{"id":239148,"date":"2026-01-18T04:56:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-18T04:56:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/239148\/"},"modified":"2026-01-18T04:56:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T04:56:09","slug":"warning-after-couples-terrifying-discovery-under-caravan-during-1100km-road-trip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/239148\/","title":{"rendered":"Warning after couple’s terrifying discovery under caravan during 1100km road trip"},"content":{"rendered":"

A caravanning couple\u2019s<\/a> close call before kicking off a long road trip has sparked a renewed warning for Aussie travellers<\/a>. The pair, from the St Goerges Basin area on the NSW South Coast, were getting ready to embark on their adventure to Brisbane \u2014 a roughly 1100km drive \u2014 last week when they decided to get their vehicle serviced just in case.<\/p>\n

After backing the caravan<\/a>, which had been checked by a mechanic every 10,000kms, into a spot and hearing a \u201cbang\u201d, the pair called David, the owner of DKZ Mobile – Caravan Mechanical and Electrical<\/a>, for help.<\/p>\n

Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, David said the safety check on the \u201cvery well-maintained caravan\u201d was going smoothly until he got to the last wheel.<\/p>\n

After taking it off, he spotted a broken spring, which the couple were completely oblivious to.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is meant to be one piece, and you can see it\u2019s broken about 20 centimetres from the front. So there was nothing holding that wheel up, except for where it was pushing up hard against the body of the caravan. Not desirable at all,\u201d the long-time mechanic said.<\/p>\n

Hitting the road without having the spring fixed first would have created a very dangerous situation, he explained, adding the spring had been \u201cbroken for a while\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe caravan wouldn\u2019t have handled well. It would have been pulling all over the road<\/a>,\u201d David told Yahoo.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would not have been fun.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf that couple had tried to drive to Brisbane, they would have ended up on the side of the road, broken down somewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Left,<\/p>\n

Worn out brakes on a caravan heading to Tasmania (left) and bearings in poor condition during a service (right). Source: Supplied<\/p>\n

Plea to Aussie travellers before they hit the road<\/p>\n

The incident \u201cjust goes to show\u201d that before every trip, Aussies should have their car and caravan serviced to avoid disaster<\/a> or an \u201cunnecessary stop on the highway\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese days, a lot of caravans are heavier than the car they\u2019re being towed with, so if the caravan starts playing up, it\u2019s going to result in an accident,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

David, who set off on a two-year trip around Australia with his wife this week and is taking his business on the road, said he often sees \u201ca lot of very old tyres on caravans\u201d, as well as faulty lights and brakes, and tired bearings.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour tyres, your brakes, your bearings and your lights are what keeps the caravan safe on the road.\u201d<\/p>\n

The mechanic urged travellers to assess their vehicle<\/a> every time they take it out of storage.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust a quick check that all the lights are working, the tyres are correctly inflated, the wheel nuts are nice and tight. And then have a look underneath, and just check for anything that looks like it might be broken,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf a person doesn\u2019t know what they\u2019re doing, they should really get a mechanic to check their van over once a year.\u201d<\/p>\n

David also encouraged drivers to look into installing sway control technology, which helps vans automatically straighten up.<\/p>\n

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You can also follow us on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, Twitter<\/a> and YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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