First Caravan Tour Checklist: Everything You Need

Before You Leave Home: The Pre-Flight Check

Preparation is the difference between a relaxing getaway and a stressful ordeal. Before you hitch up your caravan, run through these critical safety checks to ensure your 2026 season starts smoothly.

Vehicle & Towing Checks

• Tyre Pressures: Check both the car and caravan. Caravan tyres often require significantly higher pressures than standard cars; consult your owner's manual or the plaque inside the gas locker.
• Tyre Condition: Inspect for cracks in the sidewalls (common in caravans that sit stationary) and ensure tread depth is at least 1.6mm. Experts recommend replacing caravan tyres every 5-7 years regardless of tread.
• Lighting Rig: Test indicators, brake lights, and fog lights. A helper is essential here, or use a reflective surface behind the van.
• Towing Mirrors: Ensure they are fitted and provide a clear view down the full length of the caravan. This is a legal requirement in the UK if your caravan is wider than your car.
• Noseweight: Use a noseweight gauge to ensure the hitch weight is within the limits of both your car's towball and the caravan chassis (typically 50kg-100kg).

Caravan Interior & Exterior

• Weight Distribution: Heavy items (like awnings or batteries) should be stored low down and directly over the axle. For help with weight limits, use our Caravan Towing Calculator.
• Security: Close and lock all windows, roof lights, and the main door. Ensure the fridge door is latched in the 'travel' position.
• Gas Safety: Ensure gas bottles are turned off at the cylinder valve and properly secured in the locker. Never travel with the gas on unless your van is fitted with a crash-safe regulator (like a Truma MonoControl).
• Utilities: Drain the water heater and empty the toilet cassette to save weight and prevent spills during transit.
• Hitching: Double-check the hitch is clicked into place (green indicator showing), the breakaway cable is correctly looped, and the jockey wheel is fully raised and secured.

Essential Kit to Pack

Whether you are heading out in a compact Swift Basecamp Plus or a luxury twin-axle Bailey Unicorn Cartagena, these essentials remain the same.

For Pitching & Utilities

• Electric Hook-up (EHU): A 25m orange cable is the UK standard. Always uncoil it fully to prevent overheating.
• Water Management: An Aquaroll (fresh) and Wastemaster (grey water) are the gold standard for UK sites. Don't forget the submersible pump and a spare fuse for it.
• Levelling: A spirit level (placed on the floor or A-frame) and stepped levelling ramps.
• Steady Pads: Also known as 'elephant feet', these prevent corner steadies from sinking into soft grass.

For Living & Comfort

• Toilet Chemicals: Blue or green fluid for the waste tank and pink for the flush (if applicable). Many modern sites now prefer 'green' eco-friendly chemicals.
• Kitchen Essentials: Lightweight melamine crockery, a whistling kettle, and a long-reach lighter for the hob.
• Bedding: Consider a fitted caravan-shaped sheet if you have a fixed-bed model like the Elddis Riva 554 or a fixed island bed layout.

Safety and Documentation

• Alarms: Smoke and Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms are non-negotiable. Test them before every trip.
• Fire Safety: A dry powder fire extinguisher and a fire blanket. Check the expiry date on your extinguisher.
• Paperwork: Keep digital or physical copies of your insurance, breakdown cover, and CRIS registration documents.

On Arrival at the Campsite

1. The Arrival: Check in at reception. If you are a member of the Caravan and Motorhome Club, have your membership card ready.
2. The Pitch: Survey the pitch for low-hanging branches or hidden stumps before reversing. If you have a motor mover, this is the time to engage it.
3. Levelling: Level side-to-side first using a ramp, then front-to-back using the jockey wheel. Never use corner steadies to level the caravan; they are for stability only and can twist the chassis if used to lift.
4. Power: Plug into the caravan first, then the site bollard. This prevents handling a 'live' cable in wet grass.
5. Gas & Water: Turn on the gas, prime the water pump by running the taps until the air stops sputtering, and switch the fridge to 230v or Gas.

Top Tips for First-Timers

• The 'Boring' Trip: Read our guide on making your first towing trip boring (boring is good!).
• The Driveway Rehearsal: Spend a night in the caravan on your drive. You'll quickly realise you forgot the tin opener or the pillows.
• The 15-Minute Rule: Never rush the hitching or unhitching process. If you get distracted by a neighbour, start the checklist from the beginning.
• Ask for Help: The caravanning community is famously helpful. If you're struggling with an awning or a motor mover, just ask a neighbour.

Frequently Asked Questions

💡 Pro Tip: Create a laminated checklist and keep it in the 'glovebox' of your caravan. Ticking items off physically reduces the risk of forgetting the breakaway cable or leaving a skylight open.