RV FEATURE
6. Caravan management. Who else remembers the‘ bad old days’ when your battery state of charge was left in the lap of the gods( well, kind of), checking your water levels required separate gauges and the best way to level your caravan was to use a spirit level? What was once a relatively simple collection of switches, fuses and gauges now includes touchscreen control panels, remote monitoring, electronic battery management, integrated charging and app-based controls. There are even systems available that will tell you if your van is level before you’ ve even left the driver’ s seat.
7. Security. The humble wheel clamp and coupling lock are still two indispensable ways to keep your van safe, but sophisticated alarm systems that will lock the brakes if they detect movement while armed, and GPS tracking are now the norm.
8. Going gas-less. This dovetails with the improvement to our off-grid battery systems. In line with the increased sophistication of lithium batteries and power management systems, the need
Yep, it ' s a solar awning!
to cart LPG around the country has reduced. Many manufactures still opt to fit a simple gas system for cooking and heating water, sure, but they are increasingly becoming the exception. How long before gas in caravans becomes entirely a thing of the past?
9. Connectivity. USB charging points, 12V wi-fi routers and other mobile internet solutions as standard, along with devicefriendly layouts, have changed the way we communicate and entertain ourselves while travelling. For many people, connectivity has become essential for remote work and extended travel, not simply a convenience.
10. Reversing and towing tech. Both of these have fundamentally improved safety on the road. Wireless rear-view cameras systems, tyre-pressure monitoring systems and electronic stability technologies have become much more familiar. Ten years ago, the idea of ABS fitted to a caravan might have seemed fanciful. Now, there is seemingly no end to the gear designed to improve safe towing.
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