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The Camping and Caravanning Club’s safety advice, GOV.UK’s towing rules and the Highway Code, as one list for a caravan, motorhome or campervan.
The Camping and Caravanning Club’s safety advice comes down to a few things: a carbon monoxide alarm and a smoke alarm in the unit, a way to put out a small fire, a first aid kit, the right hook-up lead, and gas looked after properly. Its firmest rule is about carbon monoxide: never take a barbecue, even a cooling one, into a tent, awning, caravan or motorhome, and never heat a tent or awning with a fuel-burning appliance. This builder starts there.
If you tow, the law adds its own list. GOV.UK says you must have suitable towing mirrors if the caravan is wider than the rear of your car, and a breakaway cable or secondary coupling; Rule 98 of the Highway Code says don’t overload the car or caravan, put heavy items over the axle and keep a downward load on the tow ball. Those lines say ‘if you tow’: skip them for a motorhome or campervan.
Tell us who is travelling and lines for children and pets appear. There is no day count: this is the kit that lives in the van, not the holiday food shop. For the car itself in winter, see the winter car kit.
Who is this for?
Your list: 16 items, 10 essential
You probably own some of this already: only buy the gaps. Each price shows when it was checked.
- Carbon monoxide alarm for leisure use1 Essential
The Camping and Caravanning Club says consider a carbon monoxide alarm tested to BS EN 50291-2 and Kitemarked, though never as an alternative to the safety rules: no barbecues inside, no fuel-burning heaters in tents or awnings, no generators inside. It says alarms can be used in tents and awnings with a lanyard. Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service says consider fitting one in your caravan.
One in the caravan or van, to BS EN 50291-2, the part of the standard for caravans, boats and other leisure spaces; a second on a lanyard if you use an awning. Have gas appliances serviced regularly too, the Club says.
FireAngel FA6812Also good: FireAngel FA6813 — £13.98as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.£18.99Check price →Compareas of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. - Smoke alarm1 Essential
The Camping and Caravanning Club says add a smoke alarm approved to BS EN 14604, and recommends the optical type, which is less likely to give false alarms in a small space. Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service says fit and test a smoke alarm in your caravan.
One battery optical alarm for the living space. Test it at the start of every trip.
FireAngel FA6615-RAlso good: FireAngel FA6611-R — £15.99as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.£11.99Check price →Compareas of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. - Fire blanket1 Optional
The Camping and Caravanning Club says a fire blanket near the stove is worth adding, to smother a small fire quickly.
One, mounted within reach of the hob but not over it.
Fire blankets we’ve checked → - Water mist fire extinguisherOptional
The Camping and Caravanning Club suggests an approved water mist extinguisher, which can be used on most fires in a leisure vehicle, including electrical ones. It does not recommend dry powder in an enclosed space: the powder can compact while travelling, it cuts visibility badly and it can cause breathing problems. Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service says keep an extinguisher by the entrance and read the instructions first.
One, by the door. The Club’s rule comes first: get out and stay out, and use the extinguisher only to help you get out.
Extinguishers compared → - Fire bucket of water outside1 Essential
The Camping and Caravanning Club recommends a fire bucket full of water outside your unit, especially on sites with no firefighting equipment. It also says raise a stove or barbecue off the ground, and keep it clear of overhanging branches.
One bucket, filled when you pitch. Any bucket that holds water will do.
- First aid kit1 Essential
The Camping and Caravanning Club says always have a first aid kit for simple emergencies, and don’t keep it sealed until it is needed: check what is inside, that it is in date, and that you know how to use it. For ticks, it suggests a proper removal tool.
One for the van. Our first aid kit builder lists the contents; add a tick remover if you walk in long grass or woods.
Steroplast 70-pieceAlso good: Lifesystems Waterproof First Aid Kit — £21.99as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.£19.99Check price →Compareas of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. - Torch or lantern (not candles)2 torchesEssential
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service says keep a torch handy for emergencies and never use lighted candles in or near a tent. The Camping and Caravanning Club suggests small lights near guy lines and pegs so people don’t trip over them in the dark.
A torch for each adult and a lantern for the awning or the table.
Ledlenser ML6 Warm LightAlso good: BioLite AlpenGlow 250 — £59.95as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.£56.57Check price →Compareas of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. - Mains hook-up cable, and test the RCD1 Essential
The Camping and Caravanning Club says always use a purpose-built lead for your unit, plug it into the caravan or motorhome first and the site bollard second so you never carry a live lead, and unroll it fully so heat can escape. Test the residual current device (RCD) every time you plug in.
