It's Winter.....
Discussion
It's getting colder and there are a few tips that I'm sure some of us have picked up than can be passed on to the new owners of 2014....
Here are mine.
1. Don't forget to drain down the hot water tank - usually a plunger under the front seats.
2. Leave taps open in mid position. You can also get a device to hook up to a compressor that blows water out of the lines that I use after spending too much time and money on taps.
3. Don't forget to drain toilet flush tank. There's a bung accessible from the waste door - use some guttering or similar to divert water out of the space.
4. Leave cupboards and fridge open. Remove bedding etc.
5. Don't forget that the heaters work surprisingly well...
Here are mine.
1. Don't forget to drain down the hot water tank - usually a plunger under the front seats.
2. Leave taps open in mid position. You can also get a device to hook up to a compressor that blows water out of the lines that I use after spending too much time and money on taps.
3. Don't forget to drain toilet flush tank. There's a bung accessible from the waste door - use some guttering or similar to divert water out of the space.
4. Leave cupboards and fridge open. Remove bedding etc.
5. Don't forget that the heaters work surprisingly well...
All good tips.
However, do you not normally drain hot water tank before every journey?! I only ask as I think they are usually around a 10 litre tank, and mine is right at the front end of the caravan.
Therefore, emptying before travel reduces nose weight by up to 10kg - can make quite a difference!
However, do you not normally drain hot water tank before every journey?! I only ask as I think they are usually around a 10 litre tank, and mine is right at the front end of the caravan.
Therefore, emptying before travel reduces nose weight by up to 10kg - can make quite a difference!
Rosscow said:
All good tips.
However, do you not normally drain hot water tank before every journey?! I only ask as I think they are usually around a 10 litre tank, and mine is right at the front end of the caravan.
Therefore, emptying before travel reduces nose weight by up to 10kg - can make quite a difference!
Nope. Because invariably I'll hookup in the wrong order and click out the tank. Never had an issue with the nose weight, but twin axle and Range Rover probably helps.However, do you not normally drain hot water tank before every journey?! I only ask as I think they are usually around a 10 litre tank, and mine is right at the front end of the caravan.
Therefore, emptying before travel reduces nose weight by up to 10kg - can make quite a difference!
surveyor said:
Rosscow said:
All good tips.
However, do you not normally drain hot water tank before every journey?! I only ask as I think they are usually around a 10 litre tank, and mine is right at the front end of the caravan.
Therefore, emptying before travel reduces nose weight by up to 10kg - can make quite a difference!
Nope. Because invariably I'll hookup in the wrong order and click out the tank. Never had an issue with the nose weight, but twin axle and Range Rover probably helps.However, do you not normally drain hot water tank before every journey?! I only ask as I think they are usually around a 10 litre tank, and mine is right at the front end of the caravan.
Therefore, emptying before travel reduces nose weight by up to 10kg - can make quite a difference!
I don't think I have an issue with nose weight (twin axle also) but my hitch limit is 85kg (or 90kg - can't remember) so I have to be a bit careful!
If I'm honest I've never checked it - always looks nice and level and tows well. probably the air suspension that helps that though!
surveyor said:
It's getting colder and there are a few tips that I'm sure some of us have picked up than can be passed on to the new owners of 2014....
Here are mine.
1. Don't forget to drain down the hot water tank - usually a plunger under the front seats.
2. Leave taps open in mid position. You can also get a device to hook up to a compressor that blows water out of the lines that I use after spending too much time and money on taps.
3. Don't forget to drain toilet flush tank. There's a bung accessible from the waste door - use some guttering or similar to divert water out of the space.
4. Leave cupboards and fridge open. Remove bedding etc.
5. Don't forget that the heaters work surprisingly well...
When you say bedding I assume you don't mean mattresses as well?Here are mine.
1. Don't forget to drain down the hot water tank - usually a plunger under the front seats.
2. Leave taps open in mid position. You can also get a device to hook up to a compressor that blows water out of the lines that I use after spending too much time and money on taps.
3. Don't forget to drain toilet flush tank. There's a bung accessible from the waste door - use some guttering or similar to divert water out of the space.
4. Leave cupboards and fridge open. Remove bedding etc.
5. Don't forget that the heaters work surprisingly well...
ajondyh said:
surveyor said:
It's getting colder and there are a few tips that I'm sure some of us have picked up than can be passed on to the new owners of 2014....
Here are mine.
1. Don't forget to drain down the hot water tank - usually a plunger under the front seats.
2. Leave taps open in mid position. You can also get a device to hook up to a compressor that blows water out of the lines that I use after spending too much time and money on taps.
3. Don't forget to drain toilet flush tank. There's a bung accessible from the waste door - use some guttering or similar to divert water out of the space.
