Cutting the cost of caravanning

A major factor in fuel consumption is the weight your tow car has to pull, so remove any unnecessary items from your caravan before setting off on your journey. For example – items you haven’t used for at least twelve months or perhaps you pack extra bedding, clothes and heating appliances for the colder months – don’t forget to leave these at home come the summer.

Tyre pressures can effect fuel consumption, so make sure you check the manufacturer’s recommended tyre pressures for your car, especially when fully loaded with luggage, the family and the dog!

Have your tow car serviced regularly to make sure the engine is running efficiently – once a year should be sufficient if you’re travelling average miles each year (around 10,000 to 12,000), but more often if you’re doing more than double this.

Your driving style has a massive impact on the amount of fuel you use. Remember to accelerate gently and be in the most appropriate gear for your engine and the speed you are travelling at. This will ensure you don’t put unnecessary strain on the engine. If you’re lucky enough to have a tow car fitted with cruise control, this is ideal for motorway journeys as it will keep you at a constant speed – just make sure you switch it off once you’re back on hilly roads to prevent the engine from struggling to maintain the set speed.

Looking beyond the cost of fuel, you may be tempted to cancel your caravan insurance policy. However, with caravanning becoming increasingly popular, it’s very likely that caravan crime could increase too. This could leave you out of pocket should your caravan be stolen or damaged. It’s therefore vital to seek an appropriate caravan insurance policy to protect your investment against theft and damage.

There are ways to reduce your caravan insurance premiums. For example:

- Fit extra security to your caravan, whether it’s a DIY fitted alarm or a state of the art tracking system, you could earn huge discounts.

- If you’re not able to store your caravan at home over winter, look for a good quality storage site with 24 hour security in place. CaSSOA is an organisation that grades storage sites into bronze, silver and gold. Gold sites provide the highest level of security.

- Join a club! Insurance companies often give discounts for being a member of a caravanning club.

Whatever the economic climate, if you’ve invested your savings in a touring caravan, you want to get the most out of it. So use this guide to reduce the amount of fuel you use to tow your caravan and insure it under a caravan insurance policy that will cover you, should the worst happen.