Kings of the road – how to safely enjoy that caravan trip – National Seniors

Retirees are buying and hitching caravans and taking to the roads like never before. More than 820,000 caravans are registered in Australia. For many, it’s their first time driving a heavy rig, while others are out of practice – and this is leading to fears of deadly accidents on and off road.

Provided you have a full driving licence (some states and territories place towing restrictions on learner and provisional licence holders), and the caravan and tow vehicle don’t exceed the mass limits that involve an endorsed or heavy vehicle license, you are permitted to tow a trailer or caravan.

Currently, you don’t need to undergo separate training or pass a test to hit the open road with a trailer or caravan in tow. However, towing a trailer or caravan can be tricky for those with no or little experience and it requires a specific set of skills and techniques.

If you are new to towing or just want to become more confident in your towing skills, you should consider completing a towing course.

An accredited towing course will guide you through the basics of manoeuvring your combination safely on the road and in a caravan park, but also impart essential knowledge regarding weights, legalities, roadcraft, and vehicle setup to ensure you are as safe as possible while towing.