All UK caravans are fitted with an ‘over-run’ brake system. The good news is that these systems are safe, effective and relatively easy to maintain. Here, we’ll take a closer look at the standard caravan braking system, highlighting how it works, how to keep it in good working order and how to adjust it where required.
Understanding how an over-run brake works
With an over-run braking system, the caravan is attached to the towing vehicle via a sprung drawbar and a breakaway cable. When you apply the brakes on your towing vehicle, inertia causes the towed caravan to continue travelling fo...
Even where a tent is described as fully waterproof, there’s still the risk of waking up to a damp groundsheet and wet possessions. From dealing with minor repairs through to ensuring your tent is properly sealed, here are the essentials for stopping the rain getting into places it shouldn’t.
How waterproof is your tent?
A tent billed merely as ‘weatherproof’ might be tough enough to deal with the odd shower, but may struggle to withstand a heavy downpour. For an indication of just how waterproof an individual tent is going to be, look closely at the Hydrostatic Head (HH) rating. This ind...
Caravanning is a wonderful way to tour the country, explore new places and enjoy the great outdoors, but for those who are disabled or elderly spontaneity is often stalled by the need for comprehensive planning.Making considered purchasing decisions, necessary alterations to your caravan interior and researching a list of campsites and attractions that are easily accessible for those with any level of impaired mobility will speed up the process and help you have a safe and enjoyable break.
1. Make access as easy as possible
The first hurdle faced by wheelchair users or those with limited...
Government figures indicate that there are around 360 caravan fires each year in the UK. Be aware of the risks and follow these guidelines to keep you and your family safe when using your caravan or mobile home.
Choose your campsite with fire safety in mind
Fire safety mostly involves taking basic precautions to prevent the worst from happening. However, in the event of an incident, it’s reassuring to know that you’re in an environment where there are procedures in place to keep matters under control and minimise the risk of fire spreading. This is one of the many reasons why you should ...
Windscreen and glass damage contribute to a huge number of motorhome insurance claims each year. For motorists who’ve only ever encountered car window damage in the past, the repair bill for uninsured motorhome glass damage can come as a shock: around the £200 mark for fitting a new windscreen on a van conversion and well into the thousands for purpose-built motorhomes.If left unrepaired, seemingly minor chips can develop into more serious problems, requiring more expensive work and possible replacement. With this in mind, here are some practical ways to minimise the risk of windscreen chi...
Safe towing is easy, once you know how. See below for our caravan expert's "top 10 tips to towing".
To many towing a touring caravan or trailer is a daunting task and can put “would be buyers” off, but it is simple once you know how. Safe towing is common sense. Follow some simple guidelines and you will find the experience can be enjoyable.
Firstly, when choosing a touring caravan, it isn’t just down to the number of berths and/or your budget – consider your tow vehicle. Is the car in good overall mechanical condition and will it be able to tow your chosen caravan legally?
You ...
Whilst the exact cause of a caravan wheel loss may be difficult to determine, the problem is by no means an uncommon one for caravan owners. Each year, wheel detachments account for a number of claims made by Shield Total Insurancecustomers. Only those with a comprehensive touring caravan insurance policy are adequately protected against the costly damage this kind of problem can cause.When a caravan is sold or serviced the wheel nuts should be tightened to the correct torque and many service centres will insist on you being present when this job is undertaken.
