Safe Caravan Towing Load: The Legal Requirements

To ensure the safety of everyone travelling Australia’s roads and highways, there are established guidelines for towing. These legal requirements must be complied with to avoid consequences such as a loss of warranty or insurance, as well as increased risk of harm to not only you but your family and others on the road.

For the purposes of this guide, the trailer reference will refer to caravans instead.

ATM - Aggregate Trailer Mass (total weight)

ATM refers to the total aggregate mass of any fully-loaded caravan that is unhitched and free standing, and includes things such as luggage, water supplies, and fuel stores. Your caravan has an ATM stamped on its Compliance Plate. That weight limit is the upper weight that is legally allowed by the company that manufactured your caravan. That cannot exceed the towing ability of your tow vehicle. You can confirm your ATM by visiting any local weigh bridge.

GTM - Gross Trailer Mass (total weight less tow ball weight)

GTM is the weight on your caravan’s axle while loaded and attached to your vehicle – minus the weight of the car, of course. As a general rule, the car assumes ten percent (at least) of the caravan load weight (your ATM) while it is connected. That means that GTM is always less than ATM. To comply with the legal requirements, your GTM cannot be higher than the legal rating assigned to the axle brakes fitted. In the event that the GTM exceeds that rating, then you will need larger brakes to come into compliance with the requirements.

TARE (nett weight)

Your Tare weight is best understood as the default weight of your caravan as it came from the factory. That is, how much it weighed before you filled it up with water tanks luggage, food, fuel storage, and everything else.

GVM - Gross Vehicle Mass (total vehicle weight)

GVM is a maximum weight established by the manufacturer of your vehicle and covers the weight of only your tow vehicle, fully loaded.

GCM – Gross Combination Mass (total vehicle and caravan weight)

The GCM is also established by the vehicle manufacturer, but represents the combined weight of both the caravan and the loaded towing vehicle.

TW – Tongue Weight ; or Tow Ball Weight (caravan weight on tow ball)

TW is the amount of weight that is applied to the car’s tow ball by your car. You can determine this using a scale built for that purpose, or simply subtract your GTM from your ATM. The tongue weight typically amounts to ten percent or more of your ATM. If your Tongue weight is too low, that can cause a loss of control and lead to the caravan swaying while you are in motion. Often times, this can be corrected by redistributing the weight inside the caravan so that everything is not located at the rear of the van.

In short…

You need to examine your compliance plates – on both the towing vehicle and your caravan – to ensure that all of your numbers align with the specifications issued by the manufacturer. An overloaded caravan can be corrected by having an authorized repair shop upgrade your ATM and GTM by providing larger electric brakes on the axle group to bring everything into compliance. You cannot, however, increase the GCM, GVM, or the tow rating – unless you tow rating is already below the maximum, in which case another tow bar can be fitted that will bring you up to the maximum.

Your first concern should always be the rating and specs for your towing vehicle to ensure that you have what you need to safely tow your caravan. That can help to eliminate the risk of accidents of the type that even the most grizzled and experienced drivers would be unable to manage.

Learn more about Caravan Towing.

Suburban Caravan Water Heaters: Reputation, Overview & Types

If you do a quick Google search asking whether to buy a caravan water heating system, you’ll likely encounter an intense debate between campers over whether hot water is necessary or simply a modern luxury.

While it’s true that most tasks can be accomplished by simply boiling water, waiting for it to cool to the right temperature or attempting to boil large amounts (to wash clothes, for example), can be tedious.

There are a variety of different caravan water heating systems currently available on the market and, as a result, an amateur camper can quickly become overwhelmed and confused.

In an effort to guide you through what has been referred to as “the murky market waters of water heating systems”, our friends over at Caravan RV Camping, Australia’s leading online superstore, have compiled a brief overview of the different types of Suburban water heating models.

