If you’re anything like me, you’re sick of certain parts of the media bleating about ‘bloody caravanners’.
The star of one particular truck driver rose recently following his inflammatory comments on a website dedicated to the truck-driving industry.
(By all means read the article but you’ll have to Google it – I have deliberately chosen not to link this article to that website.)
There’s no easier way to get a headline than to bash RVers. Ain’t that the truth. Well, in defence of every caravanner and motorhomer, here’s what I think…
GOING SLOW
The biggest gripe against RVers, whether they’re towing a caravan or driving a motorhome, seems to be the speed at which they drive.
So you think that caravanner in front of you is travelling a little slow? It it holding you up? Overtake it, then. It isn’t rocket science, and nor is it fair or even civilised to sound off in the media, using deliberately inflammatory language in search of clicks, to denigrate tens of thousands of Australians who have chosen to spend tens of thousands of dollars on their vans and tow vehicles, in so doing keeping thousands of people in factories and dealerships around Australia employed. A lot of people have jobs who otherwise wouldn’t if it weren’t for RVers spending their retirement savings in order to see this country.
And before anyone says they can’t overtake because the caravanner is travelling slowly in the right-hand lane, remember: it’s not just caravanners who occasionally forget the right-hand lane is supposed to be for overtaking only. Glass houses.
THE NUMBERS
Exploring Australia with a caravan or motorhome is a perfectly legal activity. People who choose to participate in this lifestyle, in many cases after a lifetime of hard work and sacrifice, shouldn’t be made to feel like second-class citizens.
I’m a caravanner and, frankly, I don’t particularly like passing or being overtaken by trucks, and I certainly don’t like the caravan sway the air disturbance can create. Many caravanners, without complaint, fork out money on stabiliser bars or ESC for their van to combat this very problem.
But we recognise that truckies have an important job to do. The slogan ‘Without Trucks, Australia Stops’ is right. No right-minded person would ever dispute the importance of the trucking industry to the Australian economy.
But let’s talk numbers…
1. Did you know that in 2016, the total number of nights spent caravanning and camping in Australia was 51.6 million?
2. Did you know that in 2016, 21,841 RVs were manufactured in Australia? This is the second highest number of RVs built in one year for 37 years.
3. Did you know that in 2016, the hiring of cabins, unpowered sites and powered sites around Australia generated an estimated $1.8 billion?
4. Did you know that 4.9 million nights were spent caravanning or camping by 335,167 international visitors?
5. But here’s the really big number. Did you know the caravan industry is worth more than $19 billion to the Australian economy? And research shows that the vast majority of caravanning and camping occurs in regional areas, making the RV lifestyle critical to the success of small towns across the country. I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch to say that livelihoods from Devonport to Darwin depend on ‘selfish/entitled’ caravanners.
ARE WE ANY SAFER?
Reasonable people can reasonably disagree, and I am aware that there are plenty of vanners who don’t drive at an ideal speed, whether to save fuel or because they feel a little safer knocking 10 or 15km/h off their speed. As every vanner knows, there are few things scarier in life than a caravan that picks up a decent sway.
Believe it or not, I can see why other motorists would find it frustrating to sit behind a caravanner who has chosen to drive slower. However, to suggest that all other motorists, including truck drivers, are purer than RVers is laughable (and I’m not suggesting the reverse is true, either). Vanners would also know another feeling: the dread that settles in when a road train speeds to within inches of the rear of the caravan in an attempt at intimidation.
I can’t, however, understand foul-mouthed tirades that add nothing to the debate and serve no purpose other than to raise the ire of the next motorist who is forced to slow down because, for example, a caravan’s tow vehicle is struggling to climb a hill.
RVers want two things: to have an unforgettable experience, and to arrive at their destination safely. In wanting to be safe, RVers are no different to any other motorist. Rants such as the one delivered by a certain truckie make the roads more dangerous. Well done.
What do you think? Are vanners unfairly treated in the media and by other motorists? Have your say below.
Your seem to conveniently miss the point. I have no issue with caravanners who travel at modest speeds while enjoying their chosen recreation. What I do object to is the great many RVers who seem never to check their mirrors, and who are happy to dawdle along K after K, causing significant convoy situations, and associated potentially dangerous overtaking manouvres. Very few (ie none) of the roads in my area have dual lanes, and the few passing lanes that are available are often too short for more than a couple of vehicles to pass. All I ask is that RVers maintain an awareness of the traffic situation, and pull over when it it safe to do so. I tow a large boat, and have always been able to find a safe place to allow following traffic to pass. I congratulate the many caravanners who show the same courtesy.
