Long Distance Travelling Tips

Travelling is a great pastime, you can go out and explore at your own pace, see and do things you wouldn’t be able to do at home and often gain life experiences from it.

However it’s not as easy as just getting up and going. Traveling requires careful planning and lots of preparation before you can even consider walking out the front door. You will need to consider what type of adventure you’d like to have, whom to share it with and how much it will cost.

A good cost effective way is to take your own car and if possible your own caravan, of course you will need to make sure that the caravan is road legal.

You will need a Towbar to both bear the weight of the caravan and be able to attach the caravan to your car. A Towbar is the mechanical device or part connected to the chassis of a car to enable towing. It is typically fitted under the rear bumper and allows you to pull either a caravan or another vehicle without using much equipment. It is convenient and relatively easy to use if fitted properly.

Towbars must be fitted to your car manufactures recommendations and must also be the right class to support the weight of your caravan.

A Few Do’s and Don’ts

Before buying check the material used to manufacture the tow bar. This is something you absolutely do not want to cut corners with. You want at Towbar made of a high quality metal, which can easily take the strain and weight of something weighing hundreds of pounds. If you use a poorly built Towbar, it can result in disastrous consequences. If you need to cut costs, cut the money from somewhere else.

Check the Towbar classification. Recommendations are usually worldwide, so if you ever find yourself in another country and are unaware of the rules for towing, check online. You will typically find that the rules in the UK, including weights and classes are the same as abroad.

You will need to know the weight of the caravan and vehicle you are towing. Match it to the size class and it’s better to go up a class than down. if you need a towing weight of 1,200lb and the category only goes to 1,100lbs, go to the next group up to give yourself a bit of extra room. Bear in mind that the weight of the vehicle or caravan may not factor in all of yourtraveling supplies and luggage which could push up the weight boundary. It’s better to err on the side of caution.

Don’t forget security too, you don’t want to make it easy for an opportunistthief to steal your caravan so make sure that the tow bar has a good locking system in place.

Avoid Towbars that are difficult to connect, especially if you want the opportunity to remove and use frequently. Having to deal with a difficult tow bar can add much unneeded frustration to your journey.

Lastly, never exceed the suggested towing capacity as not only can it damage your car, it can also cause serious injuries.

Taking Extras

In addition to a caravan, a great idea would be to take a bike with you. That way you can park up and use your bike to cycle and explore though lots of different cycle routes. Using a bike is also healthier for you and the environment and you don’t have to worry about where you park. You can also reach places inaccessible to a car, giving you a wider view of the world.

So how do you take your bike with you? It’s easy; you just use a Cycle carrier. Attach it to your car and simply add the bike, making sure that it is securely fastened. Cycle Carriers are relatively straight forward and should come with a set of instructions for you to follow if you are unsure of anything.

Cycling Safety

Whilst cycling can be an enjoying experience, it is also important to keep safe; here are a few tips to keep you safe on the road;

• Know the laws. Familiarise yourself with cycling rules in your area. There might be times where bikes are not permitted, so keep out for signs and information that state this. Treat road markings, signs and traffic lights the same way you would as if you were driving a car.
• It is considered rude and anannoyance to block traffic so try to ride close to the kerb if on the road. If you need to move into the centre of the road to avoid an obstacle or to turn right, do it in plenty of time and signal accordingly to let other road users know of your intentions. In addition to this, riding on the pavement is frowned upon; it is dangerous and also illegal.
• Wear protective gear. Helmets will really help if you fall off your bike. Make sure it is properly fastened and fitted. To ensure that it is a proper fit, the helmet must feel snug and must not move when you shake your head. Be sure to make yourself visible, especially at night with the right lights and reflective clothing.
• Be aware of your surroundings, pay attention to what is behind you, as well as the road ahead. It’s a good idea to stick to a pre made cycle route as there may be potential dangers for an unknown route. It may not be a cycle route for a very good reason.
• Take a map with you in case you get lost, as well as a backpack with a mini first aid kit, bottled water and some high protein snacks to keep your energy levels up.

With all this in mind there is no reason as to why you can’t have a great trip!