Towing a caravan or camper trailer for the first time in Australia is an exciting experience that opens the door to adventure, road trips, and exploring the stunning Australian landscape. A camper trailer or caravan hire gives you so much extra space, comfort and the flexibility to leave your “home” to explore the area in your vehicle without the need to pack down every time.
While it might seem daunting initially, with a little preparation and practice, you’ll soon find that towing is a smooth and enjoyable skill to master. Here’s a guide by Crikey Camper Hire Perth to help you get started on your camper or caravan hire journey.
Know Your Vehicle and Trailer Compatibility
The first step in towing a caravan or camper trailer is ensuring your vehicle is equipped to handle it. In Australia, vehicles have a specified towing capacity, which tells you how much weight they can safely tow. Check your vehicle’s manual or consult the manufacturer’s website to confirm the towing capacity. Once you know your car can handle the weight of the trailer, make sure your tow bar and hitch are correctly fitted, and that your vehicle has the appropriate tow ball size for the trailer.
Thankfully, at Crikey Camperhire in Perth, we take all the stress out by providing a 4WD and Caravan or 4WD and Off Road Safari Camper that complies with all the weights, towing capacity and tow hitch specifications, so all this is done for you, meaning you can take your Caravan or Camper Hire in Perth straight on the road!
Connect the Electrics with Ease
Connecting the electrics is a simple but important step. In Australia, most caravans and trailers use a 7-pin or 12-pin plug to connect to your vehicle. These plugs control the trailer’s lights, indicators, and electric brakes—all legal requirements when travelling on Western Australian roads. Plug the trailer’s connector into your vehicle’s socket, ensuring it is secure. Then, check that the trailer’s lights, including brake lights, indicators, and tail lights, are all working properly. If your trailer has electric brakes, you may need to adjust your brake controller to ensure smooth and safe braking. It’s a quick task, and once you’ve done it once, it’ll feel like second nature.
At Crikey Camperhire in Perth, we will show you everything you need to know about “Hitching Up” your towing vehicle and how to check everything is working before you pull out of our Perth depot.
Load Your Trailer for a Balanced Ride
Proper loading is key to a stable and comfortable towing experience. When you load your caravan or camper trailer, place heavier items low and centrally and lighter items towards the front and rear. This helps maintain a balanced and stable tow. Keep in mind that your load should be well within the weight limits of your vehicle and trailer, but you’ll quickly get the hang of packing your gear in a way that ensures the trailer remains balanced and easy to tow.
Should you rent one of our Crikey 4WD & caravan hire Perth packages or 4WD and Camper trailer packages, all you need to consider is where to place your luggage. Our caravans and off-road campers are already set up with equipment positioned to ensure correct weight distribution to ensure a balanced towing experience.
Drive with Confidence
After you have picked up your caravan or camper hire in Perth and you’re on the road, you’ll quickly realise that towing isn’t as difficult as it seems. Start by driving at a comfortable speed, remembering that your caravan or camper trailer will require more space for turning and braking. In just a short time, you’ll become accustomed to how your vehicle and trailer move together.
Keep an eye on the road and adjust your speed to suit the conditions, especially on windy roads or hilly terrain. Driving slowly and steadily, you’ll feel confident in handling your new towing setup. Check your extended mirrors regularly to ensure your caravan or camper is within the white lines of the lanes. When you need to change lanes, always check your mirrors to ensure there are no vehicles alongside the tow vehicle or the caravan and allow them to pass. Indicate your intention to move lanes or make a turn early (long indication), which alerts motorists behind you not to take up the lane space you are about to move into. Then gradually move into the lane so motorists can easily identify your manoeuvre.
Practice Makes Perfect
While towing for the first time might seem overwhelming, the best part is that by the end of your first day, you’ll feel much more comfortable. Take a few moments to practice reversing and parking in a quiet area, as these are great skills to develop. After a short time, you’ll find that your confidence grows, and towing becomes an effortless part of your Australian adventures.
The team at Crikeycamperhire.com.au will provide you with all the essential information in a minimum 1-hour demonstration to get you started.
Still not sure? We will take you for a short caravan or camper towing lesson if need be so you leave our Perth depot with lots of confidence.
Camper Trailer and Caravan Hire Perth with Crikey!
Towing a caravan or camper trailer in Australia is easier than you think, and with just a little preparation and practice, you’ll soon feel like a pro. From connecting the electrics to driving with confidence, the process is simple and enjoyable.
Embrace the freedom of the open road, and you’ll be exploring Australia in no time, all while towing with ease! Contact our Perth Caravan and Camper Hire Depot today to book your next adventure!
