Caravan Safety
Servicing
Your touring caravan needs regular servicing, even if stands next to your house for most of the year. Also, the manufacturer’s warranty requires servicing to be done on a new caravan at regular intervals.
Included in our annual service is a 'damp survey' to help identify any early signs of water ingress, and if caught early it can reduce costs of repairs.
Wheels & Tyres
Car and caravan tyres must have at least 1.6mm of tread over the central 75% of their width for their entire circumference, although a tyre with under 3mm offers little grip in the wet. Tyres must be free from deep cuts and bulges (which indicate they are breaking up) and it is illegal to use cross-ply and radial tyres on the same axle. (Make sure that the tyres you fit to your caravan are of the correct rating.) It is recommended to change tyres when they are five years old irrespective of the depth of tread, also look out for any signs of cracking on the sidewall or between the treads.
It helps to prolong tyre life if the tyres are covered fromm sunlight when the caravan is not in use.
It is important to ensure the caravan wheels are tightened to the appropriate torque setting, to avoid the danger of them becoming detached while towing. The less sophisticated suspension on caravans means that their wheels are subjected to more vibration than are car wheels, and while if a car wheel started to come loose, you would probably feel it through the steering, a loose caravan wheel would tend to go unnoticed. A torque wrench will enable you to satisfy yourself all is well prior to every journey.

Gas Safety in Caravans
Caravans must be built and regularly maintained, and gas appliances installed in accordance with the safety requirements of British Standards in order to help minimise risk to you and your family.
All Gas appliances in your caravan should be serviced annually to keep them in a safe and efficient condition. Properly maintained appliances are safe in use and should be no cause for concern.
The service should include:
Ventilation check (air inlets are clear and adequate)
Flue check (smoke spillage test)
Appliance safety devices are working correctly
Appliances are safe for further use
A check for gas leaks and condition of pipework and hoses

LPG Gas Installation Standard EN1949
LPG gas installation standard EN1949 comes into effect from the beginning of September 2003 (all 2004 models) for NCC certified caravans and motor homes. At present users require a regulator for each gas type they use, 28mbar for Butane and 37mbar for Propane. All models built after September 2003 must be fitted with an EN 12864, Annex D regulator by the manufacturer. In most cases this will be fitted to the bulkhead or gas bottle locker wall.
Will the customer need different pressure regulators, one Butane and one Propane?
The EN 12864, Annex D regulators fitted will be 30mbar to standardise with Europe and the new regulator is designed to supply Propane or Butane at this pressure.

How will I connect the new regulator to the gas cylinders?
3 new hoses (pigtails) are available from Burdens for the UK market, one for Calor 4.5 kg Butane (hexagonal nut), one for Calor 3.9kg & 6kg Propane and one M20 x M20 with an adapter for Campingaz cylinders. For 20mm & 21mm Clip On Butane cylinders adapters are available to fit the 4.5kg Butane hose. Valve sizes vary dependant on gas supplier with 21mm standard for Calor 7kg & 15kg Butane.

Purchasers of new caravans should be asked which gas they intend to use, or be supplied with all hoses as standard. The Butane connection as well as being for the UK market is also the standard connection for LPG cylinders in France, so purchasers who intend to use their caravan in France and in the UK on LPG or Propane would need to buy the Propane and Butane Pigtails.

Continental fittings?
The standard connection LPG in France is the M21.7 Butane Nut Connection.

We would recommend that for Butane on the continent that Campingaz is used as the cylinders are freely available, and can also be used in the UK. For Campingaz the M20 x M20 hose connection is required plus the Campingaz adapter. There should be no need to have a different pigtail for each country, if Campingaz is used.

PUSH ON HOSES ARE NO LONGER ALLOWED UNDER THE NEW REGULATIONS. ALL NEW HOSES MUST HAVE A THREADED CONNECTOR.

All hoses supplied by Nene Court Caravans will comply with BS3212 or BS EN 1763 and have excess flow and non-return valves for safety. These are Calor listed products.
These hoses will fit ALL regulators fitted to new vans, as the inlet size is the same regardless of the manufacturer. All new 30mbar regulators have a M20 inlet connection, and will be 450mm as specified in the standard.
The new regulators fitted will have an over pressure connection as required by EN1949.

Can the system be retro fitted?
Most caravans built in the last 10 years will have appliances manufactured to comply with the Gas Appliance Directive and these can cope with an operating pressure of 30mbar. If in doubt check the appliance data plate, instructions, or contact the manufacturer or local dealer.

