If you’re new to off-road towing, you’ll need to get up to speed on your towing skills, one wrong turn out in the bush could leave you more than a little red-faced.

Not to worry though, we’ve got all the basic skills you need to know to get to where you’re going, and back again, safely.

Control your speed

It should go without saying, but always be aware of your speed, no matter where you are. Dirt and gravel roads though can be extra tricky - traction is your main concern here because it’s a lot tougher for the tyres to grip to the road. The biggest issue is when bumps in the road cause the suspension to unload or lift pressure off the wheel, when this happens on a bend at speed then you’ll really be in for a ride.

Avoid dead end tracks

Reversing is fine when you’ve got the room to turn but get caught down a dead end with little clearance and the prospect of turning around becomes a little more difficult. It pays to check things out on foot first sometimes.

Know your limits

Even if you think the conditions are perfect, the last place you want to risk anything is in the bush. Always be mindful not only of your own limitations but the limitations of your van and towing vehicle, too. Ground clearance, weight, length and whole lot more come into play, so make sure you have a plan-B in place in case plan-A backfires.

Tight turns

Tight turns are the bane of many caravanners’ existence but there’s a few tricks that can really help you. The first is to activate your trailer’s brakes independently to your tow vehicle as you start to reverse. This will cause the caravan to jack-knife faster.

Straightening yourself up afterwards isn’t a matter of driving straight, Instead, if you exaggerate the turn both ways it should straighten you up quicker.

Gear selection

Try to avoid shifting gears when you’re driving up a steep hill, you might lose momentum and engaging the clutch on the way down will cause you to lose engine braking. And you don’t want to be free rolling down a hill.

Pick a gear and stick to it, low-range gears work best.

This article was originally featured on Without a Hitch.