Special caution required when planning the caravan holiday tips

Caravan holiday tips

Venturing out onto the open road in your home on wheels is one of life’s great but simple pleasures. If this is your first time on this new adventure, read these tips before heading out on your caravanning experience so you can be sure of a safe and enjoyable journey.

Planning your trip

With lots to think about prior to leaving for your caravanning holiday, the first and most important tip is to invest in planning ahead, particularly if you’re visiting a distant destination.

Research the area you’re visiting and identify the best caravan sites in which to spend your holiday. Make sure the road to your destination is suitable for your towing vehicle and caravan type; some sites may only be accessible to 4x4s. Knowing the area means being equipped to prepare for any specific conditions you are likely to encounter – for example, the weather, and the available facilities and amenities at the caravan site. Use the internet to assess locations on the basis of feedback from others who have visited your prospective sites – some places are better than others.

Joining a caravan club can be enormously helpful, particularly with tips on great places to go and what to take with. Social media provides the ability to very quickly connect with like-minded people and online forums can provide instant insight and feedback to help deal with any issues, concerns or questions.

Draw up a menu for all the meals you’ll be eating while you’re away. Then you’ll know which ingredients you’ll need to purchase (and which can be sourced on-site) as well as where best to store them – for example, in a cooler box or freezer.

Write a checklist during your planning phase so that you don’;t leave anything behind. Must-have items include a fire extinguisher and a fully-stocked first aid kit.

Entertainment

Every caravan will need some form of entertainment in order to keep the kids busy – especially if it rains.  Consider packing some board games or other forms of entertainment, such as a small portable TV. A good bet is to bring a games console or DVD player with you. A docking station for music ensures that you can enjoy your favourite tunes – but be aware of others around you.  

Towing tips

• Make sure your caravan windows are closed, doors locked and gas and electricity turned off before you drive off.


• Take utmost care in attaching the caravan to the tow ball, including fastening the safety chain connecting the electrical socket and, on braked caravans, disconnecting the handbrake.


• Check that the taillights and indicators are working on the caravan.


• Don’t exceed the maximum towing capacity of the towing vehicle.


• Equipment such as water, food, camping gear, etc. will generally add another 300kg to the weight of the empty caravan. Typically, you do not want to overload the caravan; where possible, equipment should be transported in your car. If some gear is in the caravan, make sure it is loaded in accordance with manufacturer recommendations.


• Make sure your towing vehicle can handle the weight of caravan, equipment and supplies.

Caravan insurance

Despite the best precautions, accidents can happen, so another essential task before setting out on holiday is getting the insurance up to date. Make sure you have the appropriate cover for your car and caravan so you can enjoy the open road secure in the knowledge that your home-away-from-home is protected from the unexpected.

Caravan insurance covers:

• Theft and hijack


• Fire and explosion


• Accidental damage


• Storm, hail, flood or snow


• Liabilities caused to other parties

Importantly, make sure your caravan policy covers contents and accessories as well as the caravan itself. After all, no caravanning holiday is complete without camping tables, chairs, tents cutlery and crockery, and a range of electronic devices and personal property. If it’s in the caravan, it should be covered by the insurance policy for complete peace of mind; note only caravan items (including permanent fixtures and accessories such as air-conditioning units, fitted canopies and awnings) will be covered under the caravan policy. Other items will be covered by MiMovables or All Risk cover.

Also, check that your chosen insurance policy offers roadside assistance and emergency services; after all, caravanning explicitly requires being out on the road.

[By: Rory Judd, MiWay Head of Online Marketing]

MiWay is an Authorised Financial Services Provider (Licence no: 33970)

MiWay Insurance Limited (‘MiWay’) is a direct, short-term insurance company, offering customers a range of short-term insurance products including motor, household and homeowners insurance as well as add-on products such as warranty cover and liability cover. MiWay’;s shareholder is Santam, a blue-chip JSE-listed company.

Also view: Towing a Trailer Safely

Special caution required when planning the caravan holiday tips

Protect your family with a roadworthy vehicle this holiday season

With spring having arrived and the end of the year in sight, many families will already be thinking about annual holidays and getting planning underway. Those with a plan will also be thinking about the way they will get to their holiday destinations and about the family car that will get them there safely.

One of the most vital parts of the car is undoubtedly the tyres. It is these 4 items that literally carry the load – the weight of the car, the holiday gear and the family. It is also often the last thing consumers want to spend money on just before a big family holiday.

The minimum legal tread depth on South African tyres is one millimetre across the entire circumference of the tyre. Spots on a tyre could wear down un-evenly so the tread in some places could be over one millimetre and other places it could be less than one millimetre, depending where you measure it. It is extremely important to check if your tyres meet the legal requirements of thread depth.Unfortunately, this small safety margin is one that is often ignored by up to 40% of all South African drivers, probably because of the cost involved in replacing tyres, something that is not often budgeted for, says Standard Bank UCount Rewards programme and their partners in road safety, Tiger Wheel & Tyre.

Joe du Plooy of Tiger Wheel & Tyre, points out that the risk of travelling with worn tyres can be magnified by the costs which could be incurred if a driver is even involved in just a minor bumper bashing.

“Insurance assessors can reject a claim if tyres are worn on the basis that a vehicle is not roadworthy. A motorist could therefore find himself having to pay for the damage incurred on 2 vehicles. The potential cost of an event of this nature should be considered against the cost of buying tyres when a driver notices that the tread on the tyres are becoming worn.”

“Standard Bank acknowledges that tyres are one of the main components required for a roadworthy vehicle. It can also be a costly exercise and an added expense, often not budgeted for. It is for this reason that UCount Rewards have joined forces with Tiger Wheel & Tyre says Fayelizabeth Foster, Head of UCount Rewards at Standard Bank.

“We believe that by swiping a qualifying Standard Bank personal debit, cheque or credit card at our Participating Rewards Retailer, Tiger Wheel & Tyre, our members can collect rewards points on your purchases at Tiger Wheel & Tyre which allows for a saving and help reduce the cost of keeping their car tyres in good condition. Our members can also redeem their rewards points at Tiger Wheel & Tyres.  We believe that a safe car is a gift that benefits the entire family, especially when the family car tackles the long road to holiday destinations.”

Before embarking on your holiday, Tiger Wheel & Tyre recommends that the following checks be conducted to ensure safe motoring:

• Tyres including the spare tyre should always be inflated to the correct tyre pressure. Over-inflated tyres erode quickly at their centre, while under-inflated tyres wear quicker on the outsides. Under-inflated tyres also overheat easily and can cause tyre bursts, leading to road fatalities.


• Wheel balancing and alignment should take place every 10 000 kms, after you hit a pothole or obstacle or before every major trip. This not only improves the handling of your car, but also extends the tread life of your tyres.


• Consider filling your tyres with nitrogen instead of air. With nitrogen, tyres run cooler, which means they last longer. Tyres running on nitrogen don’t lose pressure as quickly as tyres inflated with air. Inflating your tyres with nitrogen can extend tyre life by up to 20%.


• Heavy loads put extra strain on your tyres, so if your car is jam-packed with luggage, make sure you increase the tyre pressure. Check your owner’s manual for the recommended tyre pressures for “heavy loads” before you pack your car.

For your nearest Tiger Wheel & Tyre visit www.twt.to

Also view:

Tyre Safety and Road Safety

Vehicle Maintenance and Road Safety

Protect your family with a roadworthy vehicle this holiday season