Grey nomad caravanners who check, double check and then triple check all their connections before pulling away after a stop might now just throw in a quadruple check for good measure.
A horrific story out of England will certainly cause many vanners to shudder, and to realise again that you really can’t ever be too careful.
A 69-year-old female pedestrian is fighting for her life in hospital after she was hit by a caravan that had become detached from the car towing it.
It is understood the caravan somehow became loose as it was being towed along a street in the Yorkshire city of Sheffield by a white Toyota.
No further details of the woman’s condition are available.
A police investigation into the incident is continuing.
Many years ago, when I was a newby Grey Nomad, I towed the caravan from Hobart to Launceston with the caravan hitch handle “up”. That went well, fortunately. No bumps or potholes to dislodge the caravan from the towball and test the efficiency of the chains.
I’m a lot more careful now. My statistics are: number of departures with caravan = number of arrivals with caravan & I aim to keep it that way.
Just before set off I have a number of pre-departure walkaround checks that I rigorously follow. If I’m interrupted during my checks, I restart my checks from the begining. (just as a aircraft pilot would do). I would encourage everybody to do the same. A few minutes spent each time you set off could prevent a potential disaster.
We always do a double check rear rt front back to tow hitch,
Tail, Brake and Blinkers,
Hatches and windows shut
Door secured and locked.
Chains crossed
Brake off
Mirrors on
Clearence left and right
Chains crossed and
Boot locked.
It takes very little extra time
Not sure how a caravan becomes detached when you have safety chains unless the towbar or tow hitch itself failed in which case all the checklists in the world ain’t gonna help.