Caravan weights

Once you have booked your holiday, checked that you have sufficient caravan insurance cover and are ready to hit the road, you will need to think about how you are going to load your caravan and what limits there are. If the weight of your caravan is too heavy, then this can result in an accident. Therefore, it is vital that you have just the right weight distribution.

Caravans come with Mass in Running Order (MIRO), Maximum Technically Permitted Laden Mass (MTPLM) and other weight statistics. It is vital that you know the correct weight limits of your caravan in order to keep yourself, your family and other road users safe.

The Mass in Running Order reflects the weight of your caravan after it is produced at the factory. The Maximum Technically Permitted Laden Mass shows the most your caravan can weigh. Caravans also have a predetermined payload, which is the maximum combined weight of the items you load into your caravan and a nose weight limit, which is the greatest amount you can place on the towball of your car.

When loading your caravan, it is vital that you follow the weight limits imposed by the manufacturer. Overloading your caravan will not only lead to you having an accident but may also invalidate your caravan insurance policy.

There are a number of steps that you can take to ensure the weight of your caravan is suitable, including keeping the weight load of your caravan low and over or in front of the axle. It is vital that you avoid loading heavy items at the back of the caravan, as this can cause snaking. Snaking is when the caravan begins to sway from side to side and can lead to difficulty controlling it.

Heavy items should be loaded directly onto the floor of the caravan and not high up in the cupboards. Caravan cupboards and lockers should only be used to store light items.

Like heavy items, medium weight items should be placed on the floor and equally distributed between the back and front. Rather than placing all your clothes together in the same wardrobe, spread them out around the caravan and then store them in the wardrobe when you arrive at your destination.

When travelling, water must not be left in your water tanks and the toilet flush tank must be empty. Water left in the tanks could cause the caravan to be unstable as it will move around when travelling.

Making sure that items are wedged in your caravan so that they cannot move around will help to reduce the risk of them becoming damaged. Items that are left to move around can make your caravan unsteady and be dangerous. Gas cylinders must be kept upright for safety and kept secure so that they cannot become loose. Water containers with their caps missing or upset chemical toilets can also cause damage. Items that are breakable should be stored safely, as the door and drawer catches could become loose when swerving on the road.

To reduce weight, you should consider storing heavy items in your car rather than your caravan, especially if there are only two people travelling in the car, as this will help to balance weight.

Before you set off, you may wish to think about whether some of the items you are taking are necessary. If not, then you can reduce the weight of your caravan by leaving the unnecessary items at home. Taking fewer items also reduces the time you spend packing and unpacking, allowing you to spend more time enjoying your holiday.

To know more about caravan weights visit clubcare insurance at http://www.clubcareinsurance.co.uk/caravan-weights-know-your-limits