Uma caravana estável depende da combinação legal, do carregamento correto e de um condutor que reduza a velocidade antes que a estrada o exija. As curvas e o vento da Nova Zelândia tornam a velocidade máxima permitida irrelevante em muitos trechos.
Conheça a combinação
Verifique a classificação de reboque, acoplamento, corrente de segurança, luzes, pneus, freios e pesos carregados de ambos os veículos. Contabilize água, gás, bicicletas e equipamentos adicionados após a especificação vazia.
Os passageiros não podem viajar dentro de uma caravana na estrada. Todos devem ocupar um assento seguro aprovado no veículo de reboque.
Velocidade e espaçamento
A velocidade máxima em estrada aberta durante o reboque é de 90 km/h com uma ligação rígida. Viaje mais devagar sempre que a estabilidade, a visibilidade, o clima ou a estrada assim o exigirem.
Deixe um intervalo de pelo menos quatro segundos, com mais tempo em mau tempo. Freie antes das curvas e selecione uma marcha mais baixa para descidas.
Compartilhe estradas estreitas
Use áreas de estacionamento seguras para permitir a passagem do tráfego seguinte e aproximar-se de pontes de faixa única somente quando toda a combinação puder ser liberada.
Vento forte, oscilação do trailer ou freios quentes exigem uma parada. Não tente recuperar o tempo perdido do itinerário aumentando a velocidade.
Towing speed limits are lower
Light trailers and caravans are limited to 90 km/h on the open road, below the 100 km/h general limit, and heavy trailer combinations are also capped at 90 km/h. The limit applies regardless of the posted speed, and it is enforced.
Leave a much larger following gap than you would in a car. Braking distance increases substantially with a trailer, and the most common towing crashes here involve running out of stopping room on a descent.
Weights, ratings and loading
The tow vehicle's maximum towing capacity, the towbar rating, the caravan's gross laden weight and the tow ball download all have to agree, and the limiting figure is whichever is lowest. Exceeding any of them affects handling, braking and insurance.
Load heavy items low and over the axle, keep roughly ten percent of the weight on the tow ball, and avoid loading the rear of the caravan, which is what causes sway. Check the load again after the first hour of driving.
Sway and how to respond
Sway usually starts from a crosswind gust, a passing truck or too little tow ball weight, and it builds rather than settling. The instinct to brake hard or steer against it makes it worse.
Ease off the accelerator gently, keep the steering straight, and let the combination slow itself. If your vehicle has a trailer brake controller, applying the trailer brakes alone can pull the combination straight. Then stop and check the loading.
Roads to think twice about
Tākaka Hill, the Crown Range, the Rimutaka Hill Road, the 309 Road and much of the Coromandel coast are demanding with a caravan and some are prohibited or strongly discouraged for large combinations. Check before committing, since turning around is often not possible.
On descents, select a lower gear and use engine braking rather than riding the brakes, which fade. Pull over regularly to let following traffic past, both as courtesy and because a queue behind you creates overtaking risk.
Reversing, parking and campgrounds
Practise reversing in an empty car park before the trip. Campground sites frequently require a reverse into a defined space with neighbours close on both sides, and doing that for the first time with an audience is how people damage vans.
Book sites that suit your combination length and say you are towing when you book. Many holiday parks keep specific drive-through sites, and getting one removes most of the difficulty from arrival.
Unhitching gives you an ordinary vehicle for day trips and is worth doing whenever you stay more than one night. Use wheel chocks and levelling ramps, and check the handbrake holds before disconnecting anything.
Wind and exposed roads
A caravan is a large flat surface and crosswind is the main cause of loss of control while towing. Exposed sections around Wellington, the Desert Road, the Mackenzie and coastal Canterbury are all known for it.
Slow down before exposed sections rather than reacting within them, and take particular care when emerging from a cutting or passing a truck, where the wind loads and unloads suddenly.
Lugares ao longo do caminho
Verifique antes de ir
Regras e condições mudam. Verifique novamente a fonte oficial e a página do seu parque ou acampamento exato antes da partida.
Leve-o para a estrada
Salve as paradas. Planeje toda a viagem.
Crie uma rota ordenada a partir de locais salvos, calcule a distância e guarde datas, notas e tarefas anexadas.