Maybe we should look at the condition of the roads as well the road from Walcha to Gloucester is so full of holes and damage that is almost impossible to maintain 100 klms an hour and no were to pull over
Well firstly I have read most of the conversations regarding RV’s but the issue is the poor state of our roads. The National Highway is third world or less. Having travelled around the world and mostly in Asian countries I have found our roads appalling. The roads are two lane and this leaves no room for many miles for any passing vehicles. I travel close to the speed limits and I can tell you that even when I travel at the speed limit there is always someone in any type of vehicle wanting to pass. I will where I can pull over where safe to let following vehicles pass. But I will not endanger myself or vehicle for this purpose. It really get back to the fact our roads are unsuitable for the traffic using them to-day. We should have better roads with passing lanes or duel highways around our nation not the goat tracks the public and professional drivers have to use. Safe travelling.
well said i totally agree some roads are not wide enough for an oncoming road train to safely pass so they should only be for one or the other to travel on the government knows so if an accident happens they should be sued no duty of care
Max as a caravanner I am fully aware that there are good and bad caravanners, RV and car drivers and truck drivers and would welcome a copy of the link to the particular article that your article refers to.
As this is the first copy of your magazine I have received I would like to advise that I have written a road safety driver education program in conjunction with the Queensland Police ‘Stay on Track Outback’, (SOTO) driver education program based at Charleville in Queensland.
In its first 2 years of operation SOTO helped reduce accidents involving caravanners by 50% in the Charleville Police district.
Currently Central Queensland University students are currently creating a video presentation to promote the program. This program is called ‘Truck Friendly’ and addresses the very issue of your article. We are planning to launch the program towards the end of this year 2017.
Truck Friendly acknowledges and works towards the breaking down of the ‘us and them’ mentality currently existing between caravanners / RV drivers and the trucking industry.
The program helps to educate the caravanners and truck drivers on how to work together through cooperation and communication so all arrive safe at their destinations.
Currently a driver can hook up a large caravan to their tow vehicle and legally drive it on our highways without any formal education/training or licencing. A truck driver and many RV drivers require special licencing and the training that goes with the licence. Add to this a large and growing number of aged caravanners whose reflexes and attention may not be as sharp as they were, and we have the potential for disaster.
Most caravanners do the right thing however many through lack of education, ignorance or lack of being aware of their surroundings mistakenly hinder the truck drivers unintentionally. We aim to help address these issues.
I am happy to forward you a copy of the program and would invite you to share it with your readers when launched.
My contact details are included in this reply.
Stay safe
Ken Wilson
Well said Ken,
I tow a 17′ pop top and like many other caravanners will at all times do whatever I can to allow our truckies, as well as other motorists get past, I do not dawdle along at between 80-90kph instead I try to sit on a 100kph, that’s what I’m comfortable with.
I do understand why people towing big rigs travel at the slower speed though and do believe that many of those doing so will also do the right thing by our truckies and others, it is just a common sense and courtesy thing.
I have the utmost of respect for the guys and girls operating semis and road trains, the responsibility they have is plain awesome, well done guys.
Hear, hear. I believe that in the same way that the few truckies who display less than desirable behaviour on the roads don’t represent all truckies so too the few poorly behaved caravaners and motor home drivers don’t represent the majority who do take their responsibilities seriously including doing their best to minimise the impact their driving has on others.
Max, you surprised me with the figures you detailed in this article and I also sympathise with all the various drivers that end up having to slow down for a caravan or motor home. However the vast majority of the drivers of caravans or motor homes will endeavour to, where possible pull off the highway to allow vehicles to pass. But not of course every time a vehicle comes up behind. I usually either travel up to 10km before pulling over unless it is a large number of vehicles queued up. Personally I have never had problems with heavy vehicle drivers, it’s usually the local delivery driver that displays the most impatience. In saying that. there are many roads, especially in hilly or wet terrain where it is impossible to pull off the road, either because there is no shoulder or it is wet.
Being a truck driver and a caravanner, nothing is nicer than being in a semi trailer and hearing the voice of the caravaner in front come over the 2 way, saying, let me know when you want to overtake and I’ll slow down a little so you get by quicker. And I’ve always done the same whether driving a semi or towing a van.
It’s obvious that the other is traveling faster than you … so help him on his way.
This technique is very common for me too, to satisfy all other drivers when overtaking. I think, it is a safe manoeuver only when the overpassing vehicle gets into the lane next to you. Otherwise you would slow down that vehicle behind and would take longer time
for it to pick up the speed to pass in the shortest possible time.
