What caravan checklists can you print and keep in the van?
Three A4 checklists to print and keep in the van: what to do before you leave, how to check your weights at a public weighbridge, and what to do if the van starts to sway.
Caravan checklists you can print and keep in the van
Three practical checklists: what to do before you leave, how to check your weights at a public weighbridge, and what to do if the van starts to sway.
Read them here, or print all three for the glovebox.
Load and walkaround
- Tow ball mass in the healthy band: usually 8-12% of the van's loaded weight, and under your towbar and coupling ratings (often 350kg). European vans run lower by design.
- Heavy items stored low and over the axles. Nothing heavy at the back.
- Wheel nuts torqued to your hub and wheel maker's spec. It varies too much to guess: roughly 70 Nm on small studs up to 245 Nm on the big M14 hubs.
- Tyre pressures checked on car and van, adjusted for the load.
Hitching up
- Coupling seated on the tow ball. Locking mechanism engaged. Padlock or pin in.
- Safety chains crossed under the tow ball to form a cradle. D-shackles tight.
- 12-pin plug and Anderson plug connected. No cables dragging.
- Breakaway cable clipped straight to the tow vehicle (not the chain loop).
- Jockey wheel wound up and stowed. Caravan handbrake off.
Quick brake test before you roll
- Towing mirrors fitted if the van is wider than the car. You need a clear view of the road behind (Road Rule 297).
- Pull forward at 15-20 km/h on a flat, clear surface.
- Use the manual override slider on the electric brake controller. Keep your foot off the brake.
- You should feel firm, obvious braking from the van. That means the trailer brakes are working - no need to force a full stop.
Checklist 01
Before you leave: load, hitch, and brake test
CaravanCompare.com.au
Load and walkaround
- Tow ball mass in the healthy band: usually 8-12% of the van’s loaded weight, and under your towbar and coupling ratings (often 350kg).
- Heavy items stored low and over the axles. Nothing heavy at the back (pendulum effect).
- Wheel nuts torqued to your hub and wheel maker’s spec. It varies too much to guess: roughly 70 Nm on small studs up to 245 Nm on big M14 hubs.
- Tyre pressures checked on car and van, adjusted for the load.
- Internal hatches locked, fridge latched (12V on), TV antenna down, windows secured.
Hitching up
- Coupling seated on the tow ball. Locking mechanism engaged. Padlock or pin in.
- Safety chains crossed under the tow ball to form a cradle. D-shackles tight.
- 12-pin plug and Anderson plug connected. No cables dragging.
- Breakaway cable clipped straight to the tow vehicle (not the chain loop).
- Jockey wheel wound up and stowed. Weight distribution hitch engaged if you use one.
- Caravan handbrake off.
Brake test before you roll
- Towing mirrors fitted if the van is wider than the car. You need a clear view of the road behind (Road Rule 297).
- A co-pilot checks all trailer lights: indicators, brakes, tail lights.
- Pull forward at 15-20 km/h on a flat, clear surface.
- Use the manual override slider on the electric brake controller. Keep your foot off the brake.
- You should feel firm, obvious braking from the van. That means the trailer brakes are working - no need to force a full stop.
Checklist 02
Weighbridge check: the three-weigh method
CaravanCompare.com.au
Load the rig the way you actually travel: full water, full fuel, all your gear, passengers in the car. Otherwise the reading is meaningless.
Weigh 1: gross combination mass (GCM)
Weighbridge plate
[CAR] -- [CARAVAN]
- Do: Drive the whole rig onto the weighbridge. All axles on the plate.
- Records: Your actual loaded GCM.
- Check: Must be less than the car's rated GCM.
Weigh 2: gross vehicle mass (GVM)
Weighbridge plate
[CAR]
-- [CARAVAN] off- Do: Pull forward so only the tow vehicle's axles are on the plate. Van axles off, still hitched.
- Records: Your actual loaded GVM (car plus tow ball mass).
- Check: Must be less than the car's rated GVM.
Weigh 3: aggregate trailer mass (ATM)
Car off --Weighbridge plate
[CARAVAN + JOCKEY]
- Do: Unhitch the van on the plate. Drive the car right off. Van resting on the jockey wheel and axles.
- Records: Your actual loaded ATM.
- Check: Must be less than the ATM stamped on the caravan's compliance plate.
[QR CODE: JADE]
Came in over the limit?
If the car's GVM or GCM is over the rating, stripping accessories won't fix it. You need a heavier tow vehicle.
Scan to explore finance options for a bigger tow vehicle with Jade Finance.
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Checklist 03
If a sway or blowout starts
CaravanCompare.com.au
Read this first
If the van starts to sway hard, do not hit the foot brake.
Braking the car during a sway makes the pendulum worse and can jackknife the rig.
Getting it back under control
- Lift off the accelerator. Keep the steering wheel dead straight.
- Do not swerve to counter the sway. Hold the wheel firm.
- Gently apply the manual override slider on your electric brake controller.
- Braking only the trailer drags the van in line behind the car and straightens the rig out.
- Once you’re straight and speed has bled off, you can gently use the foot brake.
Once you're stopped
- Indicate left and pull the whole rig off the highway (onto the shoulder or dirt if you have to).
- Hazard lights on straight away.
- Everyone out on the passenger side, away from traffic.
- Move well behind a barrier or away from the road verge.
- If you carry a reflective triangle or vest, use it - place the triangle well behind the van with a clear sightline. Not a legal requirement for a car-and-caravan rig, but a sensible one.
This is a general guide only. In a life-threatening emergency, call 000. For roadside help, use your insurer or roadside assistance provider.