It’s surprisingly easy to overload a caravan. Water, gas, accessories and “just in case” gear add up fast. Staying within limits is a legal requirement and a big part of towing safely (Transport for NSW).
Know your numbers first
Your payload is ATM minus tare. RACV describes ATM as tare plus payload (RACV). Accessories added after delivery (batteries, solar, awnings, extra gas bottles) eat into payload before you pack a thing. Read our weights explainer and ball weight guide.
The heavy hitters
- Water: one litre weighs about one kilogram. Travel with tanks partly filled if your destination has reliable water (check first).
- Gas bottles, batteries and spare wheels
- Tools and recovery gear
- Cast iron, tinned food and drinks
- Bikes and outdoor furniture
Pack-light habits
- Lay everything out before loading and remove duplicates
- Choose lightweight plates, cookware and furniture
- Buy fresh food and drinks along the way
- Pack clothes for a week and plan to do laundry
- Review after each trip: anything you didn't use is a candidate to leave behind
Load it right
Transport for NSW advises heavy items low and centred over the axles, lighter items up high, balanced side to side (Transport for NSW). Keep the tow vehicle’s boot light (checklist).
Weigh, don’t guess
Visit a public weighbridge with the rig loaded for travel:
- Van alone on the jockey wheel (compare with ATM)
- Van hitched: axle load (compare with GTM)
- Vehicle with van attached (compare with GVM)
- Whole combination (compare with GCM)
Record the readings in the weight log page of the Checklist Pack so you can compare trips.
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Nine fillable, print-friendly checklists and logs for Australian caravanners: hitch-up, packing, set-up, pack-up, weights, renewals, campsite log and an emergency card.
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