If you’re a caravan novice, fine-tune your knowledge with this jargon-busting guide to ABS, GRP, MIRO and other common terms
SEVEN OR 13-PIN ELECTRICS
New caravans all now come with 13-pin electrics – one electrical socket with 13 pins attaches to the car and deals with all the electrical needs of your caravan while you’re towing. If your car or caravan is equipped to work with the old-fashioned electrics (two sockets each containing seven pins), adaptors are available.
THE 85% RULE
This is the recommended guideline for matching a car’s weight to the caravan you can tow. Broadly, as long as your car’s max braked towing limit is not exceeded, you should aim for your caravan and its contents to weigh 85% or less of the weight of your car.
When buying a caravan, the figures you need to use are the manufacturer’s stated kerbweight of the car, and the stated maximum technically permissible laden mass figure (MTPLM), so the MTPLM is 85% of the kerbweight or less. Never tow a caravan that is heavier than the car – not only is it dangerous but it’s likely to invalidate your insurance.
A-FRAME
The triangular frame at the front of a caravan, between the main body and the hitch. This is usually covered by a moulded fairing and home to the jockey wheel, tow hitch, handbrake and breakaway cable.
ABS
The plastic used to make caravan panels; short for acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. If this is damaged, it can cause water ingress.
ACTUAL LADEN WEIGHT
The total weight of a caravan and its contents when being towed. Must not exceed the MTPLM.
AL-KO ATC
Al-Ko’s ATC Trailer Control is an anti-snaking control system for caravans. It works in a similar way to ESP systems in cars and monitors the lateral movement. If snaking is detected, it briefly applies the brakes to re-establish control of the caravan.
AL-KO CHASSIS
Many new caravans are built on galvanised chassis made by Al-Ko. The others are made by BPW.
AWS – APPROVED WORKSHOP SCHEME
An approval scheme run by the National Caravan Council (NCC) for engineers working on caravans.
BE
See driving licences.
BERTHS
The number of beds in a caravan.
BLOWN-AIR HEATING
A type of heating found on modern caravans.
Warm air is circulated by a fan through ducting to heat the interior.
BUTANE
You can use two different types of LPG gas in a caravan for cooking, and to operate the fridge when you don’t have access to mai
