Safe and comfortable camping holidays with the E-Trailer app.
Always know your current tyre pressure, easily level your camper or caravan, check the contents of your gas bottle and much more! Complete your order in two simple steps.
Lynette de Vries
20 May 2025
Smart caravanning – monitoring from a smartphone or tablet
Camping is, for many people, the perfect chance to escape the ongoing trend of digitalisation and enjoy a so-called “digital detox.” It is a time to consciously stay away from the internet, experience nature, and slow down in an analogue world. That can be wonderfully relaxing for a few days. At the same time, even those who prefer to switch off digitally will increasingly find it difficult to travel without a smartphone or tablet. With the right app, these devices have become essential for operating and monitoring many modern camping vehicles.
The term “smart caravanning” is inspired by the well-known concept of the “smart home”: using a smartphone to control and monitor functions in a home. In the camping world, this starts during holiday preparation, supports travellers while on the road, and adds extra safety and comfort during the trip.
The good news is that smart caravanning systems can now be ordered directly from the factory with many caravan manufacturers. Depending on the brand, these solutions are offered under names such as Hobby Connect, Hymer Connect, Dethleffs Connect, My Bürstner App, and Kabe Smart D. There are also suppliers that offer easy retrofit solutions for smart caravanning, such as E-Trailer.
Whether a system is factory-installed or added afterwards, every smart caravanning solution is built around three core components:
- a smartphone app
- sensors
- a central unit
Read more below about the possibilities.
Levelling Your Camper: More Comfort, Less Effort
You probably know the situation: you arrive at your destination and want to level your camper or caravan for a comfortable stay. In the past, this often meant placing a traditional spirit level on the table or kitchen counter and then starting a time-consuming process.
For caravans, that usually meant driving the wheels onto levelling ramps, going back inside to check the spirit level, lowering the corner steadies, and checking again after each adjustment. For motorhomes, the process was often just as inconvenient: position the chocks, drive onto them, check the level, realise it is still too high or too low, adjust again, and repeat.
Read the related blog: everything you need to know about levelling your vehicle.
Smart Technology for Perfect Levelling
With the modern sensor technology of a smart caravanning system, that hassle is a thing of the past. Using the app on your smartphone, you can instantly see the angle of your camping vehicle. Before you even begin, the app shows which side needs to be raised and by how much.
For caravans, the app lets you monitor exactly how the position changes as you adjust the corner steadies. For motorhomes, it shows when the ideal level has been reached while driving onto the chocks.
E-Trailer E-Level Sensor
In the E-Trailer system, this function is handled by the E-Level Sensor, which is included as a standard part of every starter kit. It makes levelling your camping vehicle easier, faster, and more accurate than ever before.
Protecting Your Leisure Vehicle Against Theft and Break-Ins
Security is a top priority for many campers — and for good reason. Today, a wide range of smart apps and sensors provide advanced protection against theft and break-ins. With features such as GPS tracking, you can monitor your camping vehicle remotely at any time. This allows you to act quickly and locate your vehicle before it can be taken far away.
GPS Tracking with E-Track&Trace
The E-Trailer system offers GPS tracking through the E-Track&Trace sensor, which is integrated into the base station. This sensor comes as a standard feature in the Starter Package Plus. It enables you not only to track your camper or caravan in real time, but also to receive an alert if it is moved without your permission.
Even if your caravan is located hundreds of kilometres away at a campsite, you will receive a notification via the app if a door or window is opened or if the vehicle is moved.
Protection Against Break-Ins
The E-Trailer system not only helps protect your vehicle against theft, but also provides added security against break-ins and the theft of valuable belongings. This gives you greater peace of mind, so you can enjoy your holiday without worry.
E-Switch and E-Movement: Smart Security
With the E-Switch and E-Movement modules, you can secure your motorhome or caravan in a smart and effective way. E-Switch monitors doors and windows and instantly sends a notification to your smartphone if one is opened. E-Movement detects movement inside the vehicle and alerts you immediately in the event of suspicious activity. This means you are informed straight away and can respond quickly when needed.
Smart Caravanning for Extra Peace of Mind
With E-Trailer’s security solutions, your vehicle and valuables are better protected wherever you are. That gives you extra peace of mind, whether you are on the road or enjoying your stay at the campsite.
Read the related blog posts: “It won’t happen to me…” On motorhome security. Read more
Water Tank Level
In the past, filling the water tank often meant walking back and forth several times or asking your partner to check how full the tank was. Today, there is a much simpler and more convenient way.