One 25-metre lead, the length the Club recommends to avoid extra joints. Don’t plug a splitter into the site bollard, or charge an electric car from it.
- Solar panel to top up the leisure battery (off hook-up)Optional
The Camping and Caravanning Club says a solar panel can be an excellent source of power when off grid, but its output should be fed through a regulator, sometimes known as a charge controller: connected straight to the battery, the voltage can climb high enough to damage it. The Caravan and Motorhome Club suggests a solar panel and charge controller to keep the leisure battery charged, and warns that a battery works harder in the cold and holds less as it ages.
One folding panel with its own charge controller, if you stay off hook-up. Before you go, check the battery's charge with a voltmeter, with the 12V appliances switched off, as the Caravan and Motorhome Club suggests.
Renogy 200W 12V Solar Suitcase Kit with 20A PWM ControllerAlso good: Renogy 100W 12V Solar Suitcase Kit with 20A PWM Controller — £139.99checked 21 Oct 2026 - Gas cylinders secured upright, and a leak checkEssential
The Camping and Caravanning Club says follow the supplier’s instructions and carry and store cylinders upright, positioned so they can’t fall over or come loose. The Caravan and Motorhome Club says never look for a leak with a naked flame: brush washing-up liquid solution or a leak detector spray over the joint and watch for bubbles. Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service says change cylinders only when completely empty, and never smoke while you do.
Cylinders strapped upright in the gas locker, and a small leak-test spray. Have the gas system serviced regularly, as the Club says.
What to do if you smell gas → - Drinking water containerOptional
The Camping and Caravanning Club says don’t leave the safety of a campsite without clean water and a few high-energy snacks. A food-grade container kept only for drinking water means you always have some, whatever the site’s taps are like.
One food-grade container for drinking water, rinsed and refilled for each trip.
25L Hard Water Jerry Can (food grade)£13.25Check price →Compareas of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. - Towing mirrors (if you tow)Essential
GOV.UK says fit suitable towing mirrors if your trailer or caravan is wider than the rear of your car; you can be fined up to £1,000 and get 3 penalty points for towing without proper ones. Rule 98 of the Highway Code says towing mirrors MUST be used if the trailer obstructs your view to the rear.
A pair, one each side, taken off when you drive solo. The Caravan and Motorhome Club says that if you are unsure your mirrors give an adequate view, buy a pair approved to EU directive 2003/97 or 2005/27.
- Breakaway cable or secondary coupling (if you tow)Essential
GOV.UK says you must use a breakaway cable or secondary coupling in case the trailer comes away from the car, and a trailer over 750 kg loaded must have working brakes. The Caravan and Motorhome Club says the cable should run straight through its guide, with enough slack to turn but never dragging on the ground.
The one on your caravan, checked before every trip: attached where the towbar maker says, and not frayed. Replace it if it is damaged.
- Noseweight gauge (if you tow)Optional
Rule 98 of the Highway Code says distribute the weight with heavy items over the axle and keep a downward load on the tow ball, without exceeding the maker’s recommended weight and tow ball load, to reduce snaking. The Caravan and Motorhome Club says the general figure for stability is 5 to 7% of the caravan’s actual laden weight, never more than your car’s limit, and recommends a gauge marked with the British Standard.
One gauge, used after loading and before you set off. Your car’s handbook gives its noseweight limit.
- Spare wheel, jack and a tyre pressure gaugeEssential
The Caravan and Motorhome Club strongly advises carrying a spare wheel and tyre, and says check pressures regularly, spare included. It recommends replacing caravan tyres at five years old and never using them past seven, however good they look, because age counts from when the tyre was made. Rule 98 says all tyres must be legal before you tow.
A spare of the same specification, a jack and wheel brace that fit, and a pressure gauge. Check the date code on each tyre once a year.
Tyre inflators we’ve checked → - Paper map or road atlasOptional
The Camping and Caravanning Club says carry basic kit such as a paper map, compass, torch and whistle if you go off the beaten track, and tell family or friends where you are going and when you expect to be back. Rural sites and diversions are where phone signal and sat-navs give out.
A current road atlas in the car, and a local map for walks.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.£14.19Check price →Compareas of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · Details
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Carbon monoxide, the Camping and Caravanning Club’s rules: never take a barbecue into a tent, awning, caravan or motorhome, even a cooling one; never use a fuel-burning appliance to heat a tent or awning (gas and kerosene heaters outside only, unless permanently fitted); never run a gas, petrol or diesel generator inside a caravan, motorhome, tent or awning, and keep its fumes away from your unit and your neighbours’; don’t cook in a tent or awning. Keep air vents clear (Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service). Know the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Fire: most sites, including all Camping and Caravanning Club sites, pitch units at least 6 metres apart to stop fire spreading. Know your exits, which are often a window if the door is blocked; the rule is get out and stay out. Never leave pans unattended, don’t dry clothes over the stove, and never use candles (Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service).
