AL-KO VT Tips for solo campervan and motorhome travellers
Here we provide solo campervan and motorhome travellers with tips for a relaxed, independent journey. The focus is on security, but above all on technical aids that make travel significantly more comfortable and physically less demanding.
Independently on the road
Travel safely and comfortably
Travelling alone offers many advantages: time for yourself, no need to coordinate with fellow travellers when planning your day or route, and often making new acquaintances more quickly. Travelling solo means you experience freedom and independence even more intensely.
Regardless of gender or experience, travelling alone also brings its own unique requirements – particularly when it comes to security, technology and comfort. Out on the road, technological solutions can be a great help by simplifying processes, saving effort and giving you peace of mind. In this blog post, we offer you tips for a relaxed and independent journey in your campervan or motorhome.
Acquire basic know-how before you travel
Where is the fuse box? How does the electrical circuit work? What is the minimum amp protection needed at a campsite? What should you consider with the water system? These and other questions are sure to arise sooner or later when you’re on the road in a panel van, motorhome or caravan.
Depending on your technical knowledge, minor hurdles can often be explained and resolved easily. A solid knowledge base is always valuable—for example, to help you look things up online or explain a problem more clearly. We therefore recommend acquainting yourself with the fundamental functions and technology in your recreational vehicle, without needing to learn every detail. It’s also very useful to carry a well-sorted toolbox, as small repairs are almost always needed when travelling.
Technical aids for greater comfort
From simple tricks to sophisticated technology, the market offers plenty of comfortable solutions to make life easier on the road—not just for solo travellers.
Fully automatic support systems
The following scene is familiar to many: parking up your caravan, kneeling down and then winding down the supports. For greater comfort while travelling, we recommend an automatic support system, such as the UP4 electronic support system or the hydraulic LevelC for caravans. With these systems, you can extend four (UP4) or six (LevelC) supports at the press of a button to level the caravan. An anti-theft device is already integrated in the UP4 system by means of a special spindle end with a dedicated adapter.
The topic of supports is not only relevant for caravans—motorhomes also benefit from these systems, offering extra comfort and secure stability. Mechanical steady legs have to be operated manually, whereas hydraulic support systems work almost automatically, so you don't have to use any force or effort to level your motorhome securely and safely.
AL-KO VT offers, for example, the fully automatic HY4 hydraulic levelling system: It supports your panel van or motorhome, compensating for uneven ground or slopes. The system is operated electronically via four hydraulic units. The cylinders are extended to the ground at the push of a button and lift the vehicle level via the axles. Levelling is precise to the millimetre and completed within a few minutes. If you're travelling solo and possibly have a smaller panel van, perhaps just two steady legs are sufficient—in which case the HY2 system would be suitable. Another alternative is the LevelM system, which also uses four steady legs.
Anti-snaking system for caravans and trailers
Especially when driving on narrow roads or winding passes, it's reassuring to have confidence in your driving and your technology. An anti-snaking system such as the ATC (AL-KO VT Trailer Control) can help: This is an electromechanical component fitted to the axle and linked with the wheel brakes. The installed sensor system detects potential hazards, like evasive manoeuvres or crosswinds, and counteracts them early to stabilise the outfit.
The ATC continuously monitors the handling and movement of your caravan throughout the entire journey. Similar to the ESP (Electronic Stability Program) in cars, but the ATC intervenes sooner—at the very first signs of snaking.
Manoeuvring system for caravans ('mover')
If you’re travelling with a caravan, you’re bound to face tricky parking situations more than once. Instead of relying on help from friendly neighbours, it’s worth installing a manoeuvring system such as the AL-KO VT MAMMUT manoeuvring system.
This set of small motors is attached to the wheels and lets you park and manoeuvre your caravan with millimetre precision using nothing more than a remote control—no effort required. You can easily clear obstacles up to 4 cm high or gradients up to 28 percent—a huge help for solo travellers as well as for those with age-related or physical limitations.
Bicycle carrier systems
Carrier systems for motorhomes
For motorhomes, you can choose between a rear carrier and carrying your bike in the rear garage, if suitable. Chassis-mounted rear carriers have a lower centre of gravity and thus offer significantly more stability, payload and safety than rear wall carriers, and the loading height is also lower. As the most compact options, the VELO III or the MIKRO II, for example, are suitable for transporting a scooter.
