posted by Julie on Apr 10
Copyright (c) 2009 Rhonda Budden
Even though it’s so tempting to pack your bags and head off with your off road camping trailer, you should always take certain safety precautions into account. Bear in mind that if you head out to some remote area without being properly prepared, you could find yourself faced with a disaster. If for example you have a breakdown or an accident, there’s not much chance of someone coming to your rescue if you don’t even have any means of communication. Whenever you decide to head out into the great outdoors with your camping trailer, always make sure that you take the following three safety precautions into consideration.
1) Driving Skills
If you’re going to be driving a 4WD vehicle amd towing a tent trailer, then you need to be sure that you are confident in doing so. If you’ve never driven one before then you should seriously consider a 4WD training course. For the most part, these courses are not only designed to refresh your memory and prepare you for a 4WD experience, but they’ll also teach you certain recovery techniques, and even a certain amount of vehicle maintenance. Let’s just say that if you’re unfamiliar with things such as being able to check your tyre pressure, recover your vehicle and tent trailer from deep sand, or even get across a small stream, then you should seriously consider enrolling yourself on a training course.
2) Maintenance
Never even consider heading out to remote places unless you’re absolutely sure that your vehicle and camping trailer are capable of dealing with the sort of terrain you’ll probably encounter. Ideally, you should make a point of having both your vehicle and your tent trailer inspected and serviced at a reputable service center. Even though you have your vehicle serviced before you leave, you should still make sure that you take a few spares with you in order to minimize the risk that you’ll end up getting stranded. If possible, you should consider taking two spare tyres, jumper cables, spare fuses, wire, insulation tape, some oil and grease, and a workshop manual specific to the model you’re driving. In fact, you should also take a fire extinguisher and a tow rope. Obviously, if you’re taking spare parts with you then you’ll also need a tool kit in order to get any spares fitted. You should also determine whether or not there’s a jack packed in just in case you need to change tyres. Most importantly of all; you should carry a UHF radio with you in case you need to call for help.
3) Comfort for Passengers
Once you’re confident that you, your tent trailer, and your vehicle, are all ready for the task that lies ahead, you obviously need to pay attention to passenger comfort. For example, you need to make sure that you have sufficient water, fuel and also enough basic food supplies. Ideally, you should make sure you’ve got enough of the above mentioned to cover everyone for a few days at least. The RACQ for example, recommend that one should take at least seven litres of water per person per day. Also, it’s your responsibility to ensure that everybody takes suitable clothing, and that there’s a fully stocked first aid kit in the vehicle. If you don’t already own a fully equipped first aid kit, you can purchase a good one online.
It’s no secret that exploring the remoteness of Australia affords you a magical experience, but always remember how important safety is for you and your passengers. Providing you do, you can be rest assured that you’ll have a camping holiday of a lifetime.