Leading Brands
When it comes to high-quality caravan heating systems, two companies ultimately stand out amongst the rest. These are Atwood and Suburban. While the choice is ultimately a matter of preference, Caravan RV Camping’s experts, with over 40 years of experience in the caravan camping field, are large proponents of Suburban for a few reasons.

Suburban is intuitive in their prediction of market needs, creating vast collections of products that are compatible with almost every RV currently available. 

Suburban Heating Units: An Overview

Suburban heating units are specifically engineered with high-quality, porcelain water tanks.

Many competitor brands use lower quality metal tanks, which ultimately experience negative effects after long-term exposure to hot water.

If properly maintained, Suburban porcelain water tanks allow Suburban heating units to last anywhere from 6 to 9 years, making them a great and affordable long-term purchase.

Types of Suburban Heating Units

In general, there are 4 different kinds of Suburban heating units:

Basic

Basic Suburban heating units are run using LP gas. Although they exhibit an extremely high performance, they require lighting from outside of the RV which can prove to be annoying for some campers.

Direct Spark Ignition (DSI)

Direct Spark Ignition heating units allow the unit to be lit from inside of the caravan, eliminating the inherent hassle seen in the Basic model.  

Certain DSI models additionally allow users to connect an electric element (with the goal of saving propane) as a backup in case of emergency situations.

Re-Ignitor (and Re-Ignitor with Electric Pilot)

Re-Ignitor Suburban models go one step further and are equipped with a handy re-ignitor to relight your system if the pilot light goes out.

Like the Suburban DSI models, certain Re-Ignitor models are also compatible with an electric element to be used as a backup in case of emergencies.

Direct Spark Ignition with Motor-Aid

Direct Spark Ignition with Motor-Aid heating units are Suburban’s leading environmentally-friendly heating option.

Motor-Aid essentially provides heating by taking advantage of the natural warmth produced by your caravan’s running engine.

Although the preceding few paragraphs are just an overview, they should still provide you with a greater understanding of Suburban caravan heating systems, in general.

For any additional questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact our friends at Caravan RV Camping directly at 1800-RV-PARTS. 

Top Two Caravan Winter Storage Tips

Top Two Caravan Winter Storage Tips

Although some dedicated campers choose to live in their vehicle year round, most of us take primary advantage of our caravans during the summer months.

Caravans provide us with a great, budget-friendly option for travel, enabling Australians to become better acquainted with all of the interesting and immersive communities that surround us.

Unfortunately, while these summer months are always fun, exciting and jam-packed full of new adventures, they are also often fleeting, leaving us to wonder in awe at where the time went.

When these summer months come to an end, seasonal campers like ourselves call it quits until the hot weather emerges again the following year. Between these moments though, our caravans will need to be stored.

What follows is a few beginner tips that will help seasonal campers keep their caravans in tip-top condition during these long and endless winter months.

Choose Your Location Wisely

Your caravan is an expensive investment.

Although owners of pop-tops have the option of lowering their roofs and parking in standard garages, those of us who own conventional caravans are not quite as lucky.

Because conventional caravans are so tall, the majority will not fit in standard house garages and will have to be stored at some type of caravan storage facility.

When choosing a caravan storage facility, security should be your main concern. While an open farm field may be an inexpensive location for parking a caravan, an insecure location may end up costing you more in the long-run if your caravan ends up exposed to damage or theft.

The Caravan Storage Site Owner’s Association is a wonderful resource, listing and grading a large number of caravan sites according to country and security features.

Also, try checking out the storage site before parking your caravan.

Many sites have small, crowded plots which can make the positioning of your vehicle difficult. In this case, it may be beneficial to bring along a specialized wheel jockey or caravan maneuvering system.

Protect Your Bodywork

When it comes to storing your caravan during the winter months, the first thing you should be taking care of is the exterior.

Prior to storage, you should wash your caravan thoroughly. It doesn’t matter whether you intend to use an overwintering wax or a Camec caravan cover, in either case, a wash will still be required.

