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Caravanning jargon & technical terms

We've put together a list of some of the technical terms you're likely to hear as a new caravanner, along with a brief explanation of each.

Levelling

Levelling your caravan means making sure it's evenly balanced, side to side, once you've arrived at your pitch.

To make things easy, leave the caravan attached to the car while you level it. Go to the back of the caravan and use a spirit level to find out if it's sloping one way or the other. If it's not level, identify which side needs raising and place levelling blocks (you can buy levelling ramps, or just use your own wooden blocks) behind the necessary wheels.

Use the car to pull the caravan wheels onto the levelling blocks and, if you've judged the height well, your caravan will be sitting perfectly level.

Corner Steadies

Corner steadies are found on the external corners of your caravan - and their purpose is to keep your caravan steady. Lowering the steadies is the equivalent of dropping anchor at sea.

Nose Weight

Not to be confused with the maximum weight of your caravan, the nose weight is an important factor in the stability of your vehicle when you're towing. Too little nose weight (essentially the weight at the front of the van, weighing down on the towbar) can lead to snaking, but you must also be careful not to exceed manufacturers recommendations.

Hitching/Coupling

Hitching and coupling are terms which refer to the process of attaching your caravan to your tow vehicle via the tow ball. For advice on hitching and unhitching your vehicles, visit the Camping and Caravanning Club's FAQ service.

Jockey Wheel

The Jockey wheel is a small, retractable wheel at the front of a caravan, which supports the van when it is not attached to a tow vehicle. The jockey wheel also enables the van to be moved, hitched and levelled.

Awning

Essentially a tent attachment for your caravan, designed to give you more living space. Awnings are available in all kinds of shapes and sizes, and provide somewhere to sleep when it's too warm, or to store muddy bikes and shoes.