Cold weather causes problems for vehicles, including caravans and motorhomes, and roads alike. It is predicted to continue to be cold in the U.K. for some time yet, especially in the north of the country. Cold weather wreaks havoc with the condition of our roads. Water runs into gaps in the road surfaces, when it freezes it expands creating and worsening potholes.  The affects of the winter weather will be with us for some time after the weather has changed so please check your vehicle over for any signs of seasonal wear and tear.  If you spot any problems you will save yourself money and make the roads safer for everyone.

1. Regularly check your windscreen for chips and cracks.  If they are not dealt with they could worsen whilst you are driving and cause serious visibility problems. Some chips can be sorted without a whole new windscreen being fitted, saving you time and money as well as increasing safety. Approximately 2 million people fail their MOT each year because of problems with the windscreen.
2. Check your tyres.  Kwikfit estimate that 1/10 drivers head out onto icy roads with illegal tyre depth.  If you are unsure take your vehicles to a garage and ask their opinion.  In many snow bound countries there are laws insisting on the use of winter tyres, in the U.K. that is not law but it is advisable if you are going to be using your vehicles in difficult conditions.
3. Salt and grits spread onto the roads to prevent ice forming may make driving safer but have a detrimental affect on the health of your car.  Check for rust on the bodywork and under the car, the earlier you find it the easier it is to sort out.
4. Inspect your windscreen wipers for wear. If they break because of ice on the glass, or if they are just ineffective it could cause you major problems when driving.  It is recommended by manufacturers that windscreen wipers are changed once a year.
5. Watch out for pot holes and be sure to avoid them at all times.  Going into potholes can cause all sorts of problems for your car.  The most common problem caused by potholes is axle and suspension damage. It is estimated that the cost to British motorists is £2.8 billion every year.

Spring is almost upon us, so fingers crossed for some lovely weather soon.  But it is worth carrying out these simple checks on your car, caravan or motohome to ensure that every journey you make in your is as safe as it could possible be.

Caravanning on the continent can be lots of fun but it requires a lot more preparation than travelling within the U.K. You must carry out all of the usual security and safety checks that you would for travel here, but there are a number of additional things to look into before you set off.

Each country that you are planning to travel through will have a different set of road laws so it is essential to be fully up-to-date in every place. Road laws comprise of the way that you use the road, what constitutes road-worthiness and in some instances the things that you must carry with you.

Even if you are an experienced caravanner you still need to check for any changes in the law. Contact the tourist office for the country you are travelling to, to be assured that you have the most current information.

There are a number of items that you are required to have with you whilst travelling, this varies from country to country. This is a list of things you are highly likely to need:

1. Warning Triangles – Many countries require that one is carried, two are needed for towing caravans in Spain, Croatia, Slovenia and Turkey.  

2. Fire extinguisher and a first aid kit. Rules on this vary but it is always advisable to carry both. 

3. Extra mirror extensions – Compulsory in Spain. 

4. Reflective jacket – Compulsory in a number of countries including France, Spain and Italy. In Italy it must be kept within reach of the drivers seat and any additional passengers should have one as well.  

5. If your license plates were issued before 2001 (and do not display the Euro GB sign) you will need to display a GB sticker on both plates. 

6. You may need to adjust your headlights to suit driving on the right. Kits are available to do this but do not leave it to the last minute as a dealer may need to carry out the change.

Legal road usage is dependant on local and national rules but some of the key areas where travellers get caught out are:  

• Drink driving thresholds are significantly lower in Europe than they are in the U.K., it is always advisable to drink no alcohol if you intend on driving.

• Radar/speed camera detectors are illegal in many countries, even if they are not in use.

• The speed is in kilometres and not miles per hour.  

• Drive on the right hand side of the road! Only Cyprus, Ireland, Malta and the U.K. drive on the left hand side of the road in Europe. It can be easy to slip back into familiar habits so make sure that you fully concentrate at all times. 

• There are low emissions zones (L.E.Z.) in Europe. For example in parts of Germany where the correct stickers must be displayed in order to drive legally.

There are a number of other items that it is always advisable to carry in your caravan, home or away:

• A complete tool kit.

• A spare wheel.

• Spare gas cannisters – ferries will only let you take a limited amount of gas on board. Calor gas is not generally available on the continent, so it may be necessary to take an adaptor/regulator so that you can use another type. Before you travel check with your destination about what is available as gas pressures vary.

