AL-KO VT Tips for Solo Campers
Here we share tips for solo campers to help make travelling in your camper relaxed and independent. This covers safety, but above all technical aids that provide much greater comfort and physical relief while travelling.
Independent on the road
Travel safely and comfortably
Travelling alone has many advantages: time for yourself, no need to compromise with travel companions when planning your days or route, and you’ll often make new acquaintances faster. Travelling solo gives a unique sense of freedom and independence.
Regardless of gender or experience, however, travelling solo comes with its own requirements – especially concerning safety, technical matters and comfort. It is often while on the road that you realise just how helpful technical solutions can be for simplifying routines, saving effort, and giving you peace of mind. In this blog post, we share tips for relaxing and independent travel in your camper.
Master the basics before you travel
Where is the fuse box? How does the electrical circuit work? What amperage do you need at a campsite connection? What do you need to know about the water system? These and more questions will come up at some point if you’re travelling in a panel van, motorhome or caravan.
Depending on how confident you are technically, minor issues can usually be solved quickly. Having a solid knowledge base is always helpful—it also makes it easier to research solutions online or explain the problem more clearly. That’s why we recommend getting to grips with the basic functions and technology in your camper, without feeling the need to learn every detail. It’s also well worth having a well-equipped toolbox on board—some little repair job is nearly always required on the road.
Technical aids for greater comfort
From simple tricks to sophisticated technology, the market offers a range of comfortable solutions that make life on the road (not only) for solo travellers much more manageable.
Fully automatic support systems
The image is familiar to many: parking the caravan, kneeling down and starting to crank the steadies by hand. For extra comfort while travelling, we recommend an automatic support system such as the UP4 electronic system or the hydraulic LevelC for caravans. With these systems you can extend four steadies (UP4) or six steadies (LevelC) at the touch of a button to level the caravan. The UP4 system also features integrated theft protection by means of a special spindle end and unique adapter.
But support systems aren’t just useful on caravans—they also provide increased comfort and a secure footing for motorhomes. Mechanical steady legs have to be cranked out by hand, whilst hydraulic support systems do the job almost automatically, so you don’t need to expend effort to bring your motorhome to a stable, level position.
Here at AL-KO VT, we offer the fully automatic HY4 hydraulic levelling system: it supports your panel van or motorhome, compensates for uneven ground and slopes, and is controlled electronically. The four hydraulic cylinders are activated at the touch of a button, making contact with the ground and lifting the vehicle to a level position over its axles. Levelling is extremely precise, down to the millimetre, and completed within just a few minutes. If you’re travelling solo and perhaps have a smaller van, two support legs may be sufficient—the HY2 system is ideal in that case. Another alternative is the LevelM system, which also consists of four support legs.
Anti-snaking system for caravans and trailers
Especially when driving on narrow roads or winding passes, it’s reassuring to feel in control and confident in your technology. An anti-snaking system such as the ATC (AL-KO VT Trailer Control) supports you in this: it’s an electromechanical component fitted to the axle and connected to the wheel brakes. The integrated sensors detect potential danger, such as when swerving or due to crosswinds, and stabilise the outfit even before you notice problems.
The ATC constantly monitors the driving behaviour and movements of your caravan throughout the journey. The ATC is similar to ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) for cars, but intervenes much earlier—in fact, it takes action at the very first signs of swaying.
Manoeuvring system for caravans (Mover)
If you’re travelling with a caravan, you’ll almost certainly face challenging parking situations now and then. Instead of relying on the help of friendly camping neighbours, we recommend installing a manoeuvring system like the AL-KO VT MAMMUT manoeuvring system.
These compact motors are fitted to the wheels and let you precisely park or move the caravan into position using a remote control—no effort required. You can also overcome obstacles of up to 4 centimetres or slopes of up to 28 percent, making it an invaluable aid not only for solo travellers, but also for people with age-related or physical limitations.
Carrier systems for motorhomes
For motorhomes, you can choose between a rear carrier and transporting your bicycle in the garage section, if suitable. Frame-mounted rear carriers have a lower centre of gravity, and therefore offer enhanced stability, payload and safety compared to rear wall-mounted carriers, as well as a lower loading height. If you’re looking for compact solutions, the VELO III or MIKRO II are ideal for scooter transport.
