Towing a caravan is a wonderful way to see Australia’s beauty, pulling up wherever it suits to camp and enjoying all the comforts of a warm bed that’s out of the elements. However, there are times on the road when you might want to pull into a caravan park — and this is where knowing how to reverse a caravan becomes essential.
Many caravan parks require campers to back into place before connecting to the mains power and water, so knowing how to back up will come in handy. Let’s review the steps for safely reversing a caravan so you can practice and tow with confidence.
Step-by-step guide to reversing a caravan
For first-time caravan owners, reversing can seem like one of the trickiest manoeuvres to learn. Here are the steps to follow to reverse your caravan smoothly.
Remember, reversing your caravan takes practice, but it does get easier over time.
Practice before your trip
Reversing into a tight caravan space can be tricky — you don’t want your first attempt to be in a crowded caravan park, so grab some cones and set up a testing ground in an open and flat area the first time you practice.
Take off gear stored between the caravan and tow vehicle
If you have bikes or other equipment mounted on the front of the caravan or rear of the vehicle, remove these if possible. Gear stored here reduces the turning angle when reversing a caravan.
Use a spotter
If you’re travelling with company, ask someone with reversing experience to guide you into the parking space. The spotter is key to mastering this manoeuvre and should be the most experienced caravan driver, as they will be able to predict accurately where the caravan will go. This is also an opportunity to upskill new caravan owners with newfound confidence to reverse safely.
It’s very dangerous to stand behind a caravan when it’s reversing, the safest place for the spotter is in front of the vehicle. This way the driver can easily see and communicate with the spotter and the process will be much easier.
Position hands at the base of the steering wheel
When reversing a caravan, put both hands at the bottom of the steering wheel, palm up. All steering movements when reversing will be full lock to the left, full lock to the right or straight wheels. The driver and spotter manage the movement of the caravan by the distance travelled in each position. Doing this keeps reversing a caravan as simple as possible.
Agree on your hand signals
Open and clear communication between the driver and spotter will avoid confusion and make for smooth reversing. The spotter gives directions based on where the back of the caravan should go.
Here are some recommendations for clear, easy-to-follow signals:
Using full arm movements gives the clearest signal.
- When the spotter lifts the left arm, the driver turns the wheel to full lock in that direction.
- When the spotter taps both hands on their thighs, this means straight wheels — put the steering wheel into the central position.
- If your wheels were at full lock when the straight wheels signal is given, the spotter will put both arms straight and signal with thumb movements which way to turn, until the wheels are once again straight.
- The signal to stop is holding up one hand, palm forward.
- The signal to reverse is waving the arm from the shoulder forward.
- The signal to drive forward is two hands being pulled towards the spotter.
Check the space behind you
It’s always easier to reverse towards the driver's side, so plan the approach. Before beginning to reverse, get out of the vehicle and look at the place you want to reverse into.
Make sure there are no hazards or anything you might run over. If reversing into a caravan bay in a park, check the location of the services and leave enough room for the annexe if you have one and enough space around the caravan entrance. There might be a concrete slab to step onto when exiting the caravan that you can align with.
Mark your turn in point
Every tow vehicle and caravan combination is different, and with a new caravan or towing vehicle you will want to get to know where the turn-in point is. The turn-in point is the pivot point where the caravan wheels need to start turning to successfully enter the bay.
Take two paces out from the corner of the caravan bay and then two steps away from the side of the bay, if you have a single-axle caravan Mark this point — this is your starting guide and you will refine this as you go.
For a tandem axle caravan, take an extra step away from the side of the bay. Adjust depending on the length of the caravan.
Take it slow and make adjustments while stationary
Once you are back in your vehicle, take reversing slowly. Going slowly means you’re less likely to go crooked or get out of shape.
Make adjustments to the steering wheel while the vehicle is still: “stop, adjust, check”. When the spotter gives a new signal, brake to stop, adjust the steering wheel position, and then move a bit.