4. Leave cupboards and fridge open. Remove bedding etc.
5. Don't forget that the heaters work surprisingly well...
When you say bedding I assume you don't mean mattresses as well?Here are mine.
1. Don't forget to drain down the hot water tank - usually a plunger under the front seats.
2. Leave taps open in mid position. You can also get a device to hook up to a compressor that blows water out of the lines that I use after spending too much time and money on taps.
3. Don't forget to drain toilet flush tank. There's a bung accessible from the waste door - use some guttering or similar to divert water out of the space.
4. Leave cupboards and fridge open. Remove bedding etc.
5. Don't forget that the heaters work surprisingly well...
All very good tips. In regards to the heater, I used an anti frost 500w greenhouse heater. It works brilliant, keeps the caravan at a nice temp, and barely uses power.
In relation to the water tanks, I fill my hot, and fresh before I leave home, no messing round with filling aquarolls 4 times when I arrive on site then! I tow with a 75, 100kgs noseweight, spot on!
In relation to the water tanks, I fill my hot, and fresh before I leave home, no messing round with filling aquarolls 4 times when I arrive on site then! I tow with a 75, 100kgs noseweight, spot on!
I just noticed that on your thread. 75 litres is a lot of weight to have sloshing around - 75kg!
My caravan has a MIRO of 1430 and a MTPLM of 1700, so 75kg out of a payload of 270kg is quite a chunk!
Mind you, I do have a lot of stuff to put on board what with 2 kids.... although the awning alone is around 45kg. I think our onboard water-tank is only 40 litres.
My caravan has a MIRO of 1430 and a MTPLM of 1700, so 75kg out of a payload of 270kg is quite a chunk!
Mind you, I do have a lot of stuff to put on board what with 2 kids.... although the awning alone is around 45kg. I think our onboard water-tank is only 40 litres.
Rosscow said:
I just noticed that on your thread. 75 litres is a lot of weight to have sloshing around - 75kg!
My caravan has a MIRO of 1430 and a MTPLM of 1700, so 75kg out of a payload of 270kg is quite a chunk!
Mind you, I do have a lot of stuff to put on board what with 2 kids.... although the awning alone is around 45kg. I think our onboard water-tank is only 40 litres.
It hasn't affected the van, I wont claim the speed I towed to Lydden Hill at, but if you google map it, it says 2hrs 13 mins, 130 miles. Took 2 hours on the dot ahem, not that I condone it at all. Ive never towed a more stable van. My caravan has a MIRO of 1430 and a MTPLM of 1700, so 75kg out of a payload of 270kg is quite a chunk!
Mind you, I do have a lot of stuff to put on board what with 2 kids.... although the awning alone is around 45kg. I think our onboard water-tank is only 40 litres.
I get a 260kg payload, and its just me! Awning is in the car. Mine isn't a standard tank onboard, added by a previous owner. It seems pretty good, who knows, maybe its baffled??
Alternatively use yourcaravan/motorhome throughout the winter 
Since coming back from the summer trip we have been away 3 times and have 5 more short trips booked upto Xmas....just 1 nighters to keep the temps and pressures/batteries up to speed and 2 nighters for a proper weekend of it.
We work on 1 hour travel for a 1 nighter and 2 hours travel tops,for a 2 nighter.
We have changed the summer duvets for thicker ones and T shirts for rugby jerseys!
The trick is to find a decent site close-ish to home so that its not too onerous to get to. We have found one in Slimbrdige which is next to a pub 20 quid a night to stay there and less than an hour from home.
Off to the Forest of Dean and Shrewsbury in November. Then West Wales between Xmas and NY for a few nights
Work flies by as its like looking forward to and having a holiday every 2 weeks
Obviously as the weather gets colder there's certain things to do like swap out butane for propane; use a bucket for the grey water...leaving the drain tap open; dont leave the handbrake on etc...
Time away is great to take the map book as well and plan next summers trip as well...
Since coming back from the summer trip we have been away 3 times and have 5 more short trips booked upto Xmas....just 1 nighters to keep the temps and pressures/batteries up to speed and 2 nighters for a proper weekend of it.
We work on 1 hour travel for a 1 nighter and 2 hours travel tops,for a 2 nighter.
We have changed the summer duvets for thicker ones and T shirts for rugby jerseys!
The trick is to find a decent site close-ish to home so that its not too onerous to get to. We have found one in Slimbrdige which is next to a pub
20 quid a night to stay there and less than an hour from home.Off to the Forest of Dean and Shrewsbury in November. Then West Wales between Xmas and NY for a few nights
Work flies by as its like looking forward to and having a holiday every 2 weeks
Obviously as the weather gets colder there's certain things to do like swap out butane for propane; use a bucket for the grey water...leaving the drain tap open; dont leave the handbrake on etc...
Time away is great to take the map book as well and plan next summers trip as well...
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