The travel restrictions in the Corona pandemic have apparently sparked German interest in motorhomes. According to the Federal Statistical Office, 10,460 new registrations for campers were issued in May this year. That is a good 29 percent more than a year earlier.
Motorhome: Which license is required?
A normal car driving license, class B, is sufficient for motorhomes under 3.5 tons. If the motorhome is heavier, you need at least class C1. It can drive vehicles up to 7.5 tons. Driving licenses issued before 1999 allow driving in both classes.
Beginners should first rent a motorhome and not buy it. So you can find out which type suits you in peace.
With a trailer: Predictive driving is particularly important
What many caravan beginners are not aware of: They drive a small truck, so sporty driving is taboo. The car accelerates slowly and overtaking takes much longer than without a trailer. Predictive driving is particularly important. Starting slowly and braking gently is not only the safest, but also the most economical driving style.
Caution is advised when cornering because the centrifugal force pulls the trailer outwards. Cross winds are particularly dangerous for teams. On bridges you can feel gusts more violently than usual, and every bus or truck gives the caravan a shock as it drives past.
Passing through tunnels: caution is required here
If the caravan starts to roll despite all caution, only a courageous step on the brake pedal will help. When the road is curved, a high trailer sometimes leans so much to the side that it can graze lanterns, trees or house edges.
What is often forgotten are the height and width of the trailer – this can be problematic, especially in tunnels. On motorway service stations, the paths to the car parking lots are often covered with a metal frame. If you don't want to outline this, you should definitely follow the caravan signs and park there, but never in truck parking spaces.
Treacherous: better avoid steep slopes
Not only for beginners, but also for experienced rides with the team over mountain passes are a real challenge. The ADAC recommends avoiding steep and long passes and taking a detour. If you still want to dare, you should start the mountain tour in the early morning or before sunrise. Then the air temperature is lower and there is less traffic. Cars with automatic transmission and hill start assist are recommended – they help beginners to have a relaxed journey.
Check the temperature display: The brakes and clutch can quickly become too hot
Speaking of temperature: when driving uphill you should pay attention to the temperature display for the cooling water. If the pointer goes into the red area, you have to stop immediately and let the engine cool down. The clutch can also become too hot if you have to let it grind more frequently in column traffic.
The same can happen to the brakes. This is especially true when driving downhill: Then the braking force decreases and the braking distance is extended.
Pay attention to correct charging: Failure to do so can result in severe penalties
The payload is repeatedly exceeded during packing. This can lead to severe penalties, especially abroad, and can also overwhelm the towing vehicle. The best thing to do is to choose the caravan in such a way that its gross vehicle weight remains about 200 kilograms below the maximum permissible load of the towing vehicle.
A special driver safety training is also recommended for complete caravan beginners. You quickly get a feel for the special features and challenges when driving with a team.
FOCUS Online has created a practical checklist for equipment for beginners.
Read also: Despite Corona: majority of people in Germany do not want to camp this summer