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We have just completed our second successful trip in our caravan but both have been close to home and on routes well known to us.

Our next trip is much further afield and when we went with our tent we remember commenting that we wouldn't fancy bringing a caravan here (although braver souls obviously do) As a complete novice I'd like main roads and not going through built up areas wherever possible.

So how is the best way to plan the route for a caravan - is there a caravan route finder (I saw one on the caravan club website for members but don't want to join just for this reason)

Should we get a satnav and if so are there ones that are better for caravanners. Thanks

I love satnav but I am also a big fan of maps. For satnav I use Copilot Live on my android phone. This has a routing option for RV's which I use when towing and so far it seems very good but as others have said, a good map is worth its weight in gold.

We are towing for the first time in France and Belgium this year and I will be using satnav but I have just bought the relevant Michelin road atlases from Amazon just to be on the safe side.

A Sat Nav is just an unintelligent tool but very useful none the less. If you are concerned where it may take you its important to use it in conjunction with a map. Google Earth is another useful tool in seeing the lay of the land as you approach a campsite. Also useful to have some POI's (points of interest) many UK ones can be downloaded from here http://www.archiescampings.eu/eng1/ If you are going to a Caravan Club site always follow the instructions in the site guide.

David

I tend to use main routes/motorways wherever possible.  Where that's not possible, I use google maps.  Many caravan parks will include information, often on their website, as to the best way to approach the site with a caravan.  If it is a site we havenever been to, and there I no route instructions, I usually ring the site and ask, to be opn the safe side.

If, I'm using the SatNav and don't like the look of a road, I drive on past and the SatNav will eventually come up with an alternative.

It is really a question of common sense and keeping your eyes open.  I use a TomTom sat nav on which I have around 25,000 camp sites. Many of the sites we pick which are mainly in France are unknown to us so we rely on the satnav to get us there. However if we appear to be turning into trouble then I ignore it and let it have a rethink.

Mike

I plan my route in advance, using a paper road atlas, and then I write down a list of roads, with left/right turns, etc.   I then program my destination into my Tomtom, and my wife follows the route on the map in accordance to my list.  If the satnav does deviate away from the plan, we simply ignore a particular instruction, and the Tomtom automatically replans the route.  I input "fastest route" which always (almost) plans major roads, and I also input avoidance of toll roads. This is useful in France.

One failing for the Tomtom is, if you go wrong, it is likely to send you down any road to reinstate your route, so you have to ignore it until it reprogrammes the route for the roads you want.  I am interested in the more expensive satnav that plans roads according to your vehicle dimensions but, to be fully capable, it would also have to replan only suitable roads in the event of driver error in taking a wrong turn.  I have yet to find out if this capability exists.

Bertie.

There are several sat navs that are designed for caravan/motorhome /HGV use, they vary in price from £200 to £350. you have to put in the length height & weight of your unit & they sort out a suitable route. Ordinary sat navs set to truck do not, this setting only alters the estimated journey & arrival time, setting them to fastest route usualy keeps you to motorways & A roads but is not inffalable.

Via michelin.com has an option for towing a caravan . as well as several different options of type of route such as fastest, recommended,sightseeing ,& economical

best of all is to use the sites own access infomation usually found on their website

Quote: Originally posted by old chap on 11/7/2011

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There are several sat navs that are designed for caravan/motorhome /HGV use, they vary in price from £200 to £350. you have to put in the length height & weight of your unit & they sort out a suitable route. Ordinary sat navs set to truck do not, this setting only alters the estimated journey & arrival time, setting them to fastest route usualy keeps you to motorways & A roads but is not inffalable.

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But are any of these "specialist" satnavs geared up to only select suitable roads when you have taken a wrong turn, or do they just go mental like most?

I always enter 'fastest route' when towing, but my Tomtom has still taken me onto very narrow rural roads on occasion.  It did this to me recently, near Auxerre, France, and when I later got back onto the major road, I was following vehicles which had previously been behind me.  So much for the 'fastest route'!!!

Bertie.

I would have thought that thes HGV sat navs would recalculate a suitable route if required as the rig definitions are still invoved in the recalculation

I also use a Tom Tom & never use its recalculated routes for the reason stated, I allways turn around & take the original route.& always use it set to fastest route,but  in the EU exclude toll routes if the option is shown