No good at reversing a caravan or trailer? Here’s how to smash it

Are you new to reversing a camper trailer or caravan? Or maybe you’ve been doing it a while but still get anxiety at the thought of reversing in a crowded campground with an audience. Either way, keep reading because we have some tips to share with you on how to smash it (in a good way) at reversing your caravan or trailer.

Line up your caravan or trailer before you start reversing

Reversing your caravan or trailer around corners or on an angle is a lot harder than reversing straight back.  Aim to get your caravan or trailer as straight as possible before reversing. Of course, this is easier said than done in a crowded caravan park but if you have the space to drive forward so that you can position yourself perfectly to reverse straight backwards, this will make things a lot easier.

Take the hassle out of reversing with a camera

By now, you will have realised just how hard it is to see when you’re reversing a caravan or trailer. Visibility in modern cars is awful, gone are the days of huge windows and very thin pillars. A decent caravan reverse camera will switch on automatically when you put the car in reverse and produce a mirror image the same as you would see in your rear-view mirror. This will allow you to avoid any unseen obstacles and judge distances easier when you’re reversing into a tight spot. Reverse camera kits for caravans look like this:

Sphere Caravan Reversing Camera Kit

The Sphere Caravan Reversing Camera Kit from Outback Equipment comes with:

• White eyeball camera
• 7-inch colour monitor
• 6-metre cable
• 20-metre cable
• Spring cable
• 2 x connector brackets
• 1-year manufacturer’s warranty

Cost: $424.99

Get someone to guide you or use a Reverse Mate

If you have someone to guide you, enlist their help by getting them to stand at the rear corner of your caravan. Make sure they give both verbal and hand directions and try not to lose your cool when they start making circles with their arms and you have no idea what they mean. It helps to talk about what the signals mean before you start. 

If you’re travelling solo or you can’t deal with your partner’s guiding technique (it’s a common problem), grab yourself a Reverse Mate. It’s basically a system of high-vis markers that makes it much easier to see where your caravan or trailer needs to go when reversing. Here’s what the Reverse Mate looks like:

Reverse Mate

The Reverse Mate high-vis marker system comes with:

• 2 x Reverse Mate markers
• Measuring tape
• Carry bag
• Easy to follow instructions

The markers feature reflector strips for night visibility, foldable base plates, built-in LED lights and collapsible poles.

Cost: $99.99

Practice reversing your trailer or caravan without an audience

Yes, practice really does make perfect and it’s incredibly helpful to set aside time to practise without the pressure of an audience. Remember, the opposite rule applies when it comes to reversing a trailer or caravan. If the trailer needs to go right, you will turn your steering wheel to the left and vice-versa. The best thing to do is find a big open area like a paddock or empty parking lot and just give it a go. This allows you to get the feel of which way to turn the wheel and work out what works best for you.

Watch this handy video from RVSafe that explains which way to turn the wheel at the one-minute 40-second mark.

Book into a towing course

There’s nothing like gaining some confidence when you’re taught by someone who actually knows what they’re on about. There are a number of courses on offer around Australia but try:

• Learn to tow
• RACQ’s driver training courses

Get better mirrors

Obviously if you can’t see properly, then reversing your caravan or trailer is not going to be safe.  Your mirrors must provide an unobstructed view along both sides of your trailer. If you can’t see the rear corners of your caravan then you need to either adjust your mirrors or get better ones. If you plan on heading off-road or have a particularly big rig, consider investing in a set of Clearview towing mirrors:

Clearview Towing Mirrors

Clearview Towing Mirrors are super pricey but are considered the best of the best. They’re the result of nearly a decade of research and development and have been tested on Australia’s corrugated roads from the Telegraph Track in Cape York to the Gibb River Road.

Cost: $794.99

Invest in a motorised jockey wheel

A motorised jockey wheel is like your normal jockey wheel but 100 times better. Basically, it makes reversing a trailer or caravan easy by allowing you to do it by hand with no effort.  It’s not only amazing for those who are not confident at reversing but they are also super handy when you get home and need to store it in a tight corner of the yard or shed. Anyone with mobility issues or who has a van that is just too heavy to be ‘shoved’ that extra metre into place will find a motorised jockey wheel useful.

MYTCA Motorised Jockey Wheel

The MYCTA Motorised Jockey Wheel is powered by a 550W motor and is capable of moving loads of up to 2722 kg. Constructed from powder-coated aluminium, the unit features forward and reverse motion as well as an automatic braking function.

Product Specifications

• Maximum incline: 5-degrees
• Maximum vehicle load: 2722kg
• Speed: 6-7 metres per minute
• Motor: 12V – 550W
• Weight: 17kg

Cost: $555

Remember, the best way to get better at reversing a caravan or trailer is to practice, practice and practice. So next time you roll into a caravan park, you’ll park your home on wheels quick and will be able to unfold your camp chair, drop a cold one in the drink cooler and watch the newbies in action.

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