It is not recommended that the new EN12864 Annex D regulator be retrofitted to a caravan or motor home manufactured before the introduction of EN1949 with appliances which have an inlet pressure of 28mbar Butane or 37mbar Propane
Break-away cable
Regularly check the cable and clip for damage. If in doubt, contact your dealer or your service agent.
Make sure the cable runs as straight as possible and goes through a cable guide underneath the trailer coupling.
Determine whether or not the towbar has a designated attachment point (i.e. a part specifically designated by its manufacturer for a breakaway cable).
When the breakaway cable is attached, check to ensure:
a) that the cable cannot snag in use on the caravan coupling head, jockey wheel, or any accessory e.g. a stabiliser, bumper shield, cycle carrier, etc.
b) that there is sufficient slack in the cable to allow the towing vehicle and caravan to articulate fully without the cable ever becoming taut and applying the brakes.
Note: For peace of mind you might wish to check the state of the cable by positioning the caravan and towing vehicle at extreme angles before setting off.
c) that it is not so slack that it can drag on the ground. If left loose, the cable may scrape along the ground and be weakened so that it subsequently fails to do its job. The cable may also be caught on an obstacle when in motion
thus engaging the caravan brakes prematurely.

Security
Immobilise your caravan, even if you're stopping only for a short time. Use good quality padlocks, heavy-duty chains and hitch locks to secure your caravan. Fix lock nuts or wheel clamps to the wheels and padlock gas cylinders to fixing clamps.
Fit an alarm and switch it on every time you leave your caravan - even if it's just for a short time.Lock windows, doors, rooflights and the gas compartment when you leave the caravan, for any length of time. Always keep the keys with you.Take all your valuables with you when you leave the caravan. If you can't, lock them away. Never leave anything on display - even an old coat can tempt a thief to have a closer look.
Never leave the vehicle registration documents in the caravan. They can help a thief to sell the caravan on.If your caravan does not already have a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) etched onto the windows you should use an ultraviolet pen to mark it inside with an identifiable number. Security mark all the valuables you usually take on holiday with you too.

If you're buying a new caravan, ask about built-in security features. All caravans manufactured since August 1997 should be electronically tagged for added security. Check it out.
If you're buying a second-hand caravan, try to verify the seller's identity and make sure the number plate on the caravan matches the one on the tow car. Also ask if it's registered with the Caravan Registration and Identification Scheme (CRiS) - if it is, you can check its history through this scheme. If it isn't, call 01722 411 430 and get it registered. If you purchase the caravan call CRiS to register the details.

Get to know your neighbours on the site when you're on holiday and think about joining a vehicle watch scheme at home.
You could fit a tracking device so that your caravan can be tracked by the police or a system operator if it is stolen.
Weights

Caravan Weight Terms
Maximum Technical Permissible Laden Weight (Maximum Authorised Weight)
As stated by the caravan manufacturer. This mass takes into account specific operating conditions including factors such as the strength of materials, loading capacity of the tyres, etc.
Mass in running order (Ex Works Weight inclusive of manufacturer's tolerances)
Mass of the caravan equipped to the manufacturer's specification.
User Payload (Caravan Allowable Payload)
The difference between the Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass and the Mass in Running Order. Payload includes essential habitation equipment, personal effects and optional equipment.
Essential Habitation Equipment
Those items and fluids required for the safe and proper functioning of the equipment for Habitation as defined by the manufacturer of the caravan
Personal Effects
Those items which a user can choose to carry in a caravan and which are not included as essential habitation equipment or optional equipment.
 Optional Equipment
Items made available by the manufacturer over and above the standard specification of the caravan

The towing vehicle
Kerbweight (Mass of vehicle in running order)
The weight of the towing vehicle as defined by the towing vehicle manufacturer.
This is normally: with a full tank of fuel; with an adequate supply of other liquids incidental to the vehicle's propulsion; without driver or passengers; without any load except loose tools and equipment with which the vehicle is normally provided; and, without any towing bracket.
Maximum Permissible Towing Mass
The weight defined by the vehicle manufacturer as being the maximum that the vehicle is designed to tow.
Train Weight (Combination weight)
The maximum permitted combined weight of the towing vehicle and trailer combination as specified by the towing vehicle manufacturer.

To establish the actual laden weight of the caravan.
The personal effects required for two people to go caravanning will probably weigh approximately 100kg in total. This may include: bedding; clothing; cooking utensils; crockery; cutlery; food; and water carrier. A further 25kg for each additional person shall be allowed for basic items.
Having established the total weight of items to be carried by the caravan, this must be added to the mass Running Order to obtain the estimated actual laden weight. If in doubt this can be done on a public weighbridge.
The address of your nearest public weighbridge may be obtained from the area Trading Standards Department (Weights and Measures). The Department's telephone number may obtained from your Local Council.

Noseweight Gauge
It is important to ensure your caravan noseweight does not exceed the car limit, so until you are adept enough to ‘know’ how loading will alter the noseweight, you need to measure it prior to every journey. The easiest way to do this is by using a proprietary noseweight gauge available in most caravan accessory shops.
Question. I am told that I can tow 85% of my car’s kerb weight. Surely I can tow up to 100 %?
Answer. The 85% figure is a recommendation, not a legal limit, given by most caravan clubs to give good power to weight ratio for towing. You can legally tow up to the car manufacturer’s towing limit. This may be in excess of 100% but only if you passed your car driving test before January 1st 1997.
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