Most caravan accidents and breakdowns are preventable. This comprehensive pre-departure checklist — drawn from RVSafe's official resources — covers everything you need to check before every trip.
Most caravan accidents and breakdowns are preventable. The difference between a trip that goes smoothly and one that ends in disaster is often nothing more than a thorough pre-departure inspection. This comprehensive checklist, drawn from the RVSafe Road Safety Project's guidance for Australian caravanners, covers everything you need to check before every trip — whether it's a weekend away or a three-month lap.
Why a Checklist Matters
Experienced caravanners know that the excitement of departure day is also the time when things get forgotten. The coupling that wasn't fully locked. The stabiliser leg that wasn't fully retracted. The tyre that was already low. The gas that wasn't turned off. These aren't rookie mistakes — they happen to experienced owners who are rushing or distracted.
A systematic checklist removes the dependency on memory and makes critical safety checks routine rather than optional.
Section 1: Tow Vehicle
Mechanical
- Engine oil level
- Coolant level
- Brake fluid level
- Power steering fluid (if applicable)
- Windscreen washer fluid
- All four tyres at correct pressure (cold) — including spare
- Tyre condition — no cracks, cuts, or bulges
- All lights functioning (headlights, indicators, brake lights, reversing)
Towing Equipment
- Tow bar bolts checked and tight
- Tow ball grease applied
- Electric brake controller powered and calibrated
- Towing mirrors fitted and adjusted
Section 2: Coupling and Connection
- Coupling head fully seated on tow ball — no gap between coupling and ball
- Coupling locking lever or pin engaged and secured
- Safety chains attached in cross pattern with appropriate sag — not dragging
- Breakaway cable connected (if fitted)
- Electrical plug connected and seated
- Jockey wheel fully wound up and secured
- Tow ball download checked (weigh or estimate based on loaded contents)
Before driving, do a gentle manual test: With the handbrake off and the vehicle in park, try to lift the coupling by hand. If it lifts off the ball, it's not locked.
Section 3: Caravan Exterior
- All stabiliser legs fully retracted
- All hatches and external storage compartments latched and locked
- Awning fully retracted and secured
- Aerial, satellite dish, or external antenna lowered and stowed
- External TV antenna lowered
- Any door mats or external items stowed
- Step retracted
- All external water connections disconnected
- Power cord disconnected and stowed
- All windows closed and secured
- Tyre pressures checked on all caravan wheels (including spare)
- Tyre condition — no visible damage
- Wheel nut tightness (particularly important after a wheel has been removed)
- Caravan lights working — running lights, brake lights, indicators (test with someone watching)
Section 4: Caravan Interior
- All overhead lockers closed and latched
- Fridge secured on travel mode (door latched)
- Microwave door closed and latched
- Oven secured
- All loose items secured, packed into drawers or cupboards — nothing that can become a projectile
- Chairs and tables folded and stowed
- Bed cushions secured or stowed
- All water taps turned off
- Hot water system switched to travel mode (if applicable)
- Gas bottles turned OFF at the bottle (not just at the appliance)
- Gas detector armed (if fitted)
- Smoke detector operational
- Fire extinguisher accessible and in date
- Battery isolation switch set correctly for travel
- Solar regulator checked — battery charge level adequate
Section 5: Load and Weight
- Heavy items are positioned over or forward of the axle(s), not in the rear
- Weight distribution is even left to right
- Tow ball download is within specification (8–12% of loaded ATM)
- Vehicle GVM not exceeded
- Caravan ATM not exceeded
If you haven't weighed your loaded rig recently, consider getting it weighed before a long trip. The cost of a weighbridge visit ($10–$20) is small compared to the consequences of running over limits.
Section 6: Safety Equipment
- Fire extinguisher present and in date
- First aid kit present and stocked
- Emergency triangle or warning device
- Torch (with fresh batteries)
- Tyre changing equipment — jack, wheel brace, spare tyre at correct pressure
- Emergency water supply for breakdown scenarios
- Mobile phone and car charger
- UHF radio (if carried) — charged and programmed to Channel 40 (road information)
- EPIRB or PLB if travelling in remote areas
- Emergency contacts list (roadside assistance, insurance, next of kin)
Section 7: After Driving 50km — Check Again
On your first trip of any journey, stop after approximately 50km and do a walk-around check:
- Coupling still secure
- No unusual heat from wheel bearings (carefully touch the hub — not the disc or drum)
- All lights still functioning
- No signs of anything dragging, trailing, or loose
This is particularly important at the start of a new trip and after the van has been serviced or had wheels removed.
Printable Version
The RVSafe project offers a downloadable pre-holiday safety checklist on their website — it's worth printing and laminating for your glovebox.
If you're buying a caravan and want to see one that's been properly maintained, browse verified listings from private sellers and dealers on Camplify Xchange — many include service histories and Camplify hire performance records.
Part of the Camplify Xchange editorial team, sharing expert RV advice for Australian adventurers.
