Driving with Camping Trailers and Caravans
One of the first thoughts for a first timer buying or renting a camper trailer/caravan is whether a 4WD vehicle together with a camper trailer/caravan can be driven without any problems. Unless you have driven large trucks or buses beforehand, you probably will not be used to the length and it could take a while to adjust. Moreover, the difference in acceleration, greater drag in uphill scenarios and bigger push in downhill situations, and the swaying of the towed camper trailer/caravan points to one conclusion: you need to be as careful as you can when driving it for the first time, especially if you are driving on a busy road.
Beginners report a few problems and these are mostly caused by not being familiar with the driving technique, not having the right towing equipment, improper loading, and incompatibility of the car and camper trailer/caravan. Once technical problems are sorted out, driving with a camper trailer/caravan can be simpler than imagined. But of course, there are many things that need to me kept in mind because it is not just a care you are driving. Outlined below are things you need to keep in mind in different driving scenarios:
Imagine yourself at the starting position on a 100m sprint. Now imagine yourself tied to a heavy iron ball. Obviously, you would not sprint off right away like you normally would; it would only use up energy unnecessarily without making much progress. Plus, you might break something. You would have to sacrifice acceleration for power. Similarly, when towing caravan camper trailers, do not press hard on the accelerator, let the first gear take its time, then the second gear, and only when the vehicle finally has good momentum use the higher gears.
It is not a good idea to drive the vehicle too fast when towing. As speed grows, so does the momentum, and with big weights the momentum can become quite dangerous. One misjudged sharp turn can potentially lead to an accident. It is also recommended that you keep a large distance between yourself and any vehicle in front of you. Because of the extra momentum caused by the extra weight, the brakes are less efficient than when driving a car by itself. Also, with more space in front, it is easier for other vehicles to overtake you.
As the acceleration is considerably reduced, overtaking vehicles in fairly busy roads can be quite risky. As the length is doubled as well, it takes more than twice the time to overtake than doing it with just a car. All this needs to be taken into consideration, and when pulling back into the left lane, you need to check your rear-view mirrors to make sure the end is past as well. Overtaking on any kind of a slope should be avoided.
Your vehicle will be overtaken often, as you should be driving a bit slower than cars anyway. To make this, sometimes, risky maneuver as safe as possible for all parties involved keep an eye on the rear-view mirror and try to keep to the left. The overtaking will be the safest and quickest when the speed difference is large and there is a lot of space for the overtaking car. Also, unless absolutely necessary, do not push on the brakes as this could sway the camp trailer or caravan and the vehicle.
Before going uphill, increase the speed of the vehicle a bit such that it has the momentum to push itself uphill. Do not overdo this though. If the vehicle speed drops drastically once it is on the slope, switch to a lower gear. It will take the engine considerable effort to drag the camp trailer or caravan uphill once the speed slows down considerably, therefore the first suggestion.
Downhill is a completely different matter. Speed and acceleration are not recommended for downhill. It is better to drive in low gear so as to control the speed. This also reduces the risk of having to press hard on the brakes, which easily sways camp trailers or caravans and could prove disastrous.
But on a lighter note, if basic techniques are followed, you should have a stress-free drive and a relaxing outing.
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