Your guide to caravan safety in 2023

When wanderlust calls, there’s nothing quite like hitting the open road in your own caravan. You’re off to make memories and explore the great outdoors, but it’s easy for things to go wrong… and when you’re on the road, the last thing you want is to be left with the wrong sort of memories. From rogue potholes, epic wind gusts, and flat tires, the road can throw some serious curveballs your way.

Before you hit the road and leave your worries behind, it’s important to understand the key principles of caravan safety so you can enjoy a stress-free journey. Here are seven tips to consider before you leave.

Seven tips before you travel  

Check your towing capacity. Find the perfect match! Make sure your towing vehicle is suited to the caravan you are towing. Remember that all towing vehicles must be equipped with towbars and couplings, electrical sockets for lighting, brake connections, and safety chains.

Get a service before you leave. A long road trip can be brutal on your towing vehicle. You know what they say – it’s what’s on the inside that matters. Just because your caravan looks good on the outside doesn’t mean it’s road-ready. Get a mechanic to do a full service so you have peace of mind before you leave.

Don’t overload your caravan. Planning a road trip is like playing Jenga – if you don’t stack things right, everything comes crashing down. Do you really need all that gear? Travel as light as possible, and remember that weight distribution is important when packing. Make sure everything is secure so you don’t have loose objects falling over while you’re driving.

Buy a ‘Do not overtake’ sign. Attach a ‘DO NOT OVERTAKE TURNING VEHICLE’ sign to the rear of the caravan. It’s not just you who needs to adhere to the safety on the roads, but other vehicles, too.

Don’t drive when tired. When towing a caravan, the entire driving experience becomes heightened, and it’s important to be constantly aware of spatial awareness, stopping distances, and external factors. Always be aware of cross-winds, uneven road surfaces, and other traffic. Never drive when you’re tired, and always make time for rest breaks.

Leave a longer stopping distance. When towing a caravan make sure to always leave a longer stopping distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. If you’re driving in bad weather conditions, increase this distance even more.

Include wireless sensor technology on your wheels. When you are towing a heavy vehicle like a caravan, it’s not always easy to know what’s going on with the trailer or van behind you. Much like your tyre pressure sensor, Wheel Sensei’s smart motion and driver app gives you real-time insight into your trailer wheel bearings straight to your smartphone. This is towing made smarter.

Road trips can be unpredictable, but disaster doesn’t have to be inevitable. Before you hit the road, make sure you’ve gone through your safety checklist and turned on your Wheel Sensei. And importantly, don’t forget to pack with your sense of adventure.  

Digital wheel bearing monitoring – Helping drivers stay safe on the road when towing.

Wheel Sensei’s smart driver app and wheel bearing monitoring technology helps drivers stay safe and protect their caravans and trailers while towing. Wheel Sensei monitors your bearings and alerts you to any potential issues while you are driving so you don’t have to stop for ‘manual bearing ‘touch-tests’. 

Wheel Sensei’s smart sensors replace your dust cap and monitor the internal hub temperature of each wheel, sending you live updates of each bearing temperature every minute via the phone app.  

If any issues arise, such as a sudden spike in wheel bearing temperatures, you’ll receive an instant notification.

By using Wheel Sensei, drivers can avoid potentially dangerous situations and prevent damage to their vehicles and precious cargo.

Wheel Sensei provides peace of mind to drivers who frequently tow, allowing them to focus on the road and enjoy a safe and stress-free journey.

If you have any questions, or would like to know more, please get in contact with us today.