Get your caravan ready for overseas travel

Our Red Pennant Emergency Services Team share their top tips to make sure your caravan holiday in Europe is ready so you can keep stress to a minimum.

What to take with you

When travelling overseas with your car and caravan, we recommend taking the following items with you, where possible, to ensure your holiday is as stress-free as possible.

Spare Parts

Breakaway Cable

If the caravan becomes detached from the car for any reason, the breakaway cable will do its job to keep everything safe, but it can only do this once and you will therefore need a replacement. These are much simpler to source in the UK than overseas and so we recommend keeping a spare or two with your outfit just in case.

Water Pump

It is not unusual to experience issues with your water pump whilst away. Given their simple set up, they are susceptible to electrical faults as well as the usual blockages and bends. Whilst most countries will have caravan supply shops dotted around, they are usually few and far between. Additionally, they do not often stock the same brands that are found in the UK (eg. Truma). Taking a spare will avoid any sourcing difficulties and will mean you have a pump you know should work.

13 pin or 7 pin electrical plug/s

Whether the caravan and car become detached or you experience issues with your caravan lights when hitching up, the electrical plugs can often pose a problem. Similarly to the water pump, these can be tricky to replace due to stock overseas. Taking a spare away with you can allow for significantly less delay in fitting a new one when necessary.

Spare tyre

Like many other parts, caravan tyres for British outfits are not quite as simple to source overseas as they are in the UK. Taking a spare tyre will mean that you are back on the road in no time. If a full-size replacement is not a feasible option to take with you, taking a spacesaver tyre will at least facilitate speedy roadside recovery whilst we help to source your full replacement.

Personal Items (to keep with you at all times - not locked in the outfit)

• Passports
• Driving licence
• Credit Card (necessary for hire cars)
• Original V5 and CRIS documents (both for border control and for any repatriation needs)
• EHIC/GHIC cards or certificates for European public health institutions
• Spare car and caravan keys

 

Additional Tips

What3Words

If you have access to a smartphone, we advise that you download the app What3Words. This app is already used by the emergency services and breakdown assistance providers across the UK and it’s very simple to use. It has divided the world into 3m squares and given each square a unique combination of three words.

What3words addresses are as accurate as GPS coordinates, which will allow the Red Pennant Emergency Services team to locate you easily should you require assistance.

Green Cards

Occasionally, your vehicle insurance may still need to provide you with an International Insurance Certificate or a ‘green card’ in order for your car to remain insured whilst overseas. This is not as common in recent years, but is still a requirement with certain insurers.

If you are unsure, check with your insurance company before your trip to ensure that you have everything you need. If a green card is necessary and you do not have one in place, this can create a difficult obstacle when it comes to repatriation.

Leased cars

If you are leasing a car and travelling overseas, you will need to make sure you have a VE103B with you. Should the car need repair or repatriation, this form will be essential in making sure you avoid unnecessary delays or obstacles.

The Caravan Basics - revisited

Whilst the Emergency Services team deal with a vast array of problems on a daily basis, some of the most common problems stem from something seemingly simple - the hitching process.

If something gets missed during the hitching process, whether you are preparing for a 300 mile journey or a 30 mile journey, this can cause real issues that can be easily avoided such as detached outfits or damaged brakes.

Although it may take a little extra time, it is always worth double checking that everything is secure and as it should be before towing.

Our 10-point checklist featured on our website provides an easy breakdown:

1. Is the hitch fully down over the tow ball?
2. Is the hitch head lever fully closed (down)?
3. Are the visual indicators (if fitted) showing the right colour?
4. Wind down the jockey wheel until it raises the back of the car by 25-50mm to confirm that a secure coupling has been achieved.
5. Is the breakaway cable correctly attached, passing through the cable guide, loose but not dragging, and will not snag on full lock?
6. If fitted, is the stabiliser correctly attached, with the stabilising mechanism engaged and any visual indicator showing correct operation?
7. Is the jockey wheel fully retracted and stowed away securely?
8. Are the electrics correctly attached and free from dragging or snagging on full lock?
9. Are all the lights working?
10. Carry out a final check on the hitch, including handbrake.

We hope you have a great holiday in Europe without any issues!

 

Published May 2025