Adventure calls. It pulls at you like a strong wind at sea, steady and relentless. You are no stranger to this. The road opens up before you, and with it, the freedom of the journey. But freedom is no excuse for carelessness. The land is unforgiving, and so is the road, if you don’t prepare well.
Gas Off, Safety On
You’ve seen it before—the men who think they can outrun danger. But fire is quicker than any man, and gas does not care for the optimism of the traveller. Turn it off, every time. There’s no romance in a blown-out rig, no glory in the risk of flame. When you pull into a servo, you will thank yourself for the caution.
Fold Back the Step
The metal step—small, insignificant. Until it isn’t. The wind pulls at it, the gravel tears at it, and before long, what once made entry easier will now cost you. Do not let it drag. Fold it back, and fold it back every time. The habit will save you, though you won’t know it until it does.
Lift the Stabiliser Legs
There are those who forget this part. It is easy to forget, and easy to pay the price. You’ve heard the sound before: metal on asphalt, the scream of it. It grinds away your good sense and your peace, along with the undercarriage of your van. Lift the legs. Do it with precision and do it with care, for the road does not forgive ignorance.
Chocks Away
You feel it in your bones—the uneasy bump that should not be. You’ve left the chocks. Worse yet, you’ve left the ramps. The road is laughing at you now. A quick walkaround would have saved you, and you know it. Secure it all. The awning, the loose parts—tie them down like the sailors tie their ships to the dock. Use what you can. CampBoss Ratchies, Affordable Mats—tools, no more, no less. But tools that can save a man from the wrath of the road.
Batten Down the Hatches
Look up. Always look up. The roof hatch swings loose in the wind, and with it, the troubles of an unthinking man. If the roof is not sealed, the sky will come crashing through. Check the hatches. Once. Twice. It will save you more times than you will care to admit.
The road is long and it is rough. You’ve been down it before, but a checklist is no less valuable for the veteran. You think you know the dangers, but they come in new shapes each time. Protect your caravan. Protect it like a man protects his own skin, for it is your shelter in this world. Consider the stone guards from Xtend Outdoors—shield your home from the small but deadly rocks that litter the path.
Now, the road awaits. Take these words and carry them with you, like you carry your map and your compass. You will need them all before the journey’s end.
To learn more about Caravanning and see the latest products on the market makes ure to head down to the Sunshine Coast Expo held from the 27th to 29th of September at the Kawana Sports Precinct. It’s a one stop shop for everything you might need while venturing out into the great outdoors.
