The number one cause of caravan trip headaches: forgetting something essential before you leave. The water hose, the fuses, the bottle of fresh gas, the second fire extinguisher, the levellers — small omissions become big problems 600km from the nearest hardware shop.

Here's the practical pre-trip caravan checklist — the forget-me-nots that experienced caravanners check every single time before pulling out of the driveway.

Photo by Trevor McKinnon on Unsplash

• Fire extinguisher — minimum one in the van, one in the tow vehicle. Inspect annually
• Fire blanket — for stove-top fires (extinguisher on a fat fire makes it worse). Mount near the kitchen
• Smoke alarm + CO detector — both in the van. Battery checked every trip
• First aid kit — comprehensive (see our safety guide for what to include)
• Snake bite bandage + antihistamine — separate from main first aid
• PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) — for remote areas. ACR ResQLink, GME MT610G — buy once, register with AMSA, lasts 10+ years
• Reflective triangle / hazard markers — legally required in some states for breakdown

Especially before extended trips, get the tow vehicle serviced. Critical items:

• Engine oil + filter
• Brake pads + brake fluid level
• Coolant + hoses (no leaks, no swelling)
• Belts (alternator, fan)
• Battery condition + terminals
• Tyre tread + pressure (incl. spare)
• Tow ball mount + safety chains (no rust, no cracks)
• Trailer plug working
• All lights operating (incl. trailer indicators, brake, tail)
• Steering + suspension visual check
• Air filter cleanliness

The same applies to the caravan: wheel bearings (repack annually), tyres (caravan tyres age out faster than they wear out — 5-7 year life), brakes (electric brake adjustment), gas system pressure test (every 12 months by a licensed gasfitter).

Photo: Trevor McKinnon / Unsplash

• Practise towing + reversing in an empty car park before your first trip of the season
• Extended towing mirrors — fitted, secure, properly aimed. Required by law in most states for caravans wider than the tow vehicle
• Brake controller — set to vehicle weight, tested before highway speeds
• All trailer lights — indicators, brake lights, headlights, reverse light — work as expected
• Coupling locked + secured — visual check + finger test
• Safety chains crossed under the coupling (so they catch if coupling fails)
• Jockey wheel up + locked — a forgotten jockey wheel destroys driveways and gates
• Stabiliser legs UP before driving (yes, people forget)

• Stay within the ATM (Aggregate Trailer Mass) stamped on the van's compliance plate
• Heavy items LOW + CENTRAL over the axle — books, tools, batteries, water tanks
• Lighter items at the ends — clothes, bedding, kitchen utensils
• Ball load 8-15% of trailer weight — too low = sway; too high = overloaded vehicle
• EVERY door + drawer + cupboard latched for travel. Bouncy roads will throw open anything not secured
• Loose items secured — even a saucepan flying around at 100km/h causes serious damage
• Visit a public weighbridge with everything loaded — see our towing guide for the process

• Pair of plastic ramp levellers ("Andersen" or generic) — for parking on uneven ground
• Wheel chocks (proper, NOT rocks) — front + back of one wheel
• Spirit level — caravan fridges absolutely need to be level to work properly
• Wind out poles for awning + tie-downs
• Doormat for the caravan door — keeps sand/grass out
• Spare jockey wheel (the cheap fold-down ones snap when overloaded)
• Mat to put under the entry step

Photo: Brian McMahon` / Unsplash

• Mallet + rubber-headed hammer
• Spirit level
• Tent pegs (for awning)
• Rope + paracord (50m)
• Spare fuses (matched to vehicle + caravan ratings)
• Spare bulbs (where retrofittable)
• Lubricant spray (WD40 or similar)
• Pliers + screwdriver set + adjustable spanner
• Multi-tool
• Cable ties + duct tape + electrical tape
• See our full fix-it kit guide for the complete list

• Fresh water tank full + treated (Tank Cleen if not used recently)
• Drinking water hose — food-grade, BPA-free; do NOT use a garden hose
• Gas bottles — full + spare. Check certification date (10 years from manufacture)
• Battery — auxiliary fully charged + tested under load
• 240V lead — test for continuity, no cuts
• Solar panels deployed/working if fitted
• Inverter operational if fitted
• Sullage hose / waste tap packed
• Cassette toilet emptied + chemicals topped up

• Driver's licence + caravan registration papers
• Insurance documents (vehicle + caravan)
• National park pass / camping permits / booking confirmations
• Roadside assistance membership card (RACV/RACQ/etc)
• Caravan Industry Australia membership if relevant (often = discounts)
• Cash + cards (some remote sites are cash-only)
• Paper maps as backup (no signal in many areas)
• Trip itinerary filed with someone at home
• Emergency contact list printed in glovebox

Print this checklist. Pin it inside a cupboard door. Run through it the night before AND the morning of departure. The 15 minutes spent checking saves the 200km drive back home for the missing levellers, the snake bite bandage, the trailer brake controller cable.

Caravanning rewards preparation more than any other camping format. Get the pre-trip discipline right and you can chase the big lap with confidence.