Touring Caravan
Information for new owners
Arrive at the site
Book your site in advance so that you are sure of getting a pitch for a weekend retreat. Once booked in at the site, it’s time to then check out the pitch availability. Look for a level and easy access pitch and where the sun will be at certain times of day, so drive round slowly and check out where you most want to be. Some parks though will designate a pitch for you.
Once you have found your ideal pitch check where you need to be with your caravan by the marker. This gravel pitch is relatively level and will drain well in wet weather.
In the old days it was a case of pitching your tourer by brute force; no reversing aids were readily available but now let the car do the work. Don’t be tempted to do this manoeuvre on your own if a complete novice (I remember bashing a few rear road light lens in my time!) Get someone to stand at the rear but also to one side, so you can see them waving their arms around!
First Outing – Caravan square and level
Once relatively square on the pitch, it’s then unhitching the caravan from the car.
Put the caravan’s hand brake on and then unclip safety wire.
Unplug the road light plugs.
Unclamp the jockey wheel to drop in to place and then retighten.
Disengage the stabiliser, then proceed to wind the jockey wheel while holding on the coupling leaver.
The coupling should just drop off the car’s tow ball and then you can move the car out of the way.
Next job is getting the caravan level. If the axle line is over to one side, you will need to put a levelling block underneath to level it up and then it’s a case of using the jockey wheel to lower or heighten the nose.
If you haven’t got a level indicator, then a washing up bottle will make a useful standby. Put the bottle on the floor by the entrance door and adjust the levels again as needed.
Once satisfied with the correct level, wind down the corner steadies so they press firmly into the ground. Use wooden blocks as a firm surface for the leg to go on if you’re on grass.
Pictures and words © Andrew Jenkinson 2009