While standing next to the water hose, you can monitor the tank level in real time on your smartphone. The app shows the fill level with an accuracy of up to one percent, so you can see exactly how much water still needs to be added.
For example, if you need 30 litres of water for your journey and your fresh water tank has a capacity of 150 litres, that equals 20 percent of the total volume. The app shows this immediately, allowing you to fill the tank accurately and with ease.
See also the related blog posts: Find out everything you need to know about your water tank Read more. Accurate level indication Read more
E-Trailer has developed the E-Waterlevel module to provide an accurate view of the water level in your tank at all times. This makes it easier to use water consciously and efficiently, without compromising on comfort.
After a holiday, many campers drain the fresh water tank to prevent the formation of bacteria. In doing so, more water is often wasted than necessary. With an accurate water level indication, it becomes much clearer how much water is actually left in the tank, helping to reduce unnecessary waste.
Using the app, you can check the water level at any time, for example before and after taking a shower. This gives you an immediate insight into how much water has been used and how much may need to be refilled. In this way, the E-Waterlevel module contributes to both more comfortable and more sustainable camping.
Read the related blog post: Everything you need to know about your gas cylinder. Read more
The measurement is carried out using an ultrasonic module that is attached magnetically to the underside of the gas bottle. Special holders are available for aluminium gas bottles. In addition, an alarm function can be set, so you automatically receive a warning when the fill level drops below a chosen threshold.
Within the E-Trailer system, this function is provided by the E-Gaslevel module.
Temperature Control
A pre-heated motorhome is especially welcome in winter, both while getting ready to leave and when setting off on your journey. In most modern motorhomes, the gas heater may be used while driving, thanks to mandatory hose rupture protection and crash sensors. As a result, it is no longer always necessary to enter the vehicle first just to switch on the heating.
Instead, the heating can be controlled conveniently via the app. At the same time, the system gives you a clear overview of the interior temperature of the motorhome. This allows you to start your journey in a pleasantly warm and comfortable vehicle.
In summer, the process works the other way around. When the temperature inside the motorhome rises, the air conditioning in the living area can be switched on via the app, as long as a 230-volt power connection is available. This makes it much easier to prepare the vehicle for hot days and improves comfort significantly.
Besides simply displaying the temperature, this type of climate control is already included in many new vehicles as part of their smart caravanning systems. It is available from a wide range of manufacturers, including Hobby, Hymer, Dethleffs, Bürstner, LMC, KABE, Trigano, Chausson, Challenger, and Sterckeman.
Read the related blog post: Everything you need to know about temperature and humidity in your motorhome or caravan. Read more
Safe Travel
A safe journey starts with proper loading and the correct tyre pressure. This is especially important for caravans and motorhomes, which are often heavily loaded when travelling. Thanks to modern technology, tyre pressure can now be checked easily using sensors in combination with an app, without the need to visit a petrol station first.
Read the related blog post: Everything you need to know about tyre pressure for your motorhome or caravan. Read more
The nose weight of a caravan largely depends on how it is loaded. It is therefore important to load the caravan in such a way that the permitted nose weight is used as effectively as possible, without exceeding it.
Today, special jockey wheels are available that can transmit the current nose weight directly to a smartphone. They can also provide guidance on how to redistribute luggage in order to achieve a better and safer weight balance.
The nose weight on the coupling is calculated using various parameters, with an accuracy of approximately ±1 kilogram.
Within the E-Trailer system, this function is provided by the jockey wheel with the integrated E-Load module.
Read the related blog post: Everything you need to know about bullet pressure.Read more
Automatic Suspension with the E-Suspension Module
Looking for even more comfort and ease of use? With the optional E-Suspension module, you can easily adjust the rear axle of your motorhome with a Fiat chassis or a comparable model via the E-Trailer app. From the comfort of your seat, you can control the air suspension with just a few taps on your smartphone, exactly the way you want.
Conclusion
Smart caravanning is no longer just about added convenience. These digital solutions also contribute to improved driving safety and better protection against theft and break-ins.
An increasing number of caravan and motorhome manufacturers now offer systems and apps that are either installed directly at the factory or available as optional extras. In addition, various suppliers provide retrofit solutions that can be added to existing vehicles.
At its core, all that is usually required is a 12-volt power supply and a smartphone to control and monitor the different functions.