LOADING YOUR VAN - When you're loading your van there are certain things you to need to consider. Firstly know what the payload is of your van. How you pack items in your van is very important. Keep heavy items low to the ground and as close to the axle as possible. Evenly distribute medium size items across the van. Place lighter items in overhead cupboards.
CONNECTING YOUR VAN - You may need someone to help guide you as you reverse your tow vehicle towards your van. I've found that having a reverse camera on your vehicle eliminates the need for a second person and there's no arguments. Once you've lined up the towball under the coupling on the van (make sure you lift up the handle on the coupling), using the jockey wheel, wind down the coupling until it sits onto the towball. Drop the handle on the coupling down, and place an R clip through the hole.
Cross your chains over and using the correct D Shackles, attach the chains to your tow vehicle.
You need to make sure your caravan/trailer and tow vehicle have the same type of trailer plug. There are many different sorts on the market. You can purchase an adaptor if one vehicle has a round plug and one vehicle has a flat plug. Plugs come in 5 pin, 7 pin and 12 pin. You can also get an Anderson plug.
TARE MASS - This is the weight of your caravan/trailer as it has come straight from the manufacturer. This weight includes any options you may have had fitted but does not include any of your own items you will be leaving in the van.
PAYLOAD - The items you travel with in your caravan/trailer. For example: all your hoses and fittings, chairs, table, cutlery, plates, cups etc. You MUST not exceed the payload. You can work out the payload for your van by deducting the Tare Mass from the ATM. As a general rule a single axle caravan has a payload of approximately 300kg, a tandem axle van has a payload of approximately 400kg. You need to take into account the weight of your gas bottles and if you are travelling with water in your tanks. REMEMBER: 1L of water weighs 1kg.
ATM - Aggregate Trailer Mass. The total weight of the fully laden van. Calculated by adding the Tare Mass to the Payload. This also includes the tow ball mass. ALWAYS check the manufacturers specifications and NEVER exceed those specifications. This is not only dangerous for yourself and other road users but also your insurance company will not pay you out if you have an accident and you are over your ATM.
GVM - Gross Vehicle Mass: Is the tare weight of the motor vehicle plus the allowable maximum load including passengers.
GCM - Gross Combination Mass: Basically, this is the fully laden weight of the tow vehicle (GVM) plus the fully laden weight of the caravan/trailer (ATM). The weight of both must not exceed the GCM
TOWING CAPACITY - All vehicles have a maximum towing capacity that you need to abide by. For example: If your motor vehicle can tow up to 2000kg then you need to make sure your caravan/trailer ATM is no more than 2000kg.
BRAKES - Any caravan/trailer that has a tare weight over 750kg must be fitted with electric brakes.
TOWING MIRRORS - If your caravan/trailer is wider than your tow vehicle you must use towing mirrors. There are all sorts on the market from permanent mirrors like Clearview Mirrors to removable ones. Some towing mirrors attach to your vehicles existing mirrors and some attach to the vehicle's door. There is a mirror to suit everybody.
CARAVAN SWAY - To avoid caravan sway you need to make sure you've not exceeded the payload of the caravan/trailer or the tow vehicle. Make sure you've packed your caravan/trailer properly. The latest info says that if you start to experience swaying you should take your foot off the accelerator and tap the electric break controller manually. Pull over when it's safe to do so and check your load. Make sure all the windows and vents are closed on the caravan.
LIGHTS - Once your caravan/trailer is connected to your tow vehicle, check that all lights and indicators are working.