FUEL CRISIS
Crusader Caravans CEO Serge Valentino( right) at the launch of one of his new models.
Mr Valentino recommended the‘ half-tank rule’ to avoid being caught out in remote areas.“ We recommend never letting your tank dip below 50 per cent in remote areas. This provides a vital safety net if a planned stop is facing an outage or a price spike,” he said.
He said that while fuel prices were largely out of travellers ' control, efficiency remained firmly in their hands. Driving between 90 and 95km / h was often the most fuelefficient‘ sweet spot’ for towing, noting that reducing speed by just 10 km / h could lead to drastic savings over a long haul, he said.
Mr. Valentino also suggested avoiding sudden acceleration and switching to manual throttle control on hilly terrain to prevent the unnecessary engine revving sometimes caused by cruise control.
“ We also encourage travellers to look at their aerodynamics. Keeping external accessories streamlined and using wind deflectors on roof racks helps divert airflow, reducing the drag that forces engines to work harder,” he said.“ Efficiency isn’ t just about the drive; it’ s about the destination. By adopting a ' basecamp ' approach – setting up the caravan once and exploring the surrounding region using only the tow vehicle – travellers can drastically reduce their fuel spend.”
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