Caravanning Tips And Tricks

General Rules Of Thumb & Tips

• If you dont use it at home, you probably wont use it in your caravan or RV. Packing the kitchen should be fairly simple: one set of crockery & cutlery for each person and a spare or two.
• Microwave safe bowls and containers with lids will be your best friend ! If there is no oven in your van then you clearly wont need any heavy baking dishes or trays. Although one tray may be handy for use with your bbq facilities. One small and one medium saucepan is normally ample. Although most people cook outside on a bbq as to not stink out the interior of your new van.
• It is always great to have a pair of thongs/sandals for use in the amenities blocks. (you dont want to go in there barefoot).
• Before your first trip, be sure to plug in the van to ensure your batteries are at maximum charge before you leave.
• If you do not have a water filter system in your van, we have found that a portable water filter jug or some fresh bottles of water are great things to take with you. Even if you have quality drinking water hose, there is still a fair chance of getting a nasty taste in your water.

Useful Utenslils

• Peeler
• Bottle opener (cant have a camping trip without some beers)
• Egg rings
• Can opener
• Sterak knives
• Scissors
• Spatula
• BBQ utensils

Other Useful Items

• Aluminum Foil
• Drinking water hose
• Annexe matting
• Cling wrap
• Sullage hose
• 15 amp power lead
• Zip lock bags
• Wheel chocks & levelling blocks
• Annexe walls

Before you leave

• Pack the van
• Check van and car insurance is up to date
• Confirm bookings at caravan parks
• Check caravan rego
• Ensure all lights and ESC is operating
• Check tyre pressure and torque wheel nuts to Jayco’s specifications before and after each trip.
• When attaching the caravan to the car ensure: the couplings are locked, the chains are secured and the electric brakes are working.
• If your van has a breakaway system, ensure this is attached to your car too.

Inside the Caravan or RV you need to check the following:

• All roof hatches are closed and locked down.
• All cupboards and drawers are latched closed.
• All windows shut and locked.
• All loose items secured.
• All lights are turned off.
• Fridge switched to 12V.
• Fridge closed and locked securely.
•  Breakaway battery charged.
• Slide out bed/lounges are closed/locked.

External things to check.

• Gas bottles turned off.
• Ensure Caravan or RV is not overloaded and does not exceed your towing limit.
• Stabilizer legs up.
• Roof latches locked down (pop-tops and camper trailers)
• Main door shut and locked.
• Lock all external doors and hatches to ensure they don’t open while travelling.
• Tyres pumped up
• Wheel nuts torqued to correct settings
• Water tanks filled
• Water hoses disconnected
• Power leads disconnected.
• Tow ball tightly secured.

The manufacturer of your towing vehicle has placed a rating on the vehicle which must be adhered to with regard to the
weight of the unit you are towing. By becoming familiar with the specifications of your vehicle and the weight of your
caravan or RV, you can avoid the hassles of having it tow poorly and also the possibility of having your insurance voided.
The Compliance plate on your Caravan or RV is stamped with several codes and numbers. This compliance plate must
stay attached to the Caravan or RV and can not be altered in any way. The Manufacturer’s name will be visible as well as
the month and year of manufacture.
There are 4 important weights stamped into the compliance plate and they are the:
ATM (Aggregate Trailer Mass), the GTM (Gross Trailer Mass), the Tare Mass and the Tow Ball Mass.
·· The ATM is the total weight that your Caravan or RV may be fully laden. This weight includes the tow ball mass and
your personal effects. This ATM is specified by the Caravan or RV manufacturer and must not be exceeded or you may
void any warranty and insurance.
·· The GTM is the total permissible mass which includes your personal effects that can be supported by the wheels. This
does not include the weight that can be supported by the tow ball.
·· The Tare Mass is the unladen weight of your Caravan or RV. This is the starting weight and will not include things like
fresh water, where tanks are fitted, gas bottle(s), any other after market accessories and your personal effects.
·· The Tow Ball Mass is the weight applied to the rear of the towing vehicle via the tow ball through the coupling.

Vehicle Towing Capacity
Vehicle towing capacity is something that every person planning to tow should know. Different vehicles have different
towing capabilities, so make sure that you’re aware of your vehicle’s towing capacity.
Your vehicle’s towing capacity is the maximum amount of weight it can pull without damaging your car or impairing your
ability to handle it. Towing too much weight can make it harder to stop your car or avoid road obstacles. It can also
damage your wheel bearings, brakes, transmission, engine, and axle.
In general, the manufacturer establishes the towing capacity of a vehicle, and towing too much weight may actually void
your vehicle’s warranty. Luckily, there are good sources for information about your vehicle’s towing capacity.
Most new car manufacturers include towing capacity in the owner’s manual, and this is probably your best source for this
information. If you own a used car that came without a manual or if you have misplaced your owner’s manual, you can
look up a manual online or contact the vehicle manufacturer for more information.
If you can’t find your manual or simply want to confirm towing capacity for your vehicle, another great resource is your
vehicle’s compliance certification label. You’ll find this label someplace near the driver’s door.
The compliance certification label will provide information about the maximum safe weight of your vehicle. While there are
several ways to define the maximum weight, you need to know your vehicle’s gross combination weight rating. The gross
combination weight rating includes the weight of your vehicle, all passengers, typical fluids like gasoline, cargo weight, and
the total weight of your trailer. In order to avoid damaging your vehicle, you need to ensure that you do not exceed the
allowable gross combination weight rating for your car.
Towing requires practice. Your car will handle differently when it is pulling a load, so it’s a good idea to get a feel for the
car before heading out on the road. It’s important to learn everything you can about how your vehicle tows. Now that you
know the answer to the question, “How much weight can my car tow?” you’re on your way to safely towing your caravan.

Spares.

Your Caravan or RV runs on both 12V & 240V power
depending on your appliance type.
240V power enters your Caravan or RV through the power inlet usually situated on the road side of your Caravan or RV.
POWER CONVERTER
You need an approved 15amp to 10amp power converter to plug any 15amp lead into a 10amp socket. The converter has a 10amp breaker on it so if the current draw is greater than that of the breaker it will simply turn off. This means that you will eliminate the chance of over loading your electrical circuit. Illegal methods of plugging 15amp leads into 10amp sockets could result in fire, loss of property and if proven you will be without insurance to cover. You will need an approved converter which can be purchased from our Spare Parts & Accessories Department.

How this works:
It has an internal unit/ battery inside your RV and a breakaway switch on the A-frame. If the RV breaks away and the switch is pulled, the unit will activate the electric brakes and stop lights automatically. An orange light
means the RV is plugged in and operating/charging and the system is working correctly.
There is a test button located on the front of the unit that can be used to test the system and check the battery charge.
Note: The breakaway battery must be charged by the towing vehicle and in NSW a monitor is required in the tow vehicle to monitor that battery.
You can check that the breakaway system works by periodically pulling the pin on the A frame when not on your car and ensuring brakes are engaged.

If your fridge is a 3-way fridge you will not hear it running. Turn it on and wait a couple of hours. Test it by placing your hand on the bottom of the freezer and you will feel it getting cold. It is always a good idea to turn the fridge to 240 power a day or two before you plan to leave. Some other things to check:
·· Check that it is plugged into the power point.
·· Check that you have gas in the bottles if running on gas.
·· Ensure that the Caravan or RV is level across and from length to length.