How to Pack a Caravan for Shipping

Caravans and motorhomes are now imported from all over the world. We can help you decide if a vehicle is suitable for transportation and how to prepare it for its journey.

Shipping a caravan is more challenging than sending a car or truck. The good news is that we can make it easier by giving you tips on packing your caravan for shipping.

Many people who own traveling caravans use professional caravan transportation services to move them. There are various reasons for this. And you may also require assistance transferring your caravan.

Maybe you need to have your caravan transported a considerable distance but don't feel competent or experienced enough to do it yourself. Whatever your issue is, getting your trailer ready for the courier to collect and tow is a crucial part of the process.

Six Essential Steps to Take Before Transporting Your Caravan Across Country

The following steps are essential for safe and event-free transportation. Be sure to complete all parts of the preparation process, no matter how time-poor you are.

1) Do a thorough cleaning

Transporting your motorhome is best done when the vehicle is clean and in good condition, and this is not just for the aesthetics: cleaning the outside of the caravan will reveal any dings or scrapes already there.

Make a record of these dents and marks in case new ones appear after delivery. It's also an excellent idea to clean the inside of the caravan.

Cleaning and tidying not only leaves the interior looking neat and presentable, but it will also give you a chance to remove any stray objects that could become lost or dangerous in transit.

Remove loose personal items such as clothing, jewelry, books, and kitchen items.

2) Separate the caravan

You will likely have the caravan hooked up to the campsite's utilities, such as water and power, before having it moved. Before moving the caravan, ensure that everything is turned off and secured.

If you have a gas stove, turn it off and disconnect the gas line, and make sure any other switches are in the off position before leaving the caravan. The caravan should have no gas tanks, as they present a serious fire risk.

3) Reduce the weight

Remove extra baggage from the caravan. Additional time and fuel costs will be associated with transporting a heavier caravan. A transportation company may provide you with an estimate before considering the extra time and money needed due to increased fuel usage.

Get rid of bulky items that could make towing the caravan more difficult.

4) Check the tire pressure

Just like with vehicles and trucks, it's crucial that your touring caravan's tires are properly inflated to the specified pressure. If the tires on the towing vehicle are not properly inflated, pulling the caravan will require more fuel.

Before having the van towed, check the tires' tread depth to ensure they meet the standards.

5) Make sure you are properly covered by insurance

Towing insurance is something that companies specializing in moving touring caravans will provide. Nonetheless, you should inquire into the extent of these protections.

Verify that your caravan's insurance policy includes coverage for towing before transporting your caravan.

6) Make sure that your caravan has been inspected before transport.

A qualified technician must inspect the caravan to ensure everything is working properly. If anything is amiss, they'll let you know.

The Importance of Packing Your Caravan Properly Before Shipping Overseas.

Packing and cleaning your caravan will ensure that it arrives in pristine condition.

If you want to avoid any problems with customs officials when they inspect your caravan, you'll want to clean it thoroughly. A dirty or messy caravan will only cause delays.

1) Stow your personal belongings safely.

You can stow your personal belongings inside the caravan or in the container's unused space if you're shipping your caravan in a container.

2) All items MUST be disclosed to customs and manifested.

A list of all the components and their approximate values is required. Items can be grouped. For instance, only the approximate value of the items is needed.

3) Personal belongings must be packaged in boxes

This is so that Customs can remove them for inspection and easily verify that all commodities are present and accounted for.

Removing the boxes from the motorhome or camper is frequently necessary to clean them of contaminants. It is best not to simply stuff the interior with unpackaged items; this makes handling challenging and piece count accountability nearly impossible.

4) Be sure to mark each box.

If you have 23 boxes, mark them as 1/23, 2/23, etc. Declare the contents of each box as you fill it so that it can be seen, for instance, that box 3 contains wood products.

By doing this, quarantine inspectors will just need to open box 3 and won't need to inspect all of your belongings.

5) Make sure that your caravan has been inspected by an official.

You must get an inspection certificate from the country you plan to send it to.

6) Remove the wheels

If your caravan has removable wheels, take them off before removal. Wheels can easily become damaged if they're left in place while being moved.

International Caravan Shipping Options

There are a number of options available for international shipping. It's best to consider each one closely.

Containers

The first thing you need to know about caravan shipping is that most people ship their caravans in containers. A container is a large box with wheels on the bottom.

Containers come in various sizes but usually range between 20 and 40 feet in length. When you get your caravan shipped this way, you will have to load it into the container yourself.

If you don't want to do this, you should consider hiring someone to do it for you.

The second thing to consider is that if you plan to ship your caravan via ocean freight, you will need to pay extra for the container loading service.

Ocean Freight

Ocean freight is much more expensive than other methods of caravan transport. However, it does give you the option of having your caravan delivered directly to its destination.

If you choose to use an ocean freight carrier, you will also need to provide them with a bill of loading, which tells the carrier which items are being transported and where they are going.

Air Freight

You might also want to consider using an air freight carrier. Air freight carriers are used when you want to transport something across the country. They are very common when it comes to transporting cars, trucks, and RVs.

Conclusion

The preparation process for packing your caravan for shipping is detailed and complex. However, the most significant consideration when considering the process will always be the weight of your van. Remember that choosing to leave your personal belongings inside the van will always impact your shipping costs.

For more information on costs associated with shipping your caravan, we are here to answer any questions you may have. We at A-1 Auto Transportare the best option for transporting your car, caravan, or various vehicles.

We have been in this industry for quite some time and can guarantee you the greatest service for the best possible price.