Get your caravan ready to travel quickly and safely
Whether you’re heading to the next campsite, continuing your tour, or driving home: Setting up and packing away a caravan is a bit more involved than with a motorhome. It helps to know the right steps—and ideally to have a checklist. Here are our tips on what matters most.
On the towing vehicle
Before setting off, the towing vehicle should be checked first. Along with a routine check of the MOT sticker, pay particular attention to the following points, especially before long journeys:
- Are the tyre tread, surface and pressure in good condition?
- Is there enough engine oil?
- Do headlights, indicators and tail lights work?
- Are the windscreen wipers intact?
- Are high-visibility vests, emergency hammer and first aid kit within reach?
- Are the vehicle and insurance documents on board (for trips abroad, remember the “Green Card”)?
On and in the caravan
Before leaving for another campsite or heading home, there are a few things you need to take care of on and in the caravan. Flying drawers, broken bottles or torn-off roof hatches are annoying—and easily avoided!
Interior
The interior of the caravan should be checked with particular care, as serious damage can quickly occur here if you are careless. Add these points to your checklist:
- Lock drawers and storage compartments
To prevent things from being ripped off, rattling or falling out during the journey, first close the roof hatches and windows, then the drawers and storage compartments. - Close the toilet slider
In the bathroom, make sure that in addition to the cabinet doors, the toilet slider is also closed and the lid is down. Otherwise, you could be in for an unpleasant surprise! - Secure room dividers and heavy objects
Stow away or strap down heavy and loose items as well as containers with liquids, and secure any room dividers and doors that may be present. - Switch fridge to the correct setting
The fridge should be switched from gas or mains to the car battery, to prevent food from spoiling during long drives.
Exterior
There are a few more steps to work through here, one after the other:
- Turn off the gas
Close the valve on the gas bottle, allow the gas to escape from the lines and, as a precaution, also close the shut-off valves in the caravan itself. - Retract the awning
It may sound odd, but there are plenty of stories of campers absent-mindedly setting off home with their sunshade still out. An expensive mistake! - Remove or fold down the satellite dish and antennas
To avoid UFO alerts on the motorway, dismantle or retract all satellite systems, antennas and other movable parts before setting off. - Turn off camper lights
Not strictly a safety issue, but even though caravan interior lighting generally uses very little power, it doesn’t need to drain the car battery unnecessarily while parked.
- Disconnect the power supply
Before you move the caravan to hitch it to the towing vehicle, unplug and store the hook-up cable—so it doesn't get left behind on the pitch. - Wind up the support legs
Now it's time for some muscle power: The caravan supports must be wound up. If that's too much effort, you can put together a "DIY automatic winder" using a cordless screwdriver or drill and the suitable attachment. - Pack away wheel chocks or ramp blocks
They've served you well during your stay, but are easily forgotten when you leave: ramp blocks or pads that prevent the caravan from sinking or tilting. Don’t leave them behind on the pitch!
- Hitch the caravan
Extra care is required here! Especially if you're a beginner, take your time and check that your stabiliser coupling is fitted correctly. The friction pads should also be checked and replaced regularly. - Disengage the manoeuvring system and disconnect the fuse
Before the caravan is towed by an external force, the manoeuvring system must be disengaged from the wheel and returned to its original position. Otherwise, the system may suffer serious damage. Also, remember to disconnect the fuse in the interior and switch off the remote control. - Raise and secure the jockey wheel
Once the caravan is coupled, the jockey wheel is no longer needed and can be secured. Make sure it is raised all the way and the clamping screw is firmly tightened but not overtightened!
- Attach the breakaway cable
The breakaway cable must be attached to a fixed part of the towing vehicle (eyelet, slot, etc.). If not, you may face heavy fines. Tip: Regardless of the legal requirement, it's always recommended for safety—nobody wants to lose their caravan en route! - Connect the car cable
So the caravan lights work and the fridge gets power on the road, connect the 13-pin cable to the vehicle’s socket. - Check the lights
Once the caravan is connected to the towing vehicle, you must test the tail lights, indicators, hazard lights and brake lights. This is best done with two people—one in the driver’s seat, the other at the back of the caravan, signalling if everything works. - Empty and stow the waste water tank safely
Fill up with fresh water: If you need water on the road, replenish a small supply now. But make sure you do not exceed the maximum payload or permissible gross weight, or you could face problems at weight checks or driving licence inspections! - Lock the doors, storage flaps and drawbar box
The caravan’s entrance door and all flaps should not only be closed but locked with the key. This avoids anything opening or being torn off while driving, or the contents of your storage spaces ending up scattered down the road. - Collect the step
From time to time you’ll see them—lonely and abandoned on empty pitches: the famous grey steps that come with the caravan and usually last half a camper’s lifetime. As getting in and out is hard without one, make sure you pack it before driving away! - Release the handbrake on the caravan
It happens to everyone: you’ve packed up and locked everything, sit down in the car, ready to go—let the clutch out and there’s a jerk, a little squeak, and the caravan wobbles. The handbrake’s still on! It’s not a disaster, just annoying. Add it to your checklist just in case. - Final check of the pitch
Almost done! Just circle the pitch one last time for forgotten bits—an adapter, a dog bowl, shower flip-flops or anything else—and then you’re good to go!