Gas: store and carry cylinders upright, keep spare cylinders away from caravans and vehicles, change them only when empty and never smoke while you do. If you suspect a leak, turn off the cylinder valve and never search for it with a flame (Caravan and Motorhome Club, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service).
Electricity: use a purpose-built hook-up lead, plug it into the unit before the bollard, unroll it fully, and test the RCD each time. A leisure battery that is too hot to touch is a warning sign: switch off the supply and get advice (Camping and Caravanning Club).
Towing: GOV.UK says that if you passed your car test on or after 1 January 1997 you can tow a trailer of up to 3,500 kg maximum authorised mass, but you must never exceed your car’s gross train weight (on the VIN plate) and, if no train weight is listed, you should not tow. The Highway Code limits a car towing a caravan to 50 mph on single carriageways and 60 mph on dual carriageways and motorways, and says don’t use the right-hand lane of a motorway with three or more lanes. If the caravan snakes, ease off the accelerator and slow down gently; don’t brake harshly (Rule 98).
Motorhomes: speed limits depend on weight. The Highway Code gives motorhomes up to 3.05 tonnes unladen the same limits as cars, and heavier ones 50 mph on single carriageways, 60 mph on dual carriageways and 70 mph on motorways.
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A printable PDF sized to 2 adults, with a QR code back to your list.
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Questions
Do I need a carbon monoxide alarm in a caravan or motorhome?
The Camping and Caravanning Club recommends one tested to BS EN 50291-2 and Kitemarked, the part of the standard for leisure use, and says it can also be used in a tent or awning with a lanyard. It is a backstop, not permission: the Club’s rules are never to take a barbecue inside, never to heat a tent or awning with a fuel-burning appliance, and never to run a generator inside. Have gas appliances serviced regularly.
What fire extinguisher should I keep in a caravan?
The Camping and Caravanning Club suggests an approved water mist extinguisher, which works on most fires expected in leisure vehicles, including electrical ones, and a fire blanket near the stove. It does not recommend dry powder in an enclosed space, because the powder can compact while travelling, it cuts visibility and it can cause breathing problems. Getting out comes first.
Can I tow a caravan on my car driving licence?
GOV.UK says that if you got your licence on or after 1 January 1997, you can tow a trailer of up to 3,500 kg maximum authorised mass (category BE), and DVLA adds BE to the photocard when you next renew. If you got it before 1997, you can usually drive a car and trailer up to 8,250 kg combined. Whatever your licence says, your car’s gross train weight must not be exceeded, and GOV.UK lists towing courses if you want training.
What noseweight should my caravan have?
The Caravan and Motorhome Club says the general figure for towing stability is 5 to 7% of the caravan’s actual laden weight, but never more than your car maker’s limit, which is in the handbook. Rule 98 of the Highway Code says put heavy items over the axle and keep a downward load on the tow ball. Measure it with a British Standard gauge after loading.
How fast can I drive when towing a caravan?
The Highway Code’s limits for a car towing a caravan or trailer are 30 mph in built-up areas (20 mph in Wales), 50 mph on single carriageways and 60 mph on dual carriageways and motorways. You must not use the right-hand lane of a motorway with three or more lanes.
Sources (17)
- Camping and Caravanning Club: staying safe on the campsite
- GOV.UK: towing with a car (what you can tow)
- GOV.UK: towing with a car, trailers, caravans and towing equipment
- GOV.UK: towing with a car, weight and width limits
- Highway Code: rules for drivers and motorcyclists (89 to 102), Rule 98 towing and loading
- Highway Code: general rules for all drivers (103 to 158), Rule 124 speed limits
- Caravan and Motorhome Club: breakaway cables
- Caravan and Motorhome Club: rear-view mirrors and caravans
- Caravan and Motorhome Club: noseweights
- Caravan and Motorhome Club: caravan tyres and wheels
- Caravan and Motorhome Club: liquefied petroleum gas
- Caravan and Motorhome Club: portable mains generators
- Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service: camping and caravanning
- NHS: carbon monoxide poisoning
- Highway Code: rules about animals (47 to 58)
- Camping and Caravanning Club: charging a leisure battery
- Caravan and Motorhome Club: practical tips for off-grid touring
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