I was told many years ago ( by a Truck Driver ) that if we RV’ers aren’t going to drive at 110kph on the open road, then sitting at around 90 will at least give them the opportunity to pass. If any Truckies have a better sensible non derogatory suggestion I for one would be only to happy to listen.
I do the speed limit with my 16f van and idiots still want to overtake and get in front then slow down.
Drivers don’t like looking at the back of a big rig.
Even in the burb’s, drivers will race to get passed you or pullout in front of you so they are not behind you.
Frustrates me big time.
We have lost the Australian politeness that was around along time ago. Now it’s a rush everywhere we go and those overtaking lanes that start at traffic lights and stop again on the other side are a road rage lanes… get more traffic through the lights. yeah right…
We are creatures of habit, stop using indicators at some intersections,, then we forget to use them we really need to. Sitting behind a big Van or Truck is the same thing, back off and you will travel Ok..
I have driven trucks all my life and now at age 61 have started the RV life. I now drive the cruiser and van no different to the truck. If Isee a truck coming up behind me in the distance I try and make some room,somewhere for him to pass. I know what it’s like trying to meet a deadline or trying to get to a factory to load before it shuts. As a truck is limited to a 100km it is very hard to pass a van doing 90 to 95km. Even in a dual lane its hard to get pass. People should spend a day in a truck to see the pressure you get put under. Now that I am Caravanning I keep a eye in the mirror all the time just as I did when trucking. I am on holidays so I have plenty of time to pull over and let them go. That’s what you do when you have all day to get wherever you end up. Trust me through there are also a lot of cowboys driving trucks and thats when the trouble seems to start. But we all should respect each other’s space.
I have been driving a motorhome around fir the last 10 years full time. The only issue I have with caravanners are usually the ones towing a camper trailer who want to pass everything it sight. They pass in dangerous situations, cut in and regularly break the speed limit. I do agree with Alex that politeness has all but disappeared. This is more evident when you do pull over for someone to overtake, the overtaking vehicle gives no indication of thanks. Once, a toot of the horn, or a flash of indicators would acknowledge. Sorry to say, but Queenslanders are by far the worst at being discourteous. It appears most of the road rules in Queensland are ‘optional’.
Problem i see is trucks do not have the power to pass. Speed limit is there for everyone.
That’s great advice, Frank.
Speed limit is the same for a caravan or roadtrain, if I have a truck come up on me I do the speed limit until it is safe to let it past
Anthony the speed limit for heavy vehicles up to bdouble is 100kph, roadtrains anywhere in Australia is limited to 90kph. As for caravans check out the tow vehicle specs most would indicate 80kph tow speed, although all states say you can tow a braked van at 100kph.
It’s not a power issues, heavy vehicles are speed limited by the ecm to 100 kph
As most trucks are speed limited to 100 it’s hard to get past someone doing between 90-95. It’s nothing to do with power, you try overtaking someone doing 95 without going over 100.
Rushing and impatience. Self importance. Road rage. Unrealistic schedules. Drugs. Too little sleep. Distractions. Unfamiliar roads.
All these and more you will encounter whilst travelling to most destinations on your adventure or when driving a truck.
Education can help prevent some of these problems but not overnight.
As a retired police officer, i remember many accidents and incidents that could have been avoided. At one stage accidents were known as collisions as an accident couldnt be prevented.
After 3 decades as one of those towing a caravan, I have just completed 3000km in 4 days without caravan in tow and I agree with the comments. I am ashamed to admit to being a caravaneer after what I witnesses over the school holidays by those towing. Drivers doing 50 in 80 zones, speeding up to 110 in overtaking zones, others towing vans flashing lights at other drivers to intimidate them whilst overtaking, I was disgusted at the actions I saw from those towing and can honestly say that on percentage they exhibited worse road manners than any other road users.
Brad school holidays are the worst in WA for this esp running up coast during july and sept/oct holidays.
I have been unintentionally caught in this melee in both of these periods and its down right dangerous I cruise at 100 simple fact no faster than a road-train I don’t have issues of trying to pass them and they generally won’t pass me either unless I am pulling over or turning off
Many a time I have made to look as if I am standing still at 100 by 4wds with camper trailer and boats on racks and even smaller cars with roof rack overloaded and swaying around many don’t realise maximum towing speed limit in WA is 100kmph regardless of itbeing 6×4 or a 53.5 triple roadtrain gcm 100+tonnes
MY other annoyance as mentioned by other truck drivers when you call up nobody responds to either your advice of overtaking or letting them know its OK to overtake
As a truck driver of roadtrains etc I find it more fustrating the number of caravaners and rv drivers who have the uhf turned off or as happened to me don’t listen when you advise them what they can do to help make the overtaking safer . Also please all who read this don’t just pull off to side to let us pass or as we overtake this is dangerous for many reasons including broken windscreens and can and does reduce visibility etc . So please if you have a uhf keep on 40 unless on the Pacific hwy between Brisbane and Sydney then its channel 29 that way we can call you up on the uhf and let you know we are overtaking and you tell us if any oncoming traffic and that works in reverse
We use the UHF 40 most times but the foul language with 3 kids in the car makes us turn it off.
