Preparing for a Caravan Holiday – Your Complete Guide

Preparing to go on a caravanning holiday is an exciting experience so you don’t want to be put off by being confused or uncertain about what to pack. Although some find the packing process exciting and a true sense that their adventures are about to begin, others find it difficult to know what essentials they need and what they may require when going on holiday.

We have created this handy, comprehensive guide to help you know what to prepare when you are going on a caravan holiday as well as what you may need before heading out on your journey. If you require more information or are looking for a new caravan then contact a member of our team using an online contact form on our website or telephone: 01792 64 33 26

 

The Pre-Preparation Process

 

So you’re going on holiday! When preparing to go on your next caravanning adventure, there’s a variety of preparations that you can carry out before you start to pack your caravan and prepare. We are going to assume that you have already selected your desired destination but if you haven’t then why not read one of our top caravan destination articles that we have written? Should you have decided where to go, the next step is preparing everything that you may need for your caravanning holiday. As a general rule of thumb, these areas are great to consider before you set out on your adventure:

 

• Making sure your caravan is ready.
• Making sure your car / tow vehicle is ready.
• Making sure everything you need is packed.
• Making sure you have all of the essentials that you may need.

 

Ensuring Your Caravan is Ready for Travelling

 

Making sure that your caravan is ready for travel is highly important. If your caravan has not been out on the road for a while, it is likely that you may not have carried out some key checks which are highly important for when you are out on the road. The various safety checks that you can carry out are as follows:

 

• Check tyre pressure and visually inspect tyres for bulges or punctures.
• Check your spare tyre and don’t forget to bring it along.
• Check the interior of your caravan for leakages.
• Check around your caravan for mould or other damage.

 

After you’re happy that your caravan is fit for the road, carry out some other checks such as checking the levels of oil for your cooker (if you use oil) and make sure that your caravan’s water tanks are empty. For water tanks, it’s recommended to carry water that you may need in your tow vehicle. Carry out a final check of your caravan to make sure that everything is stowed and make sure that you have turned appliances and the 12V control off. 

 

Ensure and check that exterior locks are latched and locked and ensure that your jockey wheel is wound up, clamped and raised to its highest point whilst you’re hitching. If you are unsure about the checks that you need to make then your handbook holds vital information about your caravan and can assist you further. Remember that around 20-30 minutes after you’ve hit the road, it’s great to stop off and carry out another inspection just to make sure nothing has gone wrong that you are unable to see in your towing vehicle.

 

Preparing for the Caravan Holiday Itself

 

Now that you are ready to go, make sure that you are fully covered should the worst happen. It’s highly recommended to have caravan insurance when you are on the road with your caravan and when your caravan is off the road. This can protect your investment should anything go wrong and some policies even cover ‘acts of god’ or environmental damage. Remember that your car insurance is not enough to cover your caravan and you need to organise separate insurance for your caravan. Make sure that your breakdown cover also covers you in the event that you are towing your caravan. Finally, check that you have the correct road lighting and license plates when on the road for both of your vehicles to make sure that you are complying with the law. Now that you are ready to hit the road, what items will you need to bring with you on holiday?

 

Packing the Essentials on Your Caravan Holiday

 

There are absolute essentials that you will need to pack when going on holiday with your caravan. These include items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet paper, toiletries as well as food that you may need. Remember to take items in the case of an emergency such as a torch, medical bag and any medication should a member of your family require this. Also, it’s handy to pack items such as antiseptic cream and anti-insect sprays.

 

Although most campsites offer the essentials, these will likely be at an increased cost so it’s a much better option to pack your own. It is also possible to overpack your vehicle or caravan, so you’ll need to put some careful consideration into whether you need certain items or if you can leave some behind. Camping sites often come equipped with working showers and washing up facilities but it’s very important to check / ring ahead to confirm the facilities that are available.

 

For kitchen basics, consider packing items such as kitchen roll, tea towels, cling-film, aluminium foil and knives for food preparation. As you are on holiday, don’t forget to pack your favourite things such as tea, coffee, cereal and other essentials. Again it’s great to phone ahead and find out about whether you have access to a supermarket or the shops when you arrive at the campsite. If it is quite far to make the journey then you may want to consider long-life foods to take with you so that you have food ready before you find your bearings.

 

Consider Where You are Visiting

 

Although the UK weather isn’t scorching weather all year long, it’s highly important to prepare for what the weather may bring to you. Should you be travelling whilst there is a heatwave for example then it’s important to pack relevant essentials such as sunscreen and relevant clothing. If the weather is going to be poor then prepare for wet days and bring the relevant clothing. As electronics have become more and more popular, you may find that you cannot live without your smartphone or tablet whilst on holiday. Consider purchasing a portable battery pack which allows you to charge your devices whilst you are out and about. Some of the higher range of products are extremely effective and hold around 10 charges per 1 charge.

 

Finally – Ensure That You Have Fun!

With our guide, we hope that this has made the planning and preparation process of going on holiday easier for you and your family. Have you used any of our tips to plan and prepare for your caravan holiday? If you require more information on preparing your caravan or if you are considering investing in a caravan and joining the hundreds of thousands of caravanners in the UK then get in contact with our team today! Contact a member of our team using an online contact form on our website or telephone: 01792 64 33 26