SAFETY GEAR

Every traveller should be prepared for the worst when packing for their coming trip.

It's easy to assume that if you're travelling on heavily trafficked routes from caravan park to caravan park then you won't need much in the way of safety gear, and in an ideal world that would be a safe assumption. In reality, however, it's impossible to rely on passers by and good samaritans in the event of a mishap. Taking it one step further, how can you, the kind hearted caravanner, be of any help to your fellow wanderers without the right gear?

One of the key responsibilities that everyone should take with them on the open road is self sufficiency, so next time you're loading up the wagon here are a few things to consider.

Protection

Just because you’re away from home doesn’t mean you should be without. If you’re undertaking any repairs on the run, or even just chopping up some firewood, be sure to slap on a pair of safety goggles. A solid pair of gloves will be another handy addition to your kit, as will a sturdy pair of close toed shoes or boots (yep, some folk take no more than a pair of thongs on their tropical adventures).

Being seen

Given that the majority of inconveniences, flat tyres and such, are likely to happen on the side of the road then some road safety supplies are essential. A high-vis vest and some collapsible road cones or witches hats are a good way to alert oncoming vehicles of your predicament so that they can take care as they approach.

If you’re headed into remote regions and there’s a chance you’ll need to attract attention, you can take a leaf out of the boating bible and pack a couple of flares and a V-sheet (an orange plastic sheet with a large black ‘V’ on it) to get the attention of passing aircraft. Bright torches and additional lighting that’s powered independently to your vehicle or van may also be necessary once the sun goes down.

MECHANICAL

You're unlikely to be able to fix every single kind of mechanical malfunction, but you should be able to prevent them from evolving into an all-out catastrophe. An in-date fire extinguisher and fire blanket should always be present in your caravan and are crucial for any kind of travel. A small oil spill kit is also a useful accompaniment to a fullyloaded toolkit (see p.30).