With the start of their dream road trips rapidly approaching on 1 August, the Dometic Follow the Sun winners are meticulously planning for every aspect of their three-month caravanning journeys.
The three winners will explore various routes between Cairns and Melbourne, raising funds and awareness for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) along the way. Two runners-up will go on shorter, one-month tours.
For all, it will be the trip of a lifetime.
Cairns-based ‘Adventure Mumma’ Kate Richards will be travelling with husband Robert, and children Charlie and Josh, and is busy sifting through every detail.
“It’s going to be an incredible experience. We want to be ready for everything so we can focus on the wonderful sights of Australia and our fundraising activities,” she said.
“We’re doing a towing course to refresh our skills, as small things like reversing a caravan can be a challenge. Dometic has helped a lot by taking us through these kind of courses.
“A friend gave us a great piece of advice to keep four people’s possessions in order - a colour-coding system. We will definitely be trying that out.”
The old-fashioned checklist is also a powerful planning tool.
Everything from luggage and food to emergency and mechanical items should be listed and ticked off prior to departure, says Adelaide travel writer Grant Hanan.
“You hope you’ll never need it, but even the most experienced caravaners can have breakdowns. Having the right tools on hand can save the day,” he said.
Dometic Australia’s Head of Marketing Justine Schuller said it is a good idea to test all your onboard appliances and power solutions before you hit the road.
“More importantly have your towing vehicle and recreational vehicle serviced, and all towing equipment tested, so you don’t get caught out while cruising the country side”, said Ms Schuller.
To keep the Ambassadors safe on the road, Dometic Follow the Sun partners G&S Chassis provided a full service, safety and suspension check for all of the Ambassadors’ vehicles.
Also partners of the campaign, CIL Insurance additionally provided 12 months insurance for all recreational vehicles.
“We are grateful to our partners, who have helped in getting our Ambassadors ready for the road, as safety is paramount to us,” said Ms Schuller.
“Doing the simple things like securing loose items is another way to make your life on the road easier. Containers and racks are easy fixes.
“My partner, Linda and I also have assigned roles in setting up and packing down. This means we don’t waste any time or overlook anything, so we can focus on relaxing and exploring.”
Make sure your next caravan road holiday is a success with the Dometic Follow the Sun winners’ top tips:
- Firstly, ensure your towing vehicle and recreational vehicle has a full service and a safety check before hitting the road. Ensure your suspension and necessary towing equipment such as the tow bar, tow ball, shackles and wiring is intact. It pays to spend the extra time on getting your vehicles ready as you don’t want to get caught out on the road.
- Also check that your roadside assistance and vehicle insurance is current to cover yourself for any unexpected incidents.
- Take your vehicle out for a test run before the trip to make sure all your onboard appliances and power solutions work as they should.
- Reversing a caravan into a tight spot can be challenging. Make a plan and practice at home how each person can aid the driver, or take a towing course to get your skills up to speed. Safety first is a good practice while on the road – the last thing you want to deal with while you’re on holidays is the stress of traffic incidents.
- Create checklists for luggage, food and other essentials like emergency and mechanical items.
- When travelling as family, colour code things like toothbrushes and towels to easily identify each persons’ belongings.
- Avoid unwanted damage by securing loose items before departing. Use containers and racks to store easily lost objects.
- Prepare your family for time in a confined environment by allocating individual areas and respecting each other’s personal space.
- Ensure hours are not wasted setting up and packing down sites by dividing up responsibilities.
- Stay flexible and retain your sense of fun as plans may change at any time.
The Follow the Sun campaign winners set off from Cairns on 1 August. They will host ‘Happy Hours’ along the way. Follow their progress on www.dometicfollowthesun.com.au.
