Caravanners admit low confidence in towing skills

Published: August 14, 2021
Grey nomads not confident in towing skills

With an avalanche of new caravanners hitting the open road in the last year or so, questions have inevitably been raised about just how proficient many of them are in the fine art of towing.

And it seems any scepticism over skill levels is largely justified.

A survey conducted by the RAC in Western Australia has found that some 30% or so aren’t confident about reverse-parking their caravan or camper trailer, and 16% feel the same about towing at all.

RAC Insurance Claims Manager Glen Walker said the results raised a lot of issues, with more than 20% of respondents admitting they hadn’t done any caravan-related training before hitching up and heading out.

“We’ve seen a huge increase in caravan insurance policies over the past 12 months as more Western Australians explore regional WA, and many are likely new to caravanning,” he said. “Fortunately, nearly all of our survey respondents knew the towing capacity of their vehicles but only 80% were aware of the 100km/h speed limit.”

Nearly 600 Western Australians took part in the RAC survey.

“While it’s fantastic to see so many Western Australians hitting the road to experience regional WA and support local businesses, it’s important to remember that our roads are some of the most dangerous in the country,” Mr Walker said. “There are important considerations you need to make to keep yourself and others safe when towing a caravan, including allowing extra space to brake and turn, packing your vehicle correctly and allowing for cross-winds.”

The RAC is urging caravanners to brush up on their skills before hitting the road, and the organisation’s Safe Travels initiative offers free caravan training.

  • Do you look back at your first ever caravanning trip and realise – with the benefit of hindsight – that you were woefully unprepared? Comment below.
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Wowif people actually do feel this about their reversing/towing skills then please for all our sakes, sell your caravans or camper trailers and stay off the roads. I’m astounded, if your not feeling competent then you are a danger to other road users.

100% correct

Hi what’s is the maximum speed limit for all states and territories in Australia for towing a caravan.
Thanks David Bown.

100km hour in all states when towing .

Not in WA
90 over there

100kph in WA the same as other states Johns.

rubbish its 100kph for any vehicle towing here in WA

No kits 100 has been for ages

In Qld it’s the speed limit – ie. up to 110 kph. Not that I’d tow at 110 kph. Different states have different rules, so get to know before you go! But Safety is the No. 1 priority.

Remember that it’s a LIMIT, not a TARGET!

Some of these comments in the story astound me.
If you have never towed before, why in gods name would buy a big V8 and a 3 tone off road caravan and jump behind the wheel and take off ??
That’s about as stupid as getting in a fully loaded semi trailer without a heavy vehicle licence and driving it.
It’s apparent that common sense has been replaced by stupidity.
I’ve held a HR heavy rigid licence for many years and continue to do so.
My rig is 16 metres long , 4×4 & caravan, & weighing in @ about 5.5 tone.
And I’ve been towing since I was in My 20’s , I’m now 70.
To me , the best thing that every state & territory government in Australia can do is introduce a licence for Caravan towing or at best a HR category with a towing and reversing element.
At least these people would have some ideas before they get behind the wheel.

Well said Robert. I;m like you except for having an MC licence. There should a separate towing licence, issued after competency testing

Dad was going to buy me a brand new caravan but I told him no way, didn’t want one. I had no experience towing a van, had never towed anything bigger than a 6 x 4 trailer so I talked him into a large motorhome. No worries driving that as I’ve been driving 40ft buses for years. Too many people on the road towing monstrous big vans with a vehicles not suited to the size. Also many don’t know the importance of weight distribution & limits. I think unless you can demonstrate prior experience with articulated vehicles, a towing course should be mandatory. Maybe then there’d be less accidents involving vans.

The title says’Survey Shock’, who was shocked by these statistics which have been the topic of ongoing discussions for the past decade or more.

Time to introduce a national license endorsement for towing anything over the unbraced 750Kg.

10pc right
THE MOST INPORTANT NUT IS THE NUT BEHIND THE WHEEL.

All states should adopt special training and licences for drivers towing caravan so that we get most of the incompetent and dangerous drivers off the roads in Australia. I would be very happy to submit to a driving/towing test to make roads safer.

It’s hard to believe this survey what person in their right mind would buy a caravan without any towing experience? Next question is if they do where do they go to learn?
I have towed all sorts since I learned to drive but that was in the bush mostly, what do city people do?

Had no instruction when I picked up my new van, and even the over riders were not attached. Did not want to know you once they got their money.

To those 16% who are not happy or confident in towing a caravan I say “take a coach tour.”

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