When cleaning your caravan, always be sure that you’re using specialized caravan cleaners. Avoid using a pressure washer on your caravan, as they have been known to damage bodywork and seals should spray make its way underneath the vehicle’s trim.

Check the exterior of your caravan for signs of green or black mold and eliminate it prior to storage.  Prolonged exposure to mold can eat away at a caravan’s structure, leaving gaping spaces and  nasty holes.

General Tips

·         Rotate caravan tires every 6 to 8 weeks, if possible. You may also want to look into purchasing a caravan tire cover to protect your tires from potential UV degradation.

·         Drain your caravan’s water heater and remove all gas cylinders prior to storage

·         Remove and store all batteries, including 12-volts as well as those located in accessories

Do I Need a Caravan Privacy Screen?

Do I Need a Caravan Privacy Screen?

My Story

I still remember my first caravanning expedition. My family and I packed our bags, making sure to bring everything that we could need, but especially clothes, food, games, and a sense of adventure. Despite being filled with enthusiasm, we were still quite new to the whole caravanning culture.

For our first trip, we decided to spend the weekend in what was described as a “cozy” caravan park. We wanted to try to get used to living on the road before we embarked on any longer adventures.

When we arrived at the caravan park, I was quite disappointed to realize that what had been advertised as “cozy” on the website was more accurately described as “cramped and tiny”.

The park was filled with campers of varying ages and ethnicities, milling around, joking, and walking around what had become our new weekend home. Although my children were still extremely excited for the adventure, my wife and I had been expecting just a bit more privacy during our long-awaited retreat.

Throughout the weekend, we had a complete blast, meeting new families and friends, making S’more around campfires, and visiting all the local attractions.

However, it was a lot less fun being crammed into an overheated caravan park where I couldn’t turn my head without catching sight of at least one male nipple.

As mentioned, although it was fun, my wife and I soon learned that we would be requiring something extra to obtain the relaxing and private getaway that we had originally had in mind. 

Saving You Time

As a relatively new camper, I had no idea about caravan privacy screens. If I had been aware of them, our first family caravanning trip would likely have been a lot more enjoyable.

Upon doing hours of research and testing quite a few models during our caravanning escapades, I got a good idea of the industry standards.

To save other new campers a little bit of time, I’d now like to share what I have learned about caravan privacy screens. For the more introverted camper in a crowded caravan park, privacy screens are definitely a lifesaver.

Why Do I Need a Caravan Privacy Screen?

Although some campers are perfectly fine without a caravan privacy screen, many others (including myself) find them to be a great and affordable investment.

Caravan privacy screens (sometimes referred to as caravan sunscreens) are caravan add-ons that allow you to create a shaded and private area to enjoy during your travels.

In general, there are two types of caravan sunscreens:

•         Awnings
•          Side Sunscreens

It should be noted that while many people consider awnings and privacy screens to be the same thing, awnings can only provide shade as opposed to the privacy and shade offered by a genuine privacy screen. Side sunscreens are screens that attach to a caravan’s preexisting awning, creating a private area within the space between the caravan and the screen.

High Quality Privacy Screens

In general, higher quality privacy screens will be manufactured using a thicker shade cloth.

The thickness of the screen’s shade cloth is described as “GSM” which stands for ‘grams per square meter”. A higher GSM rating means a thicker cloth and higher UV resistance.

If you think you’re the type of camper who may benefit from a caravan privacy screen, start exploring privacy screens for sale.

An Overview of the Lemair XQB22 Fully Automatic Washing Machine

An Overview of the Lemair XQB22 Fully Automatic Washing Machine

Although many larger caravans and motorhomes come pre-equipped with a caravan washing machine, smaller RVs sometimes just don’t have the room or towing capacity to accommodate a full-scale washer. If you’re in the market for a compact portable washing machine with powerful washing capabilities, then the Lemair XQB22 Fully Automatic Washing Machine may be the one for you.