If your motorhome’s rear garage is large enough to carry a bike inside, we offer carrier systems with pull-in functionality for easy loading. Another benefit: the bike is better protected against weather and theft. If you’re travelling with a caravan, you can transport your bike on a suitable drawbar carrier, or use a car-based bike carrier (roof carrier, tailgate carrier or towbar-mounted). There is a wide range of solutions available on the market.
Bicycle carriers for panel vans
For panel vans or vans, swivelling carriers are recommended, so that you always have free access to the rear doors. For solo travellers, a smaller model for up to two bicycles or a scooter is likely sufficient—for instance the AGITO-VAN, AGITO-TOP, or the user-friendly TRIGO-VAN. For carrying a scooter, the AL-KO VT product range includes the AGITO 120 / 150 and the KAWA II. Depending on the carrier’s installation height, loading can be very comfortable; otherwise, a carrier that folds all the way down to ground level may be worth considering.
Comfortable seating
Seats from Aguti offer flexible configurations for a range of body sizes and seating preferences, ensuring long journeys quickly become more comfortable thanks to a variety of individual settings. In addition to side adjustment—including of the headrest—each seat can be moved forward, and the backrest simultaneously reclines for a more relaxing position—a comfortable solution for every traveller.
App-based controls for greater comfort on the road
The apps from AL-KO VT make motorhomes smart. They’re intuitively operated and do not require specialist knowledge—helping you stay safe and comfortable on the road.
App: ONDA
For motorhomers, a smart home means being able to check the gas bottle, water tank, or battery levels via app, switch on built-in devices like heating or air conditioning remotely, or even extend and retract support legs. In short: being able to control as many vehicle components as possible via one app—and this is where ONDA comes in.
Whether via Bluetooth, WiFi, or voice commands, wireless control is possible. You can also connect your vehicle to the internet cloud, of course in compliance with European data protection regulations.
App: Remote Control BDS-180
This dual battery system allows you to manage two auxiliary batteries. That means supervising the batteries during charging and discharging and monitoring their condition. You can connect two auxiliary batteries of different ages and capacities, provided they use the same battery technology. If one battery is damaged, the device isolates it and notifies you. The associated app gives you comfortable control of all functions from your smartphone or tablet:
- Selecting the operating mode of the BDS-180 (automatic / manual)
- Graphic and volt display of both auxiliary batteries’ voltages
- Real-time display of charging and discharging currents
- Display of remaining autonomy of the battery in use
- Display of charge and discharge cycles of both batteries
- Health status information for both batteries
- Notification of any battery anomalies
- Access to the BDS manual
- Updating BDS-180 firmware
Security measures while travelling
Measures to prevent burglary and theft
There are plenty of technical solutions for burglary and theft protection on the market. Think carefully about what you personally consider useful—and also take your destination(s) into account, as it’s possible to go overboard.
Many campers—solo travellers and otherwise—opt for extra door locks on the habitation door: this could be a simple chain, an additional exterior lock, or a reinforced lock fitted to the existing door frame. Window security profiles and drawbar locks for caravans are also frequently used as anti-theft measures.
For the front doors of campervans and motorhomes, harness-style straps or bars are popular—they’re fitted so that neither of the front doors can be opened from the outside, as they are physically connected and blocked.
Burglar alarms are also a universal way of deterring thieves and providing a warning—whether you’re inside the vehicle or it’s parked up and unattended. For the latter, wheel clamps or tying the driver and passenger seats together have proved effective in deterring attempted theft. Often, visible obstacles are enough to put off potential burglars.
Your best friend can be a trusted companion as well—dogs are fantastic companions for many campers. If you’re travelling solo, having a dog can not only provide company but also an enormous sense of safety, as dogs hear much better than we do and often have a natural protective instinct.
General safety tips for solo road trips
Your gut feeling is especially important when travelling alone—listen to it. If you want to get a better feel for a pitch, it’s best to arrive in daylight so you can assess the surroundings, access points and neighbours properly.
Sometimes a remote spot in nature may feel safer than a busy city car park—trust your own judgement here.
At night, it’s also advisable to open only the rooflights rather than the side windows.
We wish you many exciting and unforgettable camping holidays!
