Towing vehicle modifications are necessary including brakes, cooling system, suspension, rear view mirrors before you take off with your caravan/trailer.
Brakes If you caravan is fitted with electric brakes, you will need to have a brake controller fitted to the towing vehicle.
This enables the driver to increase or decrease the caravan's braking efficiently from the driver seat.
Most controllers are fitted with a tell-tale light that helpfully indicates the level of braking selected.
Cooling System With the extra weight, towing vehicles are regularly made to work harder, especially if you are in hilly country and have to drive up and down hills.
All systems should be checked regularly and maintained in excellent condition, particularly radiators and cooling systems.
Owners of automatic towing vehicles often choose to have transmission coolers fitted.
Most are fitted as original equipment, but some after-market models are also available.
Suspension Again, with the extra weight of a caravan, rear suspension is often adversely affected by towing.
The rig can be levelled using weight distribution bars.
In some vehicles, particularly four-wheel drives, up-rated rear springs can be fitted, or air bags can be placed inside the spring to provide a range of adjustments.
Mirrors Most caravans are wider than the towing vehicle, which means that extension mirrors should be regarded as standard safety equipment.
Most caravan accessory shops have a wide range of mirrors.
Many do not require professional fitting with many just clipping to the existing rear-view mirror.
This is the fifth page of 23 with related information about making the most of your caravan holiday.
Check our website at www.
crikey-adventure-tours.
com/caravan-holiday.
html for the other articles.
Brakes If you caravan is fitted with electric brakes, you will need to have a brake controller fitted to the towing vehicle.
This enables the driver to increase or decrease the caravan's braking efficiently from the driver seat.
Most controllers are fitted with a tell-tale light that helpfully indicates the level of braking selected.
Cooling System With the extra weight, towing vehicles are regularly made to work harder, especially if you are in hilly country and have to drive up and down hills.
All systems should be checked regularly and maintained in excellent condition, particularly radiators and cooling systems.
Owners of automatic towing vehicles often choose to have transmission coolers fitted.
Most are fitted as original equipment, but some after-market models are also available.
Suspension Again, with the extra weight of a caravan, rear suspension is often adversely affected by towing.
The rig can be levelled using weight distribution bars.
In some vehicles, particularly four-wheel drives, up-rated rear springs can be fitted, or air bags can be placed inside the spring to provide a range of adjustments.
Mirrors Most caravans are wider than the towing vehicle, which means that extension mirrors should be regarded as standard safety equipment.
Most caravan accessory shops have a wide range of mirrors.
Many do not require professional fitting with many just clipping to the existing rear-view mirror.
This is the fifth page of 23 with related information about making the most of your caravan holiday.
Check our website at www.
crikey-adventure-tours.
com/caravan-holiday.
html for the other articles.