The Lemair XQB22 Overview 
The Lemair XQB22 Fully Automatic Washing Machine is a compact, top-loading model, weighing in at approximately 1.8 kilograms. Like most Lemair washing machines, the XQB22 offers 3 convenient wash settings, a quiet and steady washing experience and a 2.2 kilogram load capacity.

The Lemair XQB22 Features

• Incredibly compact, making it perfect for caravans and RVs
• An RPM of 800 that quickly washes while avoiding instability and loud vibrations
• Fully automatic wash cycles, eliminating the need to rinse clothes or transfer loads
• Water level options geared towards accommodating individual load sizes
• Both regular and gentle water treatment options for soaking and washing
• Easy-to-use control buttons
• Lint filter to capture lint and forgotten items
• A convenient alarm to signal you when the wash cycle has been completed

The Lemair XQB22 Specifications

• Perfect for small and/or crowded areas
• Cold water only connection located at the rear of the washing machine
• Features three custom wash cycles
• 240V, 300 Watt
• Washing time of approximately 36 to 56 minutes, depending on the setting
• Capable of handling loads up to 2.2 kilograms
• Total weight of 1.8 kilograms
• Dimensions: 438 mm (l) x 438 mm (w) x 695 mm (h)
• Shipping weight of 20.00 kilograms

Troubleshooting Common Issues with the Lemair XQB22

If the Lemair XQB22 isn’t receiving any power, it’s likely due to a problem with one of the following parts:
• Power cord
• Power supply in wall socket
• Power switch
• Fuse
• Controller

Try re-plugging the power cord. If that doesn’t do the trick, test that the socket itself is working by plugging something else in it. If you still aren’t having any luck, the power switch, fuse, and/or controller may need to be replaced.
If you’ve gone through these items and replaced them, still not seeing any positive results, it’s likely that you may have a faulty power cord.

If your Lemair XQB22 is receiving power perfectly but just doesn’t seem to be moving or washing clothes, a few different things may be at play:
• Pressure switch
• Controller
• Capacitor
• Motor
• V-Belt
• Clutch pulley wheel
• Pressure hose
• Impeller
• Voltage
• Clutch transmission gear

To troubleshoot this problem, go through the previous list checking and, if necessary, replacing all items listed until the hose. When checking the hose, be sure to verify that it’s in good condition and properly connected.

If all of these parts seem to be okay, you may be experiencing a period of low power voltage. In this case, it’s advised that you wait until the voltage goes back to its normal level. Before sending the Lemair in for service, also be sure to check/replace the washing machine’s clutch in case of damage to the transmission gear.

Our Essentials Accessories List

Setting Up a Caravan 

You associate a caravan with long, fun-filled camping holidays. But what you have at hand is a threadbare room on wheels, most likely featuring only a bed, cupboard, counter, and hoses for drinking water and sanitation. Suddenly, you are faced with the (daunting) task of turning this trailer into a welcoming motor home, and if you’re new to the camping scene, you might be wondering where and how to begin. The following checklist covers all common caravan accessories that you will need to purchase before you can use your new motor home.

Appliances: A basic set of appliances including air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines, will serve as the groundwork for turning your new caravan into a functioning home away from home. To this repertoire you can add various kitchen appliances such as a microwave or a coffee maker.

Water Storage and Plumbing: Extra lengths of hoses, and large capacity camper trailer water tanks, will eliminate a great deal of inconvenience, such as frequent trips to acquire drinking water, and being forced to park right above the sewage dumping site whenever you need to empty your trailer’s black tank.

Personal Safety Essentials: Invest in a first aid kit, a fire extinguisher, and smoke detectors, to prevent misadventures from marring your camping experience.

Electrical Accessories: Carry surge protectors, extra fuses and power adaptors for all your devices. Also invest in a backup electrical power system such as a portable generator or a solar panel kit for essential appliances.

Utensils: Purchase space saving, durable utensils. Opt for cast iron if you’d also like to cook at a campfire, and steel if you’re purchasing an induction cooktop for your trailer’s kitchen.

