Caravan checklists and 5 frequent duties caravanners neglect

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Caravan checklists and 5 frequent duties caravanners neglect


All of us neglect to do essential duties earlier than leaving the caravan park website. Listed here are the highest 5 issues caravanners neglect, plus our three pre-trip caravan checklists.

Let’s be trustworthy. It doesn’t matter whether or not you’re an skilled caravanner or a newcomer to the approach to life, we will all neglect to do a important process earlier than driving off the location. I’ve performed it extra instances than I care to recollect or admit to. Having a pre-trip caravan guidelines is important, regardless of how skilled you’re. These are the highest 5 issues caravaners neglect to do earlier than driving off and on the finish, you’ll discover three downloadable checklists to undergo earlier than you head off on the subsequent stage of your journey.

Flip off the fuel

caravan checklists - turn off gas

This can be a massive one, particularly in the event you’ve bought a three-way fridge on board. It’s an enormous no-no to journey with the fuel on. You carry a pilot gentle in there someplace and that’s the very last thing you want, a unadorned flame within the van, unattended, notably on the servo when there’s gas vapour round. Be certain all of your fuel cylinders are off on the bottle, and any inline faucets are closed too.

Retract the entry step

caravan checklists - retract entry step

We’ve all performed it. Possibly you’ve performed the within test and also you’re glad that it’s all okay to go off. You employ the step to exit the van, shut the door and stroll to the automobile to drive away and the step simply sits there, invitingly, in anticipation of snagging or dragging over one thing, particularly in the event you’re off-road someplace. It’s presumably an costly oversight. Be certain so as to add this to your pre-trip caravan guidelines (or try ours a bit additional down).


Elevate the stabiliser legs

caravan checklists - lift stabiliser legs

In case you’re somebody who doesn’t use these fairly often, they’re extra more likely to be forgotten. Or in the event you’re used to fast overnighters after which cease someplace for a couple of days and drop the legs to regular the van. The very last thing you want is that scraping sound and a spark bathe as you permit the caravan park (by no means thoughts damaged welds), and your neighbours will definitely concentrate on your early departure since you’ve bought a ‘lengthy drive forward’.

Take away chocks and levelling ramps

caravan checklists - remove chocks

Is the hitching operation not going to plan? Sluggish motion of the entire rig? Or maybe you’re driving off and really feel a sudden bump from again there? “I don’t recall velocity humps right here,” you mutter. Possibly you’ve simply pushed off the levelling ramps! Or your chocks are conspiring towards your efforts to go away your website. Just like the stabilising legs, be sure you bear in mind so as to add this to your pre-departure caravan guidelines. Oh, and when you may have hitched up and moved ahead, re-check to be sure you haven’t left a chock or two for the subsequent occupant of your website.

Shut all hatches

caravan safety checklists - close all hatches

Are different travellers passing you and pointing to the roof of your van, arms waving and them mouthing warnings you possibly can’t perceive? It’s seemingly you’ve forgotten to shut your roof hatch or hatches. They’re standing up there, shaking within the breeze, ready to be ripped off or to let mud and rain pour into your pristine inside. In case you opened the hatch final night time for air flow however closed the blind, then that is straightforward to do. Similar within the toilet in the event you’d had a bathe. Make the roof degree a part of your visible sweep in your caravan guidelines earlier than you head off to the subsequent vacation spot, so that you’re geared up with hatches whenever you get there!


Caravan checklists

We’ve developed these three pre-drive checklists of issues it is best to bear in mind to do each time you’re about to go away the caravan park or campsite. We’ve included a obtain choice on the finish of every record so you possibly can have them obtainable in your sensible machine even in the event you’re out of cell phone vary. Alternatively, print them out in the event you choose exhausting copies.

Pre-drive guidelines – inside caravan

  • Washer water faucet off
  • Bathe rose faraway from rail
  • Bathe hatch closed
  • Bathroom flap closed and lid down
  • Bathroom paper faraway from holder
  • Sliding door open and locked
  • Fridge repacked for journey
  • Fridge doorways closed and locked
  • Fridge on 12-volt (for three-way fridge)
  • Water pumps off
  • Faucets off
  • Window shades open
  • Roof hatches closed
  • Lights off
  • TV faraway from arm and saved
  • Different electrical home equipment saved
  • Desk in folded place and strapped down
  • TV antenna retracted
  • TV sign booster off
  • Sizzling water system off
  • All cabinets closed securely
  • All home windows closed and locked securely

Pre-drive guidelines – exterior caravan

  • Door closed and locked
  • All exterior storage doorways locked
  • Awning retracted and arms locked
  • 240V energy provide disconnected and cable saved
  • Water provide disconnected, and hose saved
  • Greywater hose emptied, washed and saved
  • Faucet becoming eliminated and saved
  • Step retracted
  • Stabilising legs retracted and saved
  • Fuel turned off

Caravan guidelines – as soon as connected

  • Guarantee hitch has linked correctly and locked
  • Join trailer plug, Anderson plugs and digital camera
  • Guarantee hitch pin in gooseneck is in place and secured
  • Connect breakaway cable
  • Match weight distribution bars (in the event you use them)
  • Examine all lights for proper operation
  • Examine brake controller for any errors
  • Take away and retailer wheel chocks and degree ramps
  • Make sure the numberplate is safe and visual
  • Closing go searching van guaranteeing all hatches and doorways are closed, all companies disconnected and home windows are closed
  • Launch the van’s handbrake
  • Check emergency handbook brakes earlier than leaving the caravan park

We all know some skilled caravaners will learn all this and suppose these are apparent issues to neglect, however that’s our level. Written down like this, they appear apparent, and that’s why checklists are so helpful regardless of how lengthy you’ve been caravanning.