Summer’s fast approaching, and you know what that means… It’s caravan season! Whether you’re a first time caravanner or a seasoned tourer, you’ll be familiar with the trials and tribulations of setting up your caravan. You’re going away to relax though, so make sure you pitch your caravan without a hitch, with our 7 tips for setting up your touring caravan on site!
1 – Plan your journey!
Step 1 of setting up your caravan – do it before dark! If you plan your journey properly, you should be able to set off with enough time to spare to set up in the daylight. Reversing a caravan is hard enough. Reversing at night could be a real test! Planning a stopover along the way can be a great way to relax and make sure you’ve got plenty of time to set up your caravan. You’ll even get to see more of the country this way! It’s called touring for a reason.
2 – Relax
You’re supposed to be on holiday, aren’t you? Don’t sweat the small stuff! If you feel like the stress is getting to you, stop, take a deep breath, and be patient when manoeuvring and pitching your caravan. Make sure to use your mirrors and windows properly when reversing, and take as much time as you need! Having somebody directing you from behind will give you peace of mind when reversing into your pitch.
3 – Level Pegging
After you’ve manoeuvred your caravan, it’s time to get it level. You don’t want to be rolling out of the wrong side of the bed! Levelling also prevents doors swinging open and shut, and lets the water drain properly out of your caravan. Levelling ramps can help you easily ensure your caravan sits level on your pitch, giving you the best start to your holiday.
4 – Unhitch & Uncouple
Now you’ve manoeuvred, levelled, and chocked, it’s time to uncouple and unhitch. First thing’s first – apply the caravan brake! You don’t want your caravan rolling away! Disconnect any electrical plugs and other coupling from your car before doing anything else. You don’t want to forget and drive away with your car still connected!
5 – Let There be Light!
Connect your caravan to the mains at the hook-up point on your pitch to give yourself power! Remember to always test the essentials are working correctly before you continue – and don’t forget to turn on the fridge! Collect your fresh water, turn on the gas and the water heater, and you’re pretty much there!
6 – Get Help!
If you’re a complete beginner there’ll be plenty of people more experienced than you willing to lend a helping hand. Campers and caravanners are generally friendly folk, and are usually happy to help! Whether you’re in the middle of a 20-point turn, or struggling to get the lights on, we’ve all been there. Chances are there’ll be somebody willing to help!
7 – Have Fun!
We’ve said it once, and we’ll say it again – you’re on holiday! Hitching, unhitching and pitching, are all part of the caravan experience. So enjoy it, especially if it’s your first time!
Setting up your caravan’s not as daunting as it might seem! Whether you’re a complete beginner or a veteran caravanner, hopefully these tips can help you out when you head on your next, or first, caravan holidays! If you’re preparing for a trip away, you might want to look into caravan insurance. The Insurance Emporium offer Touring Caravan Insurance in three different levels of cover, with benefits such as Loss, Theft or Accidental Damage and Family Member Cover as standard. Pitch up at The Insurance Emporium to find out more!
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