Well it’s just over a year since we launched our Towing Jacket™ at the NEC February Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show in 2018. We were bowled over by the public reaction to our revolutionary new style of front towing protector and orders went through the roof. Our small Yorkshire firm is owned by caravanners, so we like to think we understand the needs of the average caravanner pretty well and we pride ourselves on listening to our customers wherever we find them. The feedback that you provide has always driven Pro-tec’s product development and the Towing Jacket™ was no exception. We were the first company to create a front towing protector for caravans. We started with a generic cover for all models but when Bailey Caravans contacted us to produce a protective cover for their soon to be launched Pegasus range, our first tailored front towing protector was born.

The Towing Jacket Launch in February 2018

The tailored towing covers we have been producing ever since Bailey commissioned us in 2009, consisted of 3 separate pieces; 1 piece for each awning rail and a large centre panel, which was held in place with a series of clips and buckles. This design served us (and you) well for nearly 10 years. Providing excellent protection with our purpose designed fabric, Caravanshield™, our towing covers stood the test of time and we slowly saw their popularity grow and grow.

(Top) Old style tailored towing protector released in 2009 and (Bottom) the Towing Jacket, 10 years later

Over the years, we had been listening to the feedback you gave us when we met you at numerous shows and events. Caravanners are a friendly bunch and your experience, combined with our own, revealed that although you loved our towing cover, it could be a little fiddly to fit properly. Enough of a faff that once it was on, you didn’t want to be taking it off again when you inevitably discovered you’d forgotten to put an essential item in the gas-locker box! In 2017 we got our heads together and decided to design a towing cover which had all the same protective properties and fit just as well as the original but was much more ‘user friendly’. In early 2018 we were ready to go public and the Towing Jacket™ was released.

Eriba caravan with Towing Jacket

The Towing Jacket™ is a unique 2-piece construction, which can be fitted easily by one person in under a minute. Each of the 2 halves slide into the caravan awning rails and then the 2 pieces are simply zipped together in the middle. It really couldn’t be easier. The centre of the Jacket, where the zip meets, is made of a stretchy material which creates the necessary tension to provide an excellent fit and keep it firmly in place. For extra security and to keep the bottom of the Towing Jacket™ from lifting, we’ve machined 2 elasticated clips onto the bottom edge. These clips attach to the caravan valance. A buckled strap then passes under the a-frame assembly.

Swift Basecamp Towing Jacket

As the one-year anniversary of the launch approached, we were noticing that the term ‘Towing Jacket’ was becoming synonymous with any type of front towing protector for caravans. Much like all vacuum cleaners are often referred to as ‘Hoovers’. Obviously, this is great for us and a real compliment to the ingenuity of the product but it became apparent that we had a real success on our hands and we wanted to protect our invention. The design had already been registered at the time of release, so in late 2018 we went a step further and registered Towing Jacket™ as a trademark.

Towing Jacket without grab handle access

Never content with resting on our laurels, since the first Towing Jacket™ was conceived and released, we have added to the range. As well as the more popular Swift, Coachman, Lunar & Elddis Towing Jacket™, we tackled some of the trickier caravans and today we can provide front end protection for Knaus, Hobby, Eriba and even Swift Basecamp caravans. Furthermore, we have noted the ever growing popularity of caravan motor movers and decided to make a Towing Jacket™ without grab-handle access available for a cheaper price than the original. We’re all for saving you a bit of money where we can.