Spot on!
We live full time in our van and travel .We travel between the hours 9am -3pm max but try to be off the road early if possible. We all ways let the truckies if behind us to let us know when they would like to pass so we can let them do so safely. As well I thought there was a rule that said you are to pull over when safe if there is a number of vehicles behind you.
Karen you are to be commended. There is no rule per se, for letting a bankup of traffic to pass just a courtesy on your part as a fellow road user to let this happen.
When a semi is about to overtake, I touch my brake pedal so that the driver knows I am slowing down. He then responds with a double flasher blink and I know my action was appreciated
My biggest gripe about caravanners/ rv’s is that when the goverment build new 24 hour parking bay sites tourists/ vanners get a toilet, seats to eat their lunch, shelter from the weather etc. truckies get A parking bay-thats it – nothing else. And no, we cant share the parking bay with vanners as we cant fit in them with roadtrains
A van that gets a sway ,well in that case LEARN TO LOAD IT CORRECTLY .Caravanners that are oblivious and just sit there going slow and will not pull over to let the faster but not able to overtake vehicle overtake.If you are too scared to be able to drive safely at the speed limit you should NOT be behind the wheel in the first place.I have been stuck behind a semi with 4 cars behind it in the Coaster bus with a big trailer behind it and was able to safely overtake all including the semi ,all of a sudden Oh maybe if the bus can do it I might be able to as well ,I saw the cars start to overtake.I drive roadtrains and there is nothing more frustrating getting stuck behind some ignoramus/self important do not care about anyone else driver that is doing 80kph for 50km or more because although I am able to do 100kph just do not have the get up and go to overtake, bearing in mind it can take me over a km to overtake a car let alone a car and caravan,that is longer than I like to be on the wrong side of the road.
Consideration and respect from ALL road sets for ALL road users. To simple? Probably
As an experienced grey nomad I have travelled tens of thousands of klm’s over the years. I have found in the last ten years or so for all types of road users, that common curtesy on our roads is a dying art. I have found that there are just as many bad truck drivers as car drivers and RV drivers on our roads. You should not tar everyone with the same brush just because of a few inconsiderate people. I travel at around 85 – 95 klm per hour and generally call a truck following me to offer to slow down to let him pass when it is safe to do so. I have never had a truckie call me up and tell me he is about to overtake me. As mentioned in one of the previous feeds about exceeding the speed limit when overtaking, in the police eyes overtaking is no excuse for exceeding the speed limit and if caught you will be fined.
I have just driven Cairns to Townsville for the V8’s. I was constantly on UHF 40 keeping trucks updated on my progress and helping the get past me; I got nothing but thanks from all of truckies on both trips.
Moral of the story is if you have radio use it!!!!!!!
Cheers,
Tom
I’ve been a caravaner for 5yrs and am very aware of trucks and endeavour to move over when I can and slow down as they pass. Yesterday on my way out of Melbourne on the Hume Hwy (not towing a van) I had a Semi up my tail, in the righty hand lane, and noticed the truckie on his Mb phone and then grab a ciggy of the dash and then light it. Now you can’t do that with 2 hands on the wheel. I travel this piece of the Hume regularly. There are many out there Car, Truck and RVers who travel in their own little world, most are aware and there are a lot of very good Car, Truck and RV drivers out there, it’s just up to all of us to be aware of who is around us and as another suggested USE YOUR MIRRORS!
Happy Traveller
PB
I am the passenger with my husband being the driver, who is very considerate to the truck driver. But for me there sheer size and speed scare the pants off me, to the point it does spoil my trip sometimes.
Safe travels to all on the road.
We were travelling east on the Nullabor and there was an escorted truck carrying huge earth moving equipment tyres which overhung the truck by a large margin. The escort vehicle was in front of us by about 3/4 km and we were travelling at 95 kms due to extreme cross winds and rain coming from the south. The truck with the tyres suddenly overtook us and had to be doing well over 100kms and forced us over into the gravel causing the van to extremely sway and my hubby trying to slow to a stop in a real hurry. When we got to border Roadhouse, the vehicles had stopped there. In a hurry for lunch. Later, when we stopped for night, we discovered black tyre marks and scratches on the side of the van. Obviously, the truck had swayed into our van while overtaking. He could have caused our van to roll, so we were very lucky.
