FAQs

Whether you are a seasoned caravanner or are looking to get into the exciting world of caravanning, you may have a number of questions.

From questions around the type of license that you need to tow a caravan to the advantages of purchasing a pre-loved caravan are all covered in our FAQ section.

We have tried to answer all of the major questions about caravans but if you have a specific question that is geared towards your personal requirements do not hesitate to get in touch with a member of our expert team and we will be more than happy to help you with any caravan related query.

You can contact us by using our online contact form on our website, telephone on: 0117 9600205 or by emailing us to: kay@kingswoodcaravans.net

Who Can Tow a Touring Caravan? Do I Need a Specific Driving License?

Towing a caravan is highly accessible to motorists that hold a standard full UK Driver’s License. Depending on the weight of the caravan that you are going to tow – you may need to take an additional category test. If you passed your test after 19th January 2013 and passed a category B test then you can tow small trailers weighing up to 750kg and a trailer over 750kg must not have a Maximum Authorised Mass of up to 3,500kg.

Surpassing this limit will mean that you will need a Category B+E License. From passing your test after 1st January 1997 and having a regular category B license you can drive a vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes or 3,500kg Maximum Authorised Mass towing a trailer of up to 750kg MAM. You can exede this with a 750kg MAM if the combined weight of trailer and vehicle does not exceed 3,500kg.

We have endeavored to ensure the accuracy of who can tow a caravan but as legislation may have changed it is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that they are driving to the legal standards at the time of travelling and under the licence that they hold.

Is Caravan Insurance a Legal Requirement?

As driving without car insurance is illegal you may want to know if it’s a legal requirement to hold caravan insurance. You do not need to have caravan insurance but it is highly recommend that you take out an insurance policy for your caravan.

This is because of the fact that your caravan is a significant investment so you will want to ensure that it is covered in-case something does go wrong. There are a number of different types of damages that can be covered by your caravan insurance such as damage from a collision or elemental damage for your peace of mind when out on the road.

Do You Need to Service Your Caravan or Pass an MOT?

Your towing vehicle will need an MOT test every year if it is older than 3 years of age as usual. Your caravan does not have to have an MOT test carried out on it but regular servicing of your caravan is recommended.

This keeps your caravan in top condition and is good to make sure that nothing is wrong with your caravan internal appliances and to give you the peace of mind that your caravan is safe to tow especially when it has been kept in storage during the off-season.

Do I Need to Maintain My Caravan?

Again we recommend that you have a regular maintenance schedule for your caravan. This may be in the form of regular servicing or other checks that you can carry out especially if your caravan has not been in use for a while. Some good regular checks are as follows:

• Carry out checks such as checks for damp in your caravan as well as ensure that you have a cleaning schedule. This will help you clean your caravan from moss and algae as well as keeping damp out.
• Check the tyres of your caravan for wear on the tread of the tyres as well as signs of a puncture or bulge in the tyre.
• Check your battery as you won’t want a flat battery when heading out on the road.
• Ensure that you have arrangements for storing your caravan in the winter.

Towing a Caravan – What are the Permitted Speed Limits?

The maximum speed permitted on a single carriageway is 50mph and 60mph on a dual carriageway or the motorway. It’s important to also bear in mind that you must not drive in the outer lane on the motorway (or fast lane as it is sometimes called) when towing a caravan.

It’s important to drive safely when you are towing your caravan as towing stability can cause issues when on the road.

How Can I Improve Towing Stability?

It’s really important to spread the weight of luggage evenly across your caravan with heavier objects being placed over the axle in the middle of the caravan and lighter objects above. Heavy objects should be kept as close to the floor as possible and they can be strapped down for extra security.

This is key to establishing a good centre of gravity which in turn improves towing stability. 

Watch out for potholes and bad weather conditions as these can decrease towing stability regardless of how the caravan is packed but a correctly packed caravan should be very stable on the road.

Towing a Caravan – Towing Safely

It’s important to seek advice or research on how to tow your caravan correctly if you have any doubts. This is because of the fact that you do not want your caravan to be dangerous while on the road.

When driving it is illegal to have any passengers in the towed caravan as this is extremely dangerous and the stability of the caravan while on the road can be compromised.

You also cannot exceed the certain weight requirements relevant to your driver’s license as mentioned earlier. This means that you do need to think about cargo and combined weights if you are close to your current category limit.

Do I Need Caravan Accessories?

There are a number of fantastic caravan accessories available for use. Ranging from awnings to caravan cleaning products and security products – we have a wide range of caravan accessories available for you to choose from.

Having the right products for you need is extremely important so it’s important to stock up before hitting the road!

Can I Hire a Caravan?

Yes! You can hire a caravan from Kingswood Caravan & Camping Centre and we are more than happy to discuss all of the options that are available.

This allows you to plan your next holiday at your own leisure and if you are unsure about the storing, purchasing or maintenance of your caravan then hiring is the perfect solution.

Caravanning holidays are a fantastic way to make memories forever so the option to hire a caravan is great if you want to learn about the experience without making a long term investment.

You can find the pricing options available on our Caravan Hire Page.

Is Caravanning Suited For Me?

If you want to enjoy fantastic holidays and join the community of 500,000+ tourers in the UK then caravanning is perfect for you. Caravanning holidays are also perfect for travelling on a budget.

This is because of the fact that you can keep costs down, you have a fully functional kitchen where you can cook meals and you can choose which events or places to visit after you have pitched up on site.

This allows you to have the odd expensive meal at a restaurant or explore a big city without worrying about breaking the bank.