Portable furniture: this would include the likes of folding chairs and tables, or an outdoor tent to sleep in during pleasant nights.

Cleaning and Maintenance: A basic wet and dry vacuum cleaner, a broom and dustpan, disinfectants and wipes, and a supply of garbage bags, will help you keep your trailer clean. Also keep a basic set of tools handy for the odd repair job that you might have to see to.

Weight distribution hitches: A fully furnished and loaded trailer can weigh a few tons. Lugging this weight without a proper towing hitch can damage your vehicle, and make driving rather difficult. Invest in a good quality weight distribution hitch that is rated for your trailer’s weight.

Protective Gear: Caravans need to be protected, both when parked and when in use. Caravan covers make for a simple and relatively inexpensive way to shield parked motor homes from the elements. You can browse through caravan & camper trailer covers with various attributes including water resistance, UV protection, breath ability and accessibility. Caravan hitch locks come in handy while you’re out camping, keeping your trailer hitch inaccessible to other towing vehicles.

There are several other camper trailer accessories that can simplify life on the road. With the items in the above checklist in place, you can move on to awnings, mats, furnishings, storage solutions and a variety of sophisticated entertainment equipment. But acquiring the essential camper trailer parts first is a good idea, especially if you’re on a tight budget. 

6 Towing Accessories Your Caravan Needs Right Away

Purchasing your very own caravan sounds like great fun. It immediately invokes the holiday mood, through promises of fun-filled road trips and camping adventures, all on your own terms. Just so you can hold on to this mood, make sure that you get the more boring technicalities out of the way. And the first of these is your towing setup. In order to be ready for your upcoming getaway, your caravan and towing vehicle will need to be outfitted with the following towing accessories:

1.         Towing hitch

A towing hitch or tow bar attaches to the chassis of your vehicle, allowing your caravan to be attached to it. Purchasing a good quality towing hitch is integral to safe and easy towing. As an additional safety measure, consider using quick release couplings at the hitching junction. These allow for quick hitching and removal of your caravan, gearing it for a smooth ride as well as for any emergency situations.

2.         Weight distribution hitch

A weight distribution hitch serves the critical function of distributing your caravan’s weight along both the front and rear axles of your towing vehicle. This in turn keeps the vehicle horizontal, protects the chassis, and makes driving easier and safer. Weight distribution hitches are rated for the caravan weight range that they can handle. Weigh your caravan before you finalise your purchase.

3.         Caravan towing mirrors

Whether you’re new to the caravanning scene, or have been taking your motor home out every summer for the past several years, a clear view of your caravan or trailer is absolutely essential while driving. Caravan towing mirrors are a vital addition to your trailer setup, and can be purchased either as separate add-ons to your car’s existing rear view mirrors, or as permanent fixtures that replace the rear view mirrors entirely.

4.         Safety chains

Safety chains are important towing accessories for your caravan, keeping it attached to your towing vehicle in the event of a coupling failure. While purchasing safety chains, ensure that the shackle (required for attaching the chains to the towing vehicle) is duly rated for the load capacity of your caravan.

5.         Braking system

Your towing vehicle’s brakes won’t always be enough to decelerate your caravan. Besides, in the event of a hitch failure, where the caravan detaches from the towing vehicle, it would need to be able to slow down on its own. All caravans, and the heavier ones in particular (weighing 2 tons or more), need to be outfitted with independent braking systems.

6.         Sway control

Caravans are susceptible to lateral movement, due to many factors such as crosswinds and sharp turns. A sway control mechanism helps keep this lateral movement in check. Many weight distribution hitches come with inbuilt friction sway controls, but you can also install one separately.

Reliable towing accessories play a crucial role in deciding how your camping road trips pan out. From durable and accurately rated weight distribution hitches, to high quality caravan towing mirrors, you can find all the requisite accessories at any caravan parts and supplies store or website.