3 Terrifying Towing Situations Caravan Owners Never Forget
Ask any caravanner about their worst moment on the road and the room goes quiet. Most of them remember it in detail. Here are three situations that have scared real drivers, and why so many owners now think twice about the long haul.
1. Halfway past a truck, the caravan starts to move sideways
In September 2026, a ute towing a caravan was overtaking a grain-laden road train in Western Australia’s Great Southern region. Partway through the manoeuvre the caravan began to fishtail and the driver lost control.
The truck driver caught it all on her dashcam. She later said the ute was already coming towards her trailers, and she had to decide whether to go over the edge or hold her line.
Both drivers walked away unharmed. The driver of the ute was shaken and very apologetic. Authorities used the footage to remind holiday travellers to slow down, take a break every two hours and share the driving.
An overtake looks routine until the caravan stops following the car. At that point you’re past the point of no return, with a truck on one side and nowhere to go.
2. The tyre blows, and there’s nowhere safe to stop
One UK owner described a caravan tyre blowing as they joined the A14 near Newmarket in July 2022.
They were doing only about 40mph, and her husband spotted smoke from the tyre just before it went.
He kept control, but there was no hard shoulder, so they pulled onto a grass verge right beside a live traffic lane.
What followed was a long, uncomfortable wait. The breakdown company advised calling the police. The police closed the lane and wanted the wheel changed on the spot. Eventually a recovery truck arrived, changed the wheel and the couple were escorted off the road. (This is one owner’s account, not an investigated incident.)
The blowout was frightening, but stopping next to moving traffic was worse. Other owners who replied to her post had similar stories, and many said they now check tyre age, sidewalls and pressures before every trip.
3. A gust on Van Reenen’s Pass
On 7 May 2026, motorists on the N3 between KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State were warned about winds exceeding 70km/h around Van Reenen’s Pass. The N3 Toll Concession specifically asked drivers towing caravans and trailers to take extra care between Ladysmith and Harrismith.
Wind you can hear is unsettling. A gust that physically pushes your caravan is something else. If you’ve towed up or down the escarpment, you probably know exactly what that feels like.
What these moments have in common
None of them need bad driving. A normal overtake, an ordinary tyre and a stretch of road you’ve driven before were enough. And all three become more likely the longer the tow.
A Johannesburg to Durban return trip is around 1,200km behind a caravan, including the passes, the trucks and the long, tiring hours.
Why many owners are leaving the long tow behind
Store your caravan or boat with us at Oasis in Camperdown/Eston, 4km off the N3. Drive to the coast in your car, and when you’re ready, collect your caravan and tow only the short stretch to Durban and back, about 120km instead of 1,200.
- No long haul over Van Reenen’s with a caravan on the back
- Fewer hours and kilometres exposed to traffic, wind and fatigue
- Less wear on tyres, bearings and brakes before you’ve even reached the coast
- A caravan that’s stored, secure and ready when you are
The best-planned journey is the one with the fewest chances for something to go wrong.
Which has given you the biggest fright: crosswinds, caravan sway or a tyre blowout? Tell us your story in the comments.
Sources: ABC News (25 Sept 2026), Caravan Club “Club Together” forum (July 2022), IOL (7 May 2026).