Contrary to appearances - the operation of the caravan does not boil down only to using the charms and comforts provided by its residential part. Spacious interior made of high-quality materials - durable floor coverings, solid furniture and rich furnishings. But that's not all. Issues related to the safety of its use, especially towing it to a place of vacation, are not much less important. Driving with a caravan requires a lot more concentration, anticipation and fluency of movements from the driver than driving the car alone. The driver must take into account many factors that determine the safety of himself and other road users. The curb weight has a huge impact on the behavior of the towed trailer . The heavier our trailer is, the more we load the engine and the entire power transmission unit of the car. During deceleration, the braking system works with double force. Fortunately, only very light constructions are devoid of their own braking system - the other (heavier) trailers are equipped with an overrun brake .

How does an overrun brake work?

In some cases - when traveling in winter by car or camper on roads in mountainous regions - it may be necessary to use winter chains, which it is best to have at least "just in case". So what is worth knowing when deciding to buy such equipment?

Snow chains - what should you know?

It is during the few winter months that many caraving enthusiasts start preparing their holiday trips. Massive gathering and replenishment of equipment, marking out possible routes and stopping places - all this keeps us awake at night for a long time. Every year, many families go on a holiday trip with their little ones, which causes an avalanche of questions regarding both the equipment and the regulations regulating this very important issue. When going on a vacation trip in a motorhome with the whole family , we must first read the regulations of the countries we plan to visit. Speed limits, official formalities, rates for traveling on toll road sections - these are, next to the paragraphs regulating the conditions of transporting children, the most important information for drivers. In the entire European Union and most other countries, the law is quite restrictive on this subject. The youngest must travel in child seats adapted to their weight and height . The child must ride in a suitable car seat until the age of twelve or up to 150 cm tall .

A child traveling in a motorhome - legal requirements

Every year, caravanning attracts an increasing number of enthusiasts of spending their free time actively - without any established patterns. Unfortunately, for a very large group, purchasing a brand new camper or trailer turns out to be an investment beyond their financial capabilities. Of course, we can freely use camping equipment rentals, but nothing can replace our own home on four wheels. Taking advantage of the secondary market, full of various offers from Poland and abroad , costs several times less . Finding a copy at a convenient price should not be a major problem. Unfortunately, not every motorist wants to buy a second-hand camper for fear of poor technical condition or numerous faults.

Is it profitable to convert a bus into a campervan on your own?

Probably everyone is aware of the considerable costs that are associated with the implementation of certain passions and hobbies. Caravanning, as you know, needs considerable funds - the purchase, operation and possible repairs of campers and caravans consume significant amounts each year. No wonder that many owners of mobile homes on wheels often look for savings where they need to be. By buying cheaper, inferior quality spare parts, we can only do harm. A noticeable reduction in expenses will be brought about by minor repairs carried out by yourself.

What can we repair ourselves in a caravan or motorhome?

The vast majority of caravanning enthusiasts treat the autumn and winter months as an inter-season break, which is the perfect time to make all kinds of repairs, improvements and servicing of caravans and motorhomes. Winter is also a perfect time to start preparations for the upcoming trips. However, creating trip plans, stopping places and routes is not everything. If you have a lot of free time, it is also worth taking care of useful tourist equipment and accessories. By buying them before the season, we can save a lot.

Caravanning accessories that are worth buying before the season

Winter is the perfect time to carry out all kinds of renovations, repairs and improvements to caravans and motorhomes. We will deal with all technical problems without any problems within a few months. Nevertheless, winter is also the perfect time to start planning and organizing your holiday travels. Many drivers wonder how to do this. Of course - first of all, we should set the goal of this year's escapade. Paradoxically, this can be more difficult than the rest of the preparations. Only with a clearly chosen direction and distance , we should learn about the conditions prevailing on the campsite of our choice - access to water, bathroom, electricity . Thanks to this knowledge, we will be able to better match the equipment of the camper or caravan .

How to plan a trip with a motorhome or caravan?

"You were skiing, weren't you?" When we hear this question not after showing off photos from a successful holiday, but for good morning, it may mean that we made the basic mistake of a lover of two skis. In the era of an increasing number of metrosexual or even more metrosexual men, we still do not lack the so-called alpha males who think that male cosmetics can safely limit themselves to gray soap and wireworm. Fortunately, there is also a golden mean and men who know that when on vacation a good sunscreen or sunscreen oil with an appropriate filter should have a place in their cosmetic bag.

A day on the slopes - how to sunbathe, not burn yourself

Most caravanning enthusiasts attach great importance to the activities related to the search and selection of a new or used motorhome. Checking all on-board systems, the health of the driveline, bodywork and more - everyone knows this list. Few people put a lot of effort into selling it. By investing a few hours of our own work and a small amount, we will effectively prepare our mobile home for sale at a slightly better price. At the very beginning, it is worth emphasizing that by masking damage and any shortcomings, we will not do much. We will achieve the opposite effect by honestly and reliably informing the buyer about all serious defects of the equipment sold . In this way, we will gain trust, and we will exclude the possibility of possible complaints caused by concealing important information. Therefore, at the very beginning of the inspection, it is worth presenting dents, cracks and scratches of furniture , and tell about the mechanical repairs .

We sell a motorhome - what to do to get a better price?

The vast majority of motorhomes are used only for a few spring and summer months of the year. They spend the remaining time in garages, under shelters or in guarded parking lots - waiting for the next holiday season. Unfortunately - their owners very rarely decide on pre-winter service procedures aimed at keeping mechanical components in good technical condition. The vast majority of campers spend the winter unattended. It would seem that a few winter months of a motorhome's downtime are the best times to make all the necessary repairs and a number of other service activities. With a lot of free time at our disposal, we can confidently commission specialists to prepare our own camper for further use. Of course, we can carry out a large part of the maintenance work ourselves by devoting a Saturday afternoon.

How to take care of the mechanics of a motorhome during the winter

Every year, active leisure is becoming more popular not only in the rich countries of Western Europe. Poles are also convinced of the undeniable charms and advantages of caravanning, buying more and more motorhomes and caravans. A very wide market offer helps in the implementation of holiday plans, practically everyone will find a mobile home on two or four wheels for their pocket. The very selection of a new or used trailer is quite a challenge for the buyer, and this is only half of the dilemmas. When looking for a trailer, few people care about its curb weight, the number of axles - the most important thing is its technical condition and interior equipment. In this way, we omit a very important issue - what will we tow it with.

What criteria should I use when looking for a car to tow a trailer?

The purchase of virtually any vehicle, new or used, requires a lot of knowledge and free time needed to make the right decision. Especially the choice of usually expensive motorhome is associated with a lot of stress and financial burden for many years of its use. No wonder that before finalizing the purchase transaction, we should take a close look at a given copy - this way we will avoid serious, costly defects. At the very beginning of the motorhome inspection, it is worth taking a look at the documentation at the disposal of the current owner. The serial numbers recorded in the registration document must agree with the facts , otherwise let's look for another motorhome. In the absence of a service history, we should be more stringent, it is worth spending more time inspecting the entire vehicle. Nowadays, "creating" a new service book is not a problem. Any gaps or errors in official documents may turn out to be a big problem in the future.

View all motorhomes

Tips

How does an overrun brake work?