How to Prepare Your Caravan for Shipping

Last updated: 15 June 2023, 17:15

Before booking a caravan transportation option, you should explore our guide on how to prepare this type of item for its journey. Keeping your goods safe is our priority and this will help us to protect your caravan shipment. If you’ve got any questions about your booking contact our friendly team – they’re ready to answer any questions you might have!

Preparing the Inside of Your Caravan for Shipping

Before you move a caravan with your freight cargo partner, we suggest putting together a checklist to make sure that you reduce the risk of damage and danger to drivers while your item is in transit.

Here are our top precautions to check off before you use our caravan transportation services:

• Make sure you’ve fastened any latches or locks on your caravan’s doors, windows and cupboards. If locks are broken or they don’t have one, be sure to tape them shut.
• Remember to disconnect any power supplies or gas lines you might have in your caravan.
• Take a look around your caravan shipment to check that there aren’t any loose items that could move around en route.
• Ensure the weight is distributed heavily and is not too front/rear end heavy

Preparing the Outside Of Your Caravan for Shipping 

The next step for your sea transport order is to make sure the outside of your vehicle is ready for caravan transportation.

Here are the essentials to check before you book with your sea shipping provider:

• Ensure that you’ve turned off your turn signals and indicator lights and check that your parking brakes are working.
• Before moving your motorhome via sea freight, do a once over to secure any exterior doors, chains, slide outs and any other parts that may move in transit.
• Ensure that the tow hitches/tow bars are in good working order an secured safely

Mechanical Preparations for Caravan Transportation

Once the physical parts of your motor home are ready for cargo shipping, you should also check your vehicle’s fluid levels for any leaks. This includes your engine oil and transmission fluid.

You also need to remember to secure your tow bar if your vehicle features this attachment and inspect the battery before it is ready for caravan transportation.

Safety Precautions for Shipping a Caravan 

Once you’re ready for your vehicle to get out on the road, there are just a few final things to remember to pass on to your hauliers.

• Our sea freight team will need to have access to keys for your vehicle and know any operating requirements that may be specific to your mobile home.
• Your tyres must be checked for pressure and quality to ensure that the vehicle will be able to travel safely onboard our freight vessels.

P&O Freight's Caravan Shipping Services 

Each of our crossings has slight differences in terms of which types of shipments are accepted on board. As a handy guide, these are the core routes on which you can expect to move caravans and mobile homes on with P&O:

• Hull – Europoort
• Larne – Cairnryan
• Teesport – Zeebrugge
• Tilbury - Zeebrugge

There may be additional requirements for vehicle acceptance on each of our crossings – contact our team to find out more if you have any questions.

Ready to book your caravan or mobile home transportation crossing with P&O? Find your ideal cargo shipping option now to get your caravan to its destination!