How to tow a caravan in the city

Towing your caravan on the open road is easy – there’s plenty of room to change lanes, turn corners, do U-turns and find parking. But that all changes once you enter the tight urban areas of a city. It’s worse if it’s a city you’re not familiar with. Here are some tips on how to tow a caravan in the city.

Planning

Don’t leave it to the last minute – make sure you know where you’re going. On your last fuel stop or toilet break, spend some time looking at the map, especially if you’re not sure how to tow a caravan in city areas. If you’re uncertain, check the caravan park’s website for information or give them a call. Also, be sure to check and observe local traffic laws if you’re travelling interstate.

Book accommodation

This is a no-brainer. The last thing you want to do is frantically search for a place to put your caravan at the last minute. It’ll be a case of ‘no room at the inn’, so book ahead.

Global Positioning System (GPS)

There’s no excuse these days. If you don’t have a dedicated satellite navigation system like a Garmin or TomTom, there’s a very good chance your mobile phone will be able to do the same. Before you leave your last pit stop, type the address into your GPS unit before you set off. If the device offers alternate routes, investigate them – you may prefer the motorway route even though it’s longer.

Think ahead

Following the GPS instructions, if you know you need to turn right up ahead, change lanes early. That might be the slightly slower option, but at least you don’t have to beg to get into the lane when it’s too late. Peak-hour motorists aren’t known for their manners.

Keep calm

To stay safe, don’t feel pressured into driving at the speed limit. Unless you’re turning right, keep left and let faster traffic go around you.

Pull your ears in

If you need to head down tight, one-way streets with parking down either side, you should retract your towing mirrors, otherwise you’ll run the risk of hitting other vehicles and pedestrians.

Wide berths

If you’re a seasoned veteran or you’ve done a caravan-driving course, you’ll know that you’ve got to give corners, parked cars and pedestrians a wider berth than you would without a caravan. Don’t be afraid to take up two lanes before a turn. As long as you’re indicating, other motorists should be able to appreciate what you’re doing.

Now that you know how to tow a caravan in the city, it shouldn’t be a stressful experience. With a bit of pre-planning and proactive driving on the road, you’ll comfortably reach your destination.

Don’t forget to read our caravan reversing guide in case you do make a wrong turn.