Most caravan owners don’t set out to tow an unsafe rig. It happens gradually, a tyre that’s a bit older than it should be, a hitch that’s had a knock, a van that’s been sitting unused for a season. On their own, these things can seem minor. Together, on a highway at 100km/h, they can turn into a serious hazard for you and everyone else on the road.
If you’re planning a trip on the Sunshine Coast, or you’ve bought a van you haven’t towed yet, it’s worth knowing the warning signs before you hook up and go. Here’s what to look for, and what your options are if your caravan isn’t fit to tow right now.
1. Damage to the hitch, coupling, or safety chains
The hitch is the single point holding your caravan to your car. Rust, cracks, a coupling that doesn’t lock firmly, or safety chains that are stretched, corroded, or under-rated for the van’s weight are all reasons to stop and get it checked rather than risk it. A hitch failure at speed can mean losing the caravan entirely.
2. Uneven or excessive tyre wear
Caravan tyres often age out before they wear out, vans can sit for months between trips, and tyres degrade with time even when the tread looks fine. Cracking on the sidewalls, uneven wear patterns, or tyres older than 5-6 years are all red flags. A blowout while towing is one of the more common causes of caravan rollovers.
3. Sway or fishtailing at highway speed
If your van has started swaying behind the car, especially when passed by trucks or in crosswinds, that’s not something to “drive through.” Sway can come from incorrect weight distribution, a worn hitch, or a mismatch between the van and tow vehicle, and it tends to get worse, not better, the longer you keep driving.
4. The van is overweight or poorly loaded
Every caravan and tow vehicle combination has weight limits, Gross Vehicle Mass, tow ball weight, and the towing capacity of the car itself. A van loaded too heavy, or with too much weight at the back, changes how it handles and brakes. If you’re not sure your setup is within limits, that uncertainty alone is worth addressing before you tow.
5. Brakes or electric brake controller not working properly
Most caravans over a certain weight are required to have their own brakes, synced to the tow vehicle via a brake controller. If the controller isn’t wired correctly, or the van’s brakes aren’t engaging, your stopping distance increases dramatically, and so does the risk of the van pushing into the back of your car under brakes.
6. It’s unregistered or hasn’t passed a roadworthy check
An unregistered or non-roadworthy caravan generally shouldn’t be towed on public roads at all, even for a short distance. This comes up a lot with vans that have been sitting in storage, recently purchased, or taken off the road for repairs.
7. You no longer have a suitable tow vehicle
Sometimes the caravan is fine, it’s the situation that’s changed. A tow vehicle breaks down, gets sold, or simply isn’t rated to tow the van safely. Towing with an underpowered or unsuitable vehicle creates many of the same risks as towing a faulty van.
What to do instead of towing it anyway
If any of the above sounds familiar, the safer option is usually to have the caravan transported rather than towed, using a tilt tray rather than relying on the van’s own wheels, hitch, and brakes to get it where it needs to go.
This is exactly the kind of job we handle regularly at Sunshine Coast Tilt Tray & Towing. We transport caravans and campervans that are:
- Unregistered or between roadworthy checks
- Non-running or recently repaired
- Newly purchased and not yet towed by their new owner
- Affected by hitch, tyre, or brake issues
- Left without a suitable tow vehicle after a breakdown or sale
Because the van is loaded and carried rather than towed, a lot of the risks above simply don’t apply during transport, there’s no hitch under load, no brakes to sync, and no sway to manage.
Not sure if your caravan is safe to tow?
If you’re weighing up whether to tow it yourself or have it transported, we’re happy to talk through your situation and advise on what’s possible.
Get in touch with Sunshine Coast Tilt Tray & Towing on 0420 262 344, or request a quick quote online.
Need Tilt Tray Transport and Towing Sunshine Coast Services Today?
For urgent breakdowns or time‑sensitive tilt tray transport, the fastest way to book your transport and towing needs is to call us directly. We provide fast response times and fully insured services across the region.