What should I do if my caravan starts snaking?

Ease off the accelerator smoothly, keep the steering straight and let the outfit slow itself. Do not brake hard or steer against the oscillation.

How old is too old for a caravan tyre?

Many manufacturers recommend replacement at around five to seven years regardless of tread, because caravan tyres degrade from standing and sunlight rather than mileage.

Can a recovery truck take both the car and the caravan?

Sometimes, with a large enough unit, but it is often handled as two movements. Give the operator both vehicles' weights when you call.

Can anyone travel inside a caravan while it is towed?

No. It is not permitted for anyone to ride inside a caravan being towed or transported.

Why do caravan brakes bind after standing?

Corrosion on the drums and shoes after months of standing is the usual cause. It gives hot wheels and a burning smell, and it needs attention before travelling.

Caravan and Trailer Breakdown Guide: Safe Steps to Take

If the outfit starts to snake

Snaking is the side to side oscillation that builds up behind a towing vehicle, usually triggered by speed, a crosswind, a passing lorry or poor loading. The instinct to brake hard or steer against it makes it worse. Instead, ease off the accelerator smoothly, keep the steering as straight as you can, and let the outfit slow itself until the oscillation damps out. Once stopped safely, check the nose weight and the load distribution, because snaking is usually a symptom of too little weight over the coupling or heavy items loaded behind the caravan axle.

Tyre failures

Caravan and trailer tyres often fail from age rather than mileage, because a unit stands for months at a time and the rubber degrades in sunlight. A blowout on a single axle caravan is immediately noticeable, while on a twin axle it can go unnoticed until the tyre disintegrates and damages the wheel arch and brake lines. Check the date code on the sidewall and replace tyres that are more than about five to seven years old regardless of tread, and check pressures cold before every trip, including the spare.

Stopping safely with an outfit

You need far more room than usual, both to slow down and to pull clear of the carriageway. Look well ahead for a layby, a service area or a slip road rather than stopping at the first opportunity. Get as far left as possible, hazard lights on, and remember that the caravan will sit further into the running lane than your car does. Everyone should leave through the nearside and stand behind the barrier. Do not stand between the car and the caravan, and do not attempt to unhitch beside live traffic.

Coupling and brake problems

Common faults include a stuck or seized handbrake after standing, an overrun brake that binds and overheats, a breakaway cable that has been pulled and applied the brakes, a corroded coupling head that will not seat properly, and jockey wheels that collapse. Binding brakes give a burning smell and hot wheel rims, and continuing can cause a fire. A caravan or trailer with a coupling fault should not be moved by rope, cord or improvisation, because a detached trailer on a public road is extremely dangerous.

How recovery of an outfit works

Recovering a car with a caravan is usually two jobs, and it is worth expecting that. If the towing vehicle has failed, the car may be loaded and the caravan towed separately by a suitable vehicle, or a larger recovery unit may take both. If the caravan or trailer has failed, the car can often continue once the trailer is dealt with. Weight is the deciding factor, and operators need the caravan's maximum technically permissible laden mass along with the car's details before they can send the right truck. Tell them clearly on the first call that there are two units.

Where the caravan goes

Storage is the awkward part. Caravan storage sites usually require prior arrangement and cannot accept a unit at midnight, and most domestic driveways will not take one. Think about the destination before the truck arrives: a dealer, a repair specialist, a storage site or a friend's yard. If the caravan is habitable and you are on a long trip, ask the operator what is possible, but be aware that nobody may travel inside a caravan while it is being towed or transported.

Preventing the most common failures

Before each trip, check tyre age and pressures on both the car and the caravan, test the lights on the trailer board, confirm the breakaway cable is correctly attached to a solid anchor point rather than looped over the ball, and verify nose weight with a gauge. Service the caravan annually, including the brakes and bearings, because wheel bearing failure is one of the more dramatic roadside faults. Load heavy items low and over the axle, and keep to the reduced speed limits, which exist because an outfit behaves very differently at 60 than at 50.

Frequently asked questions

What should I do if my caravan starts snaking?: Ease off the accelerator smoothly, keep the steering straight and let the outfit slow itself. Do not brake hard or steer against the oscillation.
How old is too old for a caravan tyre?: Many manufacturers recommend replacement at around five to seven years regardless of tread, because caravan tyres degrade from standing and sunlight rather than mileage.
Can a recovery truck take both the car and the caravan?: Sometimes, with a large enough unit, but it is often handled as two movements. Give the operator both vehicles' weights when you call.
Can anyone travel inside a caravan while it is towed?: No. It is not permitted for anyone to ride inside a caravan being towed or transported.
Why do caravan brakes bind after standing?: Corrosion on the drums and shoes after months of standing is the usual cause. It gives hot wheels and a burning smell, and it needs attention before travelling.

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Call 07402 666 687

Caravan and trailer breakdown: what to do