 It is also important to take all the necessary documents with you when you travel. Of course you need your passports (including for any pets), any necessary visas and driving licenses. It is also recommendable to take your vehicle documentation, including your MOT certificate and if you are borrowing the towing car, documentation to prove that it is legally in your possession. Check with your insurer well before you travel that you are adequately insured to drive abroad.

Each of your party should get a European health insurance card (E.H.I.C.), this provides basic health insurance whilst in Europe. It is also prudent to take out travel insurance and to take all of the relevant documentation with you.

With all of this sorted you can confidently set out on your travels so that you have a great trip every time!

Towing a caravan is a skill that takes a lot of practice to perfect. But here is some information and some tips and advice that should help you to make every journey with your caravan successful:

• Fit a stabiliser to help prevent swerving and snaking.

• When you begin your journey check that the brakes are in good working order.

• It is illegal to drive in the right hand lane of a motorway if you are towing a caravan unless you are directed by a police officer or lane restrictions are in place.

• Do not be tempted to drive too fast, drive according to your experience and the conditions on the day.  Never exceed the general maximum speed limits, in the U.K they are as follows, unless signs indicate otherwise:

30mph on roads with street lights

50mph on single carriageways

60mph on dual carriageways and motorways

• It is illegal to carry a person in a caravan whilst it is moving. Pets can legally be carried in the caravan whilst it is moving, but this is not advisable.

• Caravans can snake or swerve if they are incorrectly loaded, if you are travelling too fast or if you break or accelerate too hard. If this happens you need to gently decrease your speed and continue on in a straight line. Do not break or accelerate heavily as this is likely to exacerbate the problem.

• Be aware of and take into account the weather and the condition of the road and drive accordingly.

• Leave substantially more time for each manoeuvre, including driving around bends, than you would for driving only a car.

Specific Towing Issues

Reversing

1. It is a good idea to practice reversing a caravan somewhere safe, possibly offroad, if you are unfamiliar with the procedure. There are also a number of courses available which provide training if you feel that extra help would be beneficial.

2. Caravans have large blind spots so you should never begin to reverse without physically getting out and checking that there are no pedestrians or obstacles behind you.

3. Ideally have someone else stand in a safe position near the caravan and guide you whilst you are reversing.

4. When reversing your caravan it is important to be aware of irregularities on the road surface. For example potholes, cambers and slopes will make reversing a caravan in a straight line more challenging.

5. Reversing at a low speed and as smoothly as possible will help to ensure the safety of yourself and other road users.

Hills and Mountains

To ascend a hill whilst towing will take considerably more power than travel on flat surfaces. It is advisable to keep out of the way of other vehicles as much as is possible. Use lower gears and try to ensure that you progress at an even rate up the hill.

Starting upon any uphill slope should be considered a hill start, however slight the gradient. Make sure you have adequate power when you release the handbrake to prevent rolling backwards.

If you plan to caravan in the mountains it is advisable to check that your towing vehicle is adequately powerful to deal with continual slopes and potentially difficult terrain.

Weather

It is always worth checking weather forecasts before you travel. Rain reduces grip on the road, and increases braking distances. Winds are especially hazardous for caravans. If you are driving into a head wind you are likely to find the caravan more difficult to control. This is because the nose weight will be lessened, reducing stability. Driving into a headwind has much the same effect as driving fast; both can cause the caravan to snake and swerve. To avoid this lower your speed.

The other places to be especially wary of winds are on exposed bridges and open areas where you are likely to be able to feel the effects of cross winds. Also be aware that being close to large vehicles is likely to affect the aerodynamics of your caravan, as these vehicles create their own slip stream.

 There are a number of checks that need to be performed before you  take a trip with a caravan. It is essential to satisfy all of the legal requirements and to take as many steps as possible to ensure the safety of all road users. This guide should not be considered exhaustive but a good start to getting you on your way.

Relative Weights

Having the correct weight distribution is a legal requirement, so it is definitely a good idea to ensure that you have all of the weights worked out before you purchase any new equipment or a new vehicle.

1. Ensure the engine of the towing vehicle is large enough for the weight of the caravan.

2. Ensure that the brakes are powerful enough for the weight of the caravan.

3. Check that the gross weight of the trailer doesn’t exceed the towing weight. The recommended towing limit will be recorded in the manufacturers handbook and on the V.I.N. Plate on the chassis. It is recommended that the towed vehicle does not exceed 85% of the weight of the towing vehicle.