If your motorhome's rear garage is large enough to accommodate a bicycle, we offer convenient draw-in carrier systems for loading. Another advantage: the bicycle is better protected from the weather and potential theft. If you are travelling with a caravan, you can place your bicycle either on a dedicated drawbar carrier or on a bicycle carrier for your car (roof rack, tailgate rack, towbar carrier). There are plenty of solutions available for these options.
Bicycle carriers for panel vans
For panel vans, swivel models are recommended so you always have free access to the rear doors. If you’re travelling solo, a smaller model for up to two bikes or a scooter is probably enough, such as the AGITO-VAN or AGITO-TOP, and the new TRIGO-VAN is also easy to handle. If you want to transport a scooter using the AL-KO VT range, our AGITO 120 / 150 or KAWA II are ideal. Depending on the carrier's mounting height, loading can be comfortable, otherwise a carrier that folds down to ground level is worth considering.
Sit comfortably
Seats from Aguti offer flexible configurations for different body sizes and seating preferences, allowing you to enjoy long journeys with a range of independent adjustments for quick and comfortable seating. In addition to lateral movement of the seat and headrest, every individual seat can slide forwards while the backrest simultaneously reclines to ensure a comfortable solution for all travellers.
App controls for more comfort on the road
The apps from AL-KO VT make your motorhome smart. They are intuitive to use and require no specialist knowledge—for greater security and comfort on the road.
App: ONDA
For motorhome owners, 'smart home' means you can check the level of your gas bottle, water tank or batteries via an app, switch on equipment such as auxiliary heating or air conditioning remotely, or even raise and lower the steady legs. In short: control as many vehicle components as possible from a single app—and that's what ONDA can do.
Whether via Bluetooth, WiFi, or voice control, operation is wireless. Linking the vehicle to the internet cloud is also possible, naturally in compliance with European data protection regulations.
App: Remote Control BDS-180
This battery duo system allows you to manage two leisure batteries. This means you can manage the batteries during charging and discharging and keep an eye on their status. It is possible to use two leisure batteries of different age and capacity, provided the battery technology is the same. If a battery is damaged, the device isolates it and notifies you. The accompanying app enables you to conveniently control all functions via smartphone or tablet:
- Select the operating mode of the BDS-180 (automatic / manual)
- View the voltage of both leisure batteries graphically and in volts
- View the charging and discharging current in real time
- See the remaining autonomy of the battery in use
- See the charging and discharging cycles of both batteries
- Check the "health" of the batteries
- Information on battery anomalies
- Display the BDS manual
- Update BDS-180 firmware
Safety measures when travelling
Measures to prevent break-ins and theft
There are many solutions on the market for protecting your vehicle against break-ins and theft. Consider what makes sense to you and take your travel destinations into account—it is possible to have too much of a good thing.
Many campers, not just solo travellers, opt for extra door locks on the habitation door: this could be a simple chain, an extra external lock or reinforced door bolt on the existing locking mechanism. Window profiles and drawbar locks for caravans are also popular as an anti-theft measure.
For the driver and passenger doors of panel vans and motorhomes, tension belts and locking bars have proved effective. These are installed so that neither door can be opened from the outside as the connection between them blocks both doors.
An alarm system can be a great deterrent and warning—whether you’re inside your vehicle or if it’s parked unattended. For the latter, wheel clamps or turning and linking the driver and passenger seats together are also effective at preventing theft. Even such visible obstacles are often enough to dissuade would-be thieves.
There’s also a loyal companion known as humans’ best friend—the dog. Dogs can be great camping companions. If you travel alone, a dog brings not just companionship but an extra sense of security, thanks to their sharper hearing and natural protective instinct.
General security tips for solo road trips
Trust your instincts—especially when travelling solo, how you feel is important. To better assess a pitch, it's a good idea to arrive during daylight so you can evaluate the surroundings, access roads and neighbours.
Sometimes, a remote spot in nature feels safer than a busy city car park—trust your own perception.
At night, it may also make sense to open only the roof hatches rather than the side windows.
We wish you memorable and unforgettable camping holidays!
