The Ultimate Pre-Caravan Holiday Towing Checklist

With the holidays in full swing and the long weekend looming, it’s safe to say many Brisbane families will be gearing up to hit the road in their Caravans to explore the outdoor wonders of our state. That’s what holidays are about! The team at Speedy’s wish you a safe and enjoyable adventure, wherever it takes you.

However, before you chase the sunshine, you need to make sure your vehicle and caravan are tow-ready. Towing safety is top of our priority list here at Speedy Towbars – we want you to hit the road with confidence and have a safe and enjoyable trip. 

To help you do that, we’ve put together this solid pre-travel checklist. It’ll help you prep like a pro, even if this is your first time on a caravanning holiday! We’ve even linked to a free PDF version of the checklist at the bottom of the article. Download that follow the list and you’re good to go! 

Vehicle Checks

• Check vehicle fluid levels, including oil, coolant and brake fluid.
• Check your battery is in good condition. Does your car labour to start? (We recommend travelling with a lithium jump starter to avoid any flat battery issues)
• Check tyre wear and adjust tyre pressures (including spare)
• Check wheel nuts are tight
• Secure any cargo inside vehicle

Towbar Maintenance

• Inspect towbar for rust, cracks, or damage
• Ensure the towball and towbar bolts are tight and secure
• If hiring a caravan have you checked you have the correct coupling, wiring setup and accessories? 

• Is your vehicle and tow bar rated to the correct capacity and able to tow the caravan? 

Hooking Caravan to Vehicle

• Couple the caravan to your vehicle – ensure the coupler, pin or housing is connected properly and secured. To test, use the jockey wheel to lift the van whilst attached to the car. If it’s connected correctly it will not detach.
• Attach safety chains with correct D-shackles, ensuring chains are crossed.
• Connect trailer plug to vehicle socket and other accessory sockets and test function i.e trailer lights, brake controller, Anderson plug, reverse camera.
• Confirm breakaway cable is connected and in good condition. Test pin removes and activates trailer brakes.

Caravan Safety Check

• Check caravan tyres for pressure and tread (including spares)
• Retract stabiliser legs and lock into travel position
• Secure jockey wheel in travel position
• Check suspension and undercarriage
• Turn off gas bottles and secure in holders
• Close and lock all windows, hatches and doors
• Retract awnings and secure externally mounted items
• Lower and lock TV antennas or satellite dishes
• Inspect chassis and coupling for cracks or wear
• Confirm load is evenly distributed front to back
• Weigh caravan if unsure about towing weight compliance

Interior Caravan Checks

• Lock all cupboards, drawers and the fridge
• Secure loose items inside
• Switch off appliances and gas connections
• Empty water tanks if not needed for transit (to reduce weight) – be careful not to throw off the weight distribution
• Secure TV, microwave and any removable items
• Stow keys and documents in an easy-access place

Final Departure Checks

• Is your caravan sitting level? 
• Check towing mirrors are correctly adjusted
• Do a full walkaround inspection of the tow vehicle and caravan
• Confirm caravan handbrake is released
• Test-drive in a quiet area and check braking and handling
• Ensure you have your licence, rego and insurance details
• Pack a roadside emergency kit (spare tyre, jack, torch, tools, lithium jump starter – trust us its good insurance to have one of these!)
• Share travel plans with a friend or family member

Give Yourself Time

At Speedy Towbars we understand the stresses involved with the process of hooking up and loading everything in your home away from home. For this reason we recommend performing certain vehicle and caravan checks and organising things before your date of travel. These main focuses are:

• Ensuring your vehicle and equipment is rated to the correct values and that the caravans coupler and connections match that of your vehicle.
• Connect your caravan and make sure your van is level, sitting correctly and that all trailer functions work – trailer lights, brake controller, breakaway and so on.

These two focal points ensure the function of your towing setup. Check them before your date of travel so you have time to adjust or fix anything that’s not quite right. You don’t want to be running around on the day you travel trying to sort everything out… that’s stressful!

If you’re having trouble with any of the above points, that’s the time to give the Speedy Towbars team a call to get some advice! 

Download Your Speedy Towbars Printable PDF Checklist

If you want to tick off every one of the above points before your trip, why not print it out? You can download the PDF here. Put it in your glove box, and you’ll always have it there as a reminder when you go on a caravan adventure! 

Safe Travels from Speedy Towbars

We’re not just here to install quality towbars for you- we want you to maximise what you get out of them! From outdoor caravan holidays to tradie functionality, your towbar will add a whole new dimension to your motoring experience. If you need any advice or guidance on towing, we have an expert team who can answer all your questions. 

Drop into our Everton Hills workshop, visit the boys in Slacks Creek or pick up the phone and give us a call. We’re always here to help. 

For now, safe towing and happy holidays. Go out and enjoy the downtime with your families!