Australia’s caravan safety education has reached a turning point. In Townsville, 104 caravan owners took part in the country’s first ever rally-style towing safety event, marking a new chapter in how Queensland’s growing RV community learns to travel safely.
The VANSafe Road Ready Caravan Rally, held 17-19 April at Big 4 Townsville Eco Resort, marked the evolution of the VANSafe program from single-day workshops into an immersive, multi-day experience. Sold out well in advance, the event delivered something no safety program in Australia had attempted before, a hands-on, rally-style format built exclusively for caravan owners and the people who tow.
All attending caravans underwent individual weigh-in consultations across the weekend, with participants receiving a detailed breakdown of their axle weights and overall vehicle setup. A significant proportion identified areas for adjustment, and post-event, 100 per cent said they would recommend the program.
Krisi Murphy, VANSafe Project Manager at Caravanning Queensland, said the weigh-ins shifted the conversation from theory to something tangible and immediate.
“What we saw this weekend is that the gap between perception and reality when it comes to towing safety is significant. The weigh-ins made that real in a way that a checklist or online resource simply cannot.”
Since launching in 2018 as Australia’s first dedicated caravan and RV safety resource, VANSafe has assessed more than 2,000 caravan and tow vehicle combinations across Queensland. The Road Ready Rally builds on that foundation by going deeper, combining technical masterclasses and individual consultations with hands-on, personalised insight that drives genuine behaviour change. Several participants made on-the-spot adjustments over the weekend, redistributing loads or planning equipment upgrades based on what the data revealed.
“One participant had previously experienced instability on the road without understanding why. After the weigh-in and consultation with the expert team, they left with a clear plan to address the contributing factors.
“The data shows a strong uplift in confidence post-event, but it’s informed confidence. People are not just feeling better, they are making changes based on evidence,” Ms Murphy said.
With 265,000 registered caravans and RVs on Queensland roads, the highest of any state in Australia, the appetite for this kind of education is clear. Participant feedback has pointed to strong demand for further regional delivery and deeper technical sessions, and Caravanning Queensland has signalled the model will be expanded.
“There is a clear case to continue and grow this,” Ms Murphy said. “The Road Ready Rally has set a strong foundation, and what we heard from participants tells us there are many more caravan owners across Queensland who would benefit from this kind of education.”
Funded through the Queensland Government’s Community Road Safety Grant program, administered by the Department of Transport and Main Roads, the rally signals a new chapter in how Queensland approaches practical road safety education for its growing RV community.
