83 ERRORS TO AVOID!

Veteran or first-timer, there's always something new to learn about caravanning, especially when it comes to sidestepping mistakes that could spoil your fun! Our expert team has decades of caravanning experience under their belts, so here we reveal the errors we've made - and learned from - over the years, to help you avoid doing the same in future...

- Sarah Wakely, Paul Critcher, Peter Baber, Peter Byrne, Jo Davies, David Motton, John Sootheran, Andrew Jenkinson, Nigel Hutson, Nigel Donnelly

TECHNICAL ERRORS

Let's start with the basics, and some common problems to watch out for...

1 EMPTYING YOUR LOO IN THE WRONG PLACE

It's not always easy to find the chemical-disposal point on site, or perhaps you forgot to empty your cassette before you left to drive home - but it's crucial to empty it at a dedicated facility. Never empty a cassette anywhere else: it's unhygienic, bad for the environment and really antisocial, too. SW

2 OVERLOADING YOUR HOOK-UP

I was guilty of this one on a wonderful tour to Italy a few years ago accidentally using the water heater on electric and a hairdryer at the same time tripped the hook-up bollard, which I then couldn't open to reset. The result was an embarrassing walk to reception... Always check the capabilities of your hook-up, to prevent overloading, both for safety reasons and to avoid that walk of shame. SW

3 DRIVING SOLO WITH TOWING MIRRORS

Given how fiddly it can be to attach towing mirrors, it's surprising how easy it is to forget about them once you are on site, and drive off in the car on its own while they are still in place. Don't do this. Quite apart from the fact that it looks a bit silly, you might well get stopped by the boys in blue - driving in such a condition is an offence. PBaber

4 NOT USING TOWING MIRRORS

Towing mirrors can be pricey, and are sometimes a pain to fit (and keep attached). But the law is clear: you should fit suitable towing mirrors if your van (or trailer) is wider than the rear of your car, and you should have a good view of the road behind. You risk a fine of up to £1000 or three penalty points. Be safe, legal and responsible! sw

5 NOT TAKING OUT INSURANCE COVER