Another problem is a lot of people don’t know if their speedo is accurate, most are out by 5-10km. At your indicated 95km you most likely were travelling at 90km.
Truck drivers are normally only allowed to travel 12hrs a day, so 10km per hour makes a big difference to the length of a trip.
Also more chance it was your van swaying than his trailer.
If I feel comfortable doing 80-90 on the road and you come up behind me doing 100, I will slow down to 60-70 when there is a chance of you passing .BUT there is no way I am going to drop my wheels off the side of the badly built roads at those speeds.When pulling off the side to a safe spot I will slow to 30 and drop off edge.If on overtaking lane will drop speed to allow cars to pass easily but find some will just get past you and sit there in right lane not allowing others to follow through passing.
Interesting that we keep getting comments about caravans needing to be courteous to the trucks and acknowledge that they are at work and we may be on holiday, well in my opinion this is a two way street after countless Nullarbor crossings, as well as trips to the NT and Queensland, I can’t recall a time when a truck driver thought to call me up on the radio (most caravanners do have radios these days) and let me know what his/her attentions were, it is always up to me to make the first contact and although most are courteous and appreciative some don’,t even bother to respond. on many occasions I have had large trucks sitting metres from, the back of my van (and car when travelling solo) so even if my intention is to pull over and let them pass there is no chance as I can’t wash off enough speed to get into a lay by, also re the we are working and you are not, well guess what, the person towing that caravan may be on their first holiday in years , I agree that some may travel slightly too slow however it should be noted that the speed limit is a speed limit and not a target, we are all supposed to drive to the conditions and within our ability. for the record I tow a 23’van at 90kph although on occasion I have had to drop the speed considerably due to the road conditions not being conducive to that speed, I have also found that in hilly country I am travelling faster than most trucks, however i don’t get on the radio and gibe them a mouthful about holding me up because I only have 2 weeks annual leave and need to be somewhere. this is a bit like the car and Bicycle debate. what is surprising is that all truck drivers are car drivers, and a surprisingly large number also become caravanners.
I am Caravan tower and also a truck driver and see good and bad on both sides. The one thing that totally amazes me is not just people towing caravans and large boats e.t.c. is people that do NOT have adequate mirrors to see the lanes either side of the van or boat. They may as well be driving blind.
I have never had a problem using UHF 40 letting truckies know that I can move over a bit and back off when they are Ready to come around and let them know that they are past and to bring it back it back when they are clear to come back.I always get ” Thanks mate have a safe one” it’s easy they appreciate that and so do I
NZ have a good culture of allowing following vehicles to pass because of there winding roads. Some time ago I was following a slow car doing 90km/h in a 100km/h zone, and when the passing lane came he speed up to 100km/h and I could not get past him. This happened 3 more times before being able to pass him in a town! After entering a passing lane when towing a van I slow down to allow other vehicles to pass.
Plenty of good comments but as a former truck driver & a caravan towing Grey nomad my main theory is “I’d rather be looking at the Rear of a truck than have the front bumper in my rear vision mirror” If I’m travelling along the road I will call up & assist any driver to pass where I think it’s SAFE for both of us. My main gripes are the Lack of USEFUL Rear vision Mirrors ( and why this aspect of Safe towing is not Policed is beyond me) & the people who are happy to drive along at 85-95 kms until they get to a passing lane & suddenly find extra power to get to 100 kms until they are at the end of the lane & go back to their slower speed.As someone else said “where’s the common courtesy gone.
It’s a matter of relativity. Car drivers may think that trucks hold them up, while truckies may think that caravanners deter their progress towards daily deadlines. From another perspective I’ve ridden motorcycles all my life and believe me nothing spoils a fine stretch of tight winding road like all of the above. As for overtaking these mobile roadblocks, most twisty roads usually have double centre lines that make this option illegal. Tootling along on two wheels at these cumbersome speeds brings forth a mix of curses and yawns from behind helmet visors, but that’s life; we all have equal entitlement to be on our roads, not to mention to travel at speeds we are comfortable with. When wearing my caravanning hat, I usually tow at anywhere between 85 and 100 depending on conditions and do my utmost to make life easier for both car and truck drivers. This includes moving over and slowing down to hasten their overtaking task. Showing some courtesy isn’t hard and I am rewarded when truckies give me the old left-right-left indicator flashes (I have not yet fitted a radio) as a sign of their appreciation after overtaking. Decent mirrors and rear view cameras are also invaluable. I’ve even seen some tow vehicles with standard mirrors. How this works with a van that’s wider than the tow car is a mystery.