate trailer mass (ATM) – the legal maximum loaded weight allowed of your caravan, unhitched from your towing vehicle.

Gross trailer mass (GTM) – the maximum legal mass that can supported by the wheels of your caravan.

Payload – the maximum weight that can be added to your towing vehicle.

Gross combination mass (GCM) – the legal maximum weight of your loaded vehicle and caravan, which is determined by the vehicle manufacturer.

Know your legal requirements, capacities & limits.

Now that you understand the different tow weights, it’s very important to never exceed the limits as it may increase the risk of having an accident or you may receive a fine and have your caravan towed away.

Head to your nearest weighbridge to have your towing vehicle & caravan weighed to ensure you’re not exceeding any weight compliances.

In order to safely tow a caravan, your vehicle must have:

• A suitable towbar & coupling that match in size.
• Electrical plug for brakes, indicator, reverse and number plate lights.
• Brake controller.
• Tow mirrors, if required.

Inspect your caravan, inside & out!

Before you pack your caravan and hit the open road, it's important to ensure the safety of your family by verifying that your caravan is right to tow.

You can do this by checking the following for any damage:

• Towing equipment (tow bar, coupling, safety chain, brake controller)
• Jockey wheel
• Tyres and wheels
• Chassis and suspension
• Pipes and water lines underneath your caravan
• Lights including the electrical plug
• Gas bottles, water tanks and other appliances
• All interior components including furniture and electrical appliances.

If there is damage, please visit your closest dealership/repair centre to have it repaired. If not, it’s time to start loading your caravan with all essentials you’ll need for your trip!

Pack your caravan, the safe way!

Pack your caravan, the safe way!

When loading your caravan, it’s recommended & safe to have the weight equally distributed across the caravan to make it more stable & safer to tow on the road. An unevenly loaded caravan can increase fuel usage, damage your vehicle, and ultimately impact your safety.

Follow the general rule of thumb when packing your caravan:

• Heavy items should be placed above the axles at the centre of the caravan, to equally distribute the weight on either side.
• Medium weight items should be placed next to the heavy items or slightly further from the centre and must be equally distributed.
• Light items should be placed towards the sides of the caravan or in the cabinets.

Once you have fully loaded your caravan, head to your nearest weighbridge to ensure your tow vehicle & caravan are not exceeding any weight limits and is safe to tow.

Final check before you hit the road.

You’re nearly ready to head off, however complete one last check after you’ve loaded your vehicle & caravan.

Ensure the following is checked once your caravan is hitched onto your tow vehicle:

• All tyres including the spare have the legal tread depth (minimum of 1.5mm) & recommended pressure.
• Wheel nuts are tightened to the manufacturer's specifications.
• Coupling is secured onto the tow ball and both match in size.
• Safety chains are connected and secure.
• Lights are connected and working.
• Gas bottles are turned off.
• All exterior & interior components are secured.
• Roll-out awning is stored away and secured in travel position.
• Front and rear corner stabilisers are in the up position.
• TV antenna is in travel position.
• Windows and doors are locked.

You're all set to hit the road! 

Enjoy your trip away and remember to stay safe wherever you're heading off to in the school holidays!