4. Check the nose weight is either 4% of trailer weight or at least 25kg, whichever is higher.

Loading Your Caravan

The way in which you load your caravan will affect the way that it drives. Wrongly loaded caravans are far more likely to swerve or snake and so will be much more difficult to control. Follow these loading guidelines to achieve the maximum amount of stability for your caravan.

• Always store heavy smaller items low down, ideally over the axles or just in front of them.

• Try and maintain even weight distribution. If you have heavy items to place in front of the axle balance them by placing an equally weighted item just behind the axle.

• Lighter, larger items should ideally be carried in the towing vehicle.

• Only place light items in the overhead lockers.

• Place heavy and medium weighted items towards the front of the vehicle.

• Safely secure all items in the caravan. Tying them down if necessary.

• Gas cannisters must be turned off at the cylinder when moving. Furthermore the channel tunnel and ferries have their own guidelines regarding gas transportation. Always check before you travel with each individual travel provider.

Checks To Perform Just Before You Travel

It is advisable to perform these checks every time that you are going to travel. They will help to ensure the safety of you and your vehicles whilst on the road.

1. Check all cables for wear and tear and ensure they are firmly secured to both the towing and the towed vehicles.

2. Check the tyre pressure is correct on both vehicles.

3. Ensure that all prop stands and corner steadies are completely wound up and secured in place.

4. Check the coupling height is correct. The trailer should be level with the towing vehicle.

5. Check you have adequate visibility from the drivers seat, add additional towing mirrors if necessary.

There seems to be a lot of confusion surrounding the weight of caravan that a driving license entitles you to tow, due to a change in the law enacted from the 1^st January 1997.

Licenses

The law states that if you have a driving license from before the 1^st of January 1997 you can drive any vehicle and trailer combination as long as the combined weight of the vehicles does not exceed 8250kg Maximum Authorised Mass (M.A.M.).* And the towing vehicle’s weight must not exceed 7500kg.

If you have a full driving license from after 1^st January 1997 you may drive a car or lightweight commercial vehicle and tow a caravan but the combined weight must not exceed 4250kg. So the caravan’s weight must not be greater than 750kg, if the car weighs 3000kg. If you wish to tow a caravan above 750kg, you must follow the rule that the combined weight of the vehicle and caravan must not exceed 3500kg. In order to do this the caravan must not have a greater M.A.M. than the unladen weight of the vehicle towing.

Inexperienced drivers are recommended to tow a caravan with no greater than 85% of the weight of the vehicle towing. This will make more difficult manoeuvers, such as hill starts, easier.

It is illegal to tow any vehicle with only a provisional license.

If you passed your test after the 1^st January 1997 and wish to tow a greater weight, you need to take a B+E driving test. See the Driving Standards Agency or Driving Instructors Association websites for more information about how to take this test. It is worth noting that the tests will probably be held at a designated truck and bus testing centre.

Establishing The Weight of the Towing Vehicle

There are two different directives on how to establish the weight of your towing vehicle:

• According to the UK Construction and Use Regulations 1986, M.A.M. or curb weight is the “weight of the vehicle as it leaves the manufacturer with full fuel, adequate lubricants and water, standard tools and equipment but no driver, occupants or load”.

• According to the E.U. Directive 95/48 it is, “the weight of the vehicle as it leaves the manufacturer, with fuel tank 90% full, necessary fluids for normal operation, a nominal driver weight of 68kg and 7kg of luggage.”

In reality this means that E.U. curb weights are around 70kg more than by the U.K. rule. Most new cars now use the E.U. definition, but the U.K. standard will provide you with a safer ratio.

It is always advisable to determine the curb weight by consulting the manufacturer, in store sales advisers will not always be up-to-date with towing laws and may not give you correct information. Any infringement of the law could cause an accident, invalidate your insurance or see you taken to court. None of which are desirable outcomes so it is best to be crystal clear before you make your first trip.

Accordingly it is important to keep up-to-date with new developments in this law. Currently amendments to the laws are being considered in order to clarify these laws that many find confusing. Although this should not change current allowances for drivers who already hold their full license, it is possible that there will be adjustments.

*Also referred to as Maximum Technical Permissible Laden Mass (M.T.P.L.M.), Gross Weight or Curb weight.