Choosing The Best Caravan Towing Course | A Complete Guide
With increasing numbers of RVs being sold across Australia, more and more people are hitching up a caravan or camper trailer and heading off on highways and dirt roads for some adventure. However, towing a caravan requires more than a sturdy vehicle and a yearning to explore. It demands specific skills and knowledge to ensure you tow safely and have an enjoyable experience along the way!
Whether you’re a seasoned traveller looking to refine your skills or a novice who is eager to explore the open road, a caravan towing course can offer invaluable insights and hands-on training. Most are run over a day and combine practical and theoretical elements with an emphasis on towing safely and with confidence. Here is a guide to some of the best courses across Australia.
What are the legal requirements for towing a caravan?
Before we list our top caravan towing courses, it’s worth touching on the legal requirements for towing a caravan. In most cases, a caravan towing licence is not required in Australia. You just need a full driving licence for the tow vehicle you are driving. This can differ between states and territories, so check your individual state’s guidelines. Exceptions occur, for example, with learner drivers and if your tow vehicle and caravan exceed specific mass limits, in which case you must have a heavy vehicle licence.
How much does a caravan towing course cost?
It depends on the provider. Some offer theory-only courses or practical-towing-only courses, and others, a combination of the two. If you’re an experienced caravanner, a refresher course may suit you, and they cost around $500. For those new to caravanning, an intensive course is highly recommended. They can range in price from around $700 to over $1000, and the cost will depend on the course length and what’s offered. Cheaper courses are typically run with multiple participants, while more expensive courses offer a day of face-to-face, one-to-one training with an instructor with four to seven hours of pre-course learning.
Is a caravan towing course worth the money?
The absence of additional legal requirements doesn’t mean you naturally possess the necessary skills to tow your caravan safely and successfully. In fact, towing a caravan is not only a daunting task, it can also be potentially dangerous. So yes, it’s worth the money to guarantee your safety, a longer “life” for your van, and the opportunity to embark on adventures of a lifetime.
What do caravan towing courses generally cover?
Again, it depends on the course, but topics typically covered include:
- Connecting your trailer safely
- Spotting potential problems
- Driving forward and reversing
- Towing a trailer safely in traffic
- Coupling and decoupling your trailer correctly
- Connection and disconnection procedures
- Circle reversing
- Reverse angle parking
- Brake controller adjustment
- Manual override
- Hazard awareness
- Manoeuvring exercises
- Caravan weighing
- Weight distribution
- Driving to conditions
- Braking
- Trailer balance
- Gear selection
- Overtaking, weight distribution, and more.
- Learning to assess if a track is suitable for towing your caravan.
Caravan towing courses near me
Caravan courses are offered across Australia (predominantly in the major cities), and providers range from multi-state operators and insurance-based businesses to smaller state-based operators. In terms of accreditation, some offer general courses, while others offer structured, nationally-accredited Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) certificate courses. Check with the provider when booking.
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QLD
- Tow-Ed. Tow-Ed operates across Australia, and is a specialist in educational courses to help you tow with confidence. Launched 15 years ago, this company is also highly recommended if you’re after an NRMA caravan towing course. Course content covers caravan, boat, trailer and horse float towing, 4WD training and trip preparation.
- Caravan Towing Tuition. Provide quality, personalised full-day and half-day caravan, trailer, boat and horse float towing and reversing courses across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Logan, Ipswich, and surrounding areas. Refresher courses are also available.
- Australian Driving Institute. ADI’s caravan towing and awareness program is designed to develop towing and manoeuvring skills by aligning techniques to World’s Best Practices. This program is most suitable for drivers towing a caravan throughout Australia.
- RACQ. The RACQ offers a practical one-day training course designed to teach you about towing safely and confidently. The courses cover towing laws and regulations as well as practical towing tips, and the RACQ offers discounted rates for members.
NSW
- Tow-Ed. See Queensland’s listings.
- Getabout Training Services. Run by the same team as Tow-Ed, Getabout Training Services is a trusted organisation offering caravan towing courses. You can choose from on and off-road options; however, the off-road course is popular among experienced towers looking to improve their skills. With a full-day, personalised session (two people are included in the booking), you will hone your skills, including learning to assess if a track is suitable for towing your caravan.
VIC
- Tow-Ed. See Queensland’s listings.
- METEC Driver Training. This not-for-profit road safety organisation was founded in 1971 in Melbourne. METEC works closely with VicRoads and other government bodies and also works with Tow-Ed. Their Certified Towing Course is perfect for beginners and is designed to teach practical towing skills and legal requirements.
- RACV. For information on a RACV caravan towing course, see Queensland’s RACQ listing.
SA
WA
- RAC. WA’s RAC offers courses designed for beginner caravanners or those wanting to improve their towing skills. You’ll also have the chance to practice what you've learnt during a hands-on component where each participant will get the opportunity to reverse a caravan under the guidance of our instructors.
TAS
NT
- Train Safe NT is an organisation catering to workplaces and businesses. It offers training throughout the Northern Territory, focusing on remote areas so that you can directly apply the driving techniques you learn to your local area. It offers courses in 4WD and trailer reversing, and courses that can help organisations meet WHS obligations.
ACT
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