Whether on the road or in a caravan park, there are rules all caravanners should follow while on a road trip.
If you’re new to caravanning, or just want to brush up on your caravanning manners, this guide will ensure your next trip runs smoothly.
Caravan etiquette on the road
- Keep to the left lane unless overtaking.
- Don’t unnecessarily hold up faster traffic.
- If there is a build-up of traffic behind, pull over when safe to do so and allow it to pass.
- Allow plenty of space for other traffic to pass. The law requires caravans and other large vehicles travelling outside built-up areas to leave at least 60m between each other. The distance increases to 200m in road train situations. In NSW, these rules come into effect if the road does not have streetlights.
- Consider fitting a UHF radio to communicate with other road users. This can be helpful when on narrow roads and overtaking. (Use channel 18 which is widely considered the caravan or travellers channel).
- Use indicators and give plenty of warning about your intentions.
Driving a caravan around trucks
- If a truck is behind you, maintain your speed. They’ll know when it’s safe to overtake.
- If you see a truck coming on gravel and narrow roads, slow down, pull off the road if safe to do so and allow them to stay on the bitumen.
- Do not park in truck-only rest stops.
Being courteous in a caravan park
- Be friendly to your neighbours. You all share the same site and amenities.
- Don’t walk across someone else’s site. Try to stick to the walkways where possible.
- If you’re at a pet-friendly caravan park, make sure your dog is well behaved.
- Keep noise and lights to a minimum. There’s not much separating you from your neighbour so be as courteous as possible.
- Don’t make a mess and clean up all your rubbish before you leave.
- Follow the park rules that are in place.
- Only dispose of toilet waste in designated dump stations and wash down the dump station after emptying your holding tanks.
Written and supplied by RACQ.