Position the caravan in line with the turn-in point
Once you have marked the position, position the caravan so the rear wheels line up with the turn-in point. Now you are ready to reverse into the bay.
If the caravan cuts into the corner, take one less step out from the side of the bay and mark a new turn-in point. If the caravan turns wider into the middle of the bay, add an extra step to bring it closer to the side of the bay. Once you know the turn-in point for the vehicle-caravan combination, take note for next time.
Reverse into the bay
Following the direction of the spotter, it’s time to reverse into the bay. The driver should turn the steering wheel up in the direction the spotter signals. The wheels of the vehicle will move to full lock, facing in the opposite direction to the spotter’s signal.
The spotter will watch the position of the caravan and make adjustments. If the caravan goes too quickly in one direction, the spotter will direct the driver to stop and adjust the steering to straight wheels. This slows the turn rate but still directs the caravan into the bay.
Watch carefully to avoid jackknifing
As the driver slowly reverses, the spotter will continue to watch the position of the caravan to ensure it does not jack-knife. Jack-knifing is when the front of the caravan contacts the rear of the vehicle and can cause damage. The spotter will look straight down the side of the vehicle from the front to see the angle of the trailer compared to the towing vehicle. When a particular feature of the caravan comes into view (this varies depending on the vehicle-caravan combo) the spotter will signal to stop the vehicle.
The driver can also watch to prevent jack-knifing, using the rearview mirrors. If the jackknife point is reached, the spotter will signal the driver to turn in the opposite direction and continue back into the bay.
Adjust the caravan position within the bay
If the caravan needs to be closer to the side of the bay, the spotter will stop the vehicle, signal for straight wheels and then signal to continue backwards. The driver keeps moving back until the desired position is reached.
Once positioned in the caravan bay, the spotter will signal the driver to stop. The spotter walks to the back of the bay, pacing out to measure the distance the caravan needs to go backwards to reach the final position. Then the spotter will return to the driver's door and pace the same distance towards the caravan. Then the driver will reverse until they are next to the spotter. Job done!
With a tandem axle caravan, each wheel travels a different distance, causing a twist in the suspension, which projects into the caravan subframe and tow hitch, making it difficult to unhitch the caravan. To remove this pressure, drive the vehicle forward and reverse straight back. This makes it easier to unhitch the caravan.
Secure the caravan
Once in position, apply the caravan brake, chock a wheel and unhitch the caravan. Time to relax and enjoy!
Safe towing makes caravanning a worthy adventure — improve towing safety and reach your destination with REDARC
There’s much more to towing a caravan than first meets the eye, but with preparation, practice and the right safety gear, you can master it.
At REDARC, we aim to make high-quality gear tested for tough conditions, so that you can pursue adventure on and off the beaten track. From electric brake controllers to portable power for cooking that means no more gas bottles, our products are designed to get you there and back again safely, without sacrificing the luxuries of home.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to reverse a caravan?
Take it slowly, move the steering wheel to position the wheels before moving the vehicle, and use your mirrors. Using a spotter makes reversing a caravan much easier, but if you don’t have a spotter, be sure to check your turn-in point and the backing-up distance at each step of the reversing process.
How to reverse a caravan into a parking spot?
Following the steps above, mark your turn-in point, check the space where the caravan will go and turn the wheel before moving the vehicle. If you don’t have a spotter, remember that the caravan will go in the opposite direction if reversing a vehicle alone.
How do I stop my brakes coming on when I reverse?
If your trailer brakes engage when reversing, it may be related to how your brake controller or trailer wiring is configured. Start by turning the brake controller gain down to zero to rule out the controller. If the issue persists and the brakes still lock when reversing, there could be a mechanical or electrical issue that needs further inspection. In such cases, checking the trailer wiring and consulting a professional technician is recommended.
More on towing a caravan:
Do You Need Electric Brakes To Tow A Caravan?