How to keep your caravan’s fridge in tip-top condition
Ahh, it’s festival season upon us once again! There’s nothing quite like the buzz of a summer festival, with live music, good food and a laid-back atmosphere… and, for many of us, our trusty caravan parked up on site ready to take us home. But - as any caravan owner will know - where there’s a field or temporary carpark, masses of vehicles and potentially a bit of rain, there’s always the risk of getting stuck in the mud, especially if the caravan wheels settle in to the ground after you park up…
If it happens to you, and your tow car’s wheels are spinning and your caravan is unfortunately going nowhere fast, don’t panic. Here’s our guide to getting unstuck without hopefully making matters worse…
Stay calm!
Before you do anything, hop out and have a proper look.
Is it just the caravan that is stuck, or the tow car too? Is it just one wheel spinning? Are you sat on your axles? Are all wheels stuck? Understanding how badly you’re in the thick of it will help you decide on the best course of action - and hopefully stop you from making it even worse.
Ease off the power
If the tow car is stuck, it’s tempting to put your foot down and give it some welly, but all that’ll usually do is dig you in deeper. Instead, try gently rocking the car back and forth by going between first and reverse, applying just enough power to gain some traction. If you’re in a newer car with traction control, turning it off briefly might help the wheels to spin more freely and find some grip. Try to pull away in second gear if you can, and if you’ve got some movement, try to keep moving if possible, rather than stopping… and don’t slam the brakes on as you’ll lose traction again.
If the caravan is stuck, you can use the motor mover to assist you, if you have one. Try to adjust the noseweight though so that the jockey wheel doesn’t get wedged in the mud. If you can, hitch up at a slight angle to the caravan as this might help shift things in the right direction as you pull away.
Your other saviour here may well be a long tow rope. If you can get the car onto firmer ground, you could then use a long tow rope to pull the caravan out. One method might be to use the car to pull the rope between the car and caravan taut, then apply the car’s handbrake. If you’ve got the capability, pull sideways on the rope to divert it from a straight line, have another person apply the handbrake on the caravan and then the car driver can keep edging forward until the rope is taut again. It might take a while, but this can apparently work.
Reduce the tyre pressure
Letting some air out of your tyres increases their surface area and improves their grip in slippery conditions. Don’t go mad, though - 15 to 20 psi should be enough to make a difference. Just remember to re-inflate them once you’re free and back on firmer ground…
Get some traction aids
If you’ve come prepared, it’s a good time to dig out those traction mats or recovery boards, and wedge them under the tyres - of either the tow car or the caravan - to give them something solid to hold into. If you haven’t got any mats, try a few sticks, cardboard or your car mats as any of those might just do the trick. Some people say that putting more weight in the car’s boot can help, as well as having someone be in the caravan to change the weight of the loading.
Dig deep!
Sometimes, a bit of old-fashioned elbow grease is what you need - if you can try to clear out the mud from around the tyres, jockey wheel and under the chassis. This is obviously where carrying a shovel around with you helps!
Once you’ve managed to loosen things, try to avoid driving in the tramlines created by other vehicles or those you’ve made yourself.
Get a tow if you need it
Don’t be too proud to ask for help. With likely so many other car owners around, someone is usually more than happy to lend a tow rope and give you a gentle pull (a tractor would be nice, here, no?) Some of the larger festivals and organisations have dedicated teams on site from breakdown providers, such as the AA.
Some top tips to help prevent you getting stuck…
- If you can, try to carry these on board - recovery boards, a shovel, a long tow rope, a tyre deflator, and a portable compressor, as they can make all the difference.
- Park up wisely in the first place. Stick to higher ground if possible, and at least avoid that obvious muddy patch near the toilets and showers…
- Check the forecast: If a weekend of rain is expected, take extra care when manoeuvring on grass and go prepared for the worst.
Finally, if you can, change your shoes when you get back in the car, because if you are caked in mud you’re likely to slip on the pedals when driving off.
We’ve all been there at some point in time, and usually there are some helpful people or hardy festival workers that will lend a hand. Getting stuck in the mud at one point is almost a rite of passage for caravan owners, but with the right approach and a bit of know-how, you’ll be on your way in no time…
