I started caravanning (with then hubby) back in the mid 80s but due to various circumstances had to downsize to more economical units. Well, here I am back in a caravan! I've bought a Freedom Microlite Sport, as I mentioned in a different thread. It's 20 years old but has has a refurb and looks great! It was a 3 berth but reduced now to 2, with the hob and sink moved round to sit under the front window, and there is now quite a big storage unit where the kitchen unit was. The camping loo fits like a glove in the wardrobe but of course will put up my toilet tent for its use when on site.
Has anyone else got one of these little units? I've always thought them a bit quirky but at least they are made from GRP so hopefully should not get the problems with damp that some older conventional caravans suffer from.
Woo Hooo! Can't wait to get away!
------------- Life without dogs? I don't think so!
Don't want to be a damp squib on your new found joy, but wise to check your actual nose weight and MIRO weight after the modifications! They may no longer match the original specification! the MIRO is not important in itself, but it gives an indication of payload before MTPLM is exceeded, and that is important as a legal defined max weight. The nose weight and MTPLM are chassis limitations, so not normally variable. The nose weight can usually be brought within spec by judicial loading of the payload in service, but if the new fixtures and fittings have substantially upset that, you may struggle! Do NOT consider piling heavy stuff in the rear of the van to lighten the nose weight if necessary, it will tow like a pig! - More a case of keeping as much weight as possible OUT of the front of van, even carrying it in the car if necessary.
Caravan layouts (and normally very lightweight materials used!) done at manufacture are carefully calculated to give a good towing experience and weight distribution on the chassis, it's why nearly all caravans of all brands have such similar layouts, and 'kitchens' are over axels! Later modifications/refurbs, often with much heavier materials, rarely take any account of this!
Don't get too anxious, I very much doubt it's a insurmountable problem if at all, just a case of being sure what you are dealing with in reality, rather than relying on the original spec which likely no longer applies, and loading accordingly.
Thanks for your wise words Monty15. Something I need to be mindful of.
The first thing that worried me was the fact that the dealer put in the front locker a 6kg gas bottle; I'd asked for a smaller one. One of my ex-caravanning neighbours has kindly given me his nose weight gauge so I can check that I'm not 'nose heavy'. My Toyota only has a small towball allowance anyway (50kg I think)
Luckily I only have small water containers, and minimalistic supplies to go in the kitchen cupboards; actually most of this stuff has gone in the new cupboard on the nearside of the 'van (It's a model with the door on the offside) with a bit of weight opposite, in the bottom of the wardrobe to level things up.
I'll try to get to a public weighbridge when I've got as much in the 'van as I'm likely to need, to make sure I don't exceed the Gross Train Weight.
Thinking of going away for a couple of days soon, on a basic site so I'll be off-grid and won't need the EHU cable etc. Looking forward to getting away for my first trip so that I can 'play house' and see how I get on with this funny looking little caravan! Some of these Freedoms look 'back to front' to me, as though the drawbar should be at the other end! I don't really care about looks, as long as everything works as it should!
------------- Life without dogs? I don't think so!
I think the MTPLM will be 750kg but the MIRO will be a lot less, perhaps as low as 600kg.
Normal advice on loading heavy items over the axle is not that critical on these as they are so short. It's impossible to load anything a long way from the axle. I think you'll find it very stable.
However, with the kitchen moved to the front it would be wise to check the nose weight although I suspect the kitchen won't be very heavy.
I also suspect there is not much heavy kit inside, no water heater or heating, maybe the battery is under a seat, probably no spare wheel or jack.
Thanks Navver, yes, minimal kit, not even a fridge! (Unfortunately. Will have to manage with my camping cool bag for now) so there is very little weight in the kitchen unit.
However my biggest concern is the fact that the leisure battery is under the small seating bench next to the kitchen unit. (on the nearside front). Just the other side of the bodywork is the gas locker, with the 6kg gas bottle also on the nearside! It didn't occur to me when I bought the caravan that this might cause a problem.... I think I need to swap the big bottle for a 3kg bottles of propane? Is it the 3kg bottles that are obsolescent?
Otherwise, nothing heavy in the cupboards apart from the EHU lead, the security devices and a couple of pots and pans in the side storage unit. No heating or hot water units: I have a little Kampa Diddy fan heater which will be more than adequate for warming the caravan during the winter months, when on EHU of course.
When I towed the unit back home from Bradford I was very pleased with the way it towed. Very stable, no issues at all, so maybe I'm worrying about nothing! I was hoping to get away for a short break in it this weekend but commitments dictate otherwise.... Never mind, only 4 weeks 'til my booked holiday in June!
------------- Life without dogs? I don't think so!
can i suggest that you use the caravan before your holiday, to make sure that everything works as it should. even if that means parking on your driveway and sleeping overnight in it, better to find out something doesnt work when your at home and have time to get it fixed
Thanks Marg6, I did actually have one night away in the caravan, after purchase, choosing to break the longish journey home by spending a night at a C&CC site about half way home. All seemed to work as it should, but as said previously, it's a very basic caravan so there isn't very much that can go wrong with it! Added to which it had been serviced by the dealer just before collection so I felt pretty confident all would be well - and it was!
------------- Life without dogs? I don't think so!
Quote: Originally posted by CyberCynth on 08/5/2024
.... Is it the 3kg bottles that are obsolescent?
...
Calor discontinued the small 3.9kg propane cylinder around Jan last year, then caved in to pressure from many users, firstly delaying the withdrawal, then abandoning the whole idea around Dec last year. At the time there were comments they were hard to find in stockists, but hopefully that has sorted itself.
Flogas do a similar gas weight cylinder as an alternative, but comes in a couple of different physical sizes IIRC, may need to check they both fit (what size you get will be random on a refill) the locker OK, should do, smaller than a 6kg Calor.
Quote: Originally posted by CyberCynth on 08/5/2024
.... Is it the 3kg bottles that are obsolescent?
...
Calor discontinued the small 3.9kg propane cylinder around Jan last year, then caved in to pressure from many users, firstly delaying the withdrawal, then abandoning the whole idea around Dec last year. At the time there were comments they were hard to find in stockists, but hopefully that has sorted itself.
Flogas do a similar gas weight cylinder as an alternative, but comes in a couple of different physical sizes IIRC, may need to check they both fit (what size you get will be random on a refill) the locker OK, should do, smaller than a 6kg Calor.
Ah, thanks for that Monty15 (have only just seen your post). I had no idea Calor had reinstated the 3.9kg gas cylinder. There must have been a good number of complaints from the campervan fraternity, whose gas cylinder storage space is often restricted. I will investigate. The only thing I will be using gas for is the little two burner hob, (no heating) so 6Kg seems a bit of overkill for the job, and far too much weight to cart around in my front locker. I have an electric camping induction hob which I will be using when on EHU anyway.
------------- Life without dogs? I don't think so!
Quote: Originally posted by CyberCynth on 13/5/2024
Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 08/5/2024
Quote: Originally posted by CyberCynth on 08/5/2024
.... Is it the 3kg bottles that are obsolescent?
...
Calor discontinued the small 3.9kg propane cylinder around Jan last year, then caved in to pressure from many users, firstly delaying the withdrawal, then abandoning the whole idea around Dec last year. At the time there were comments they were hard to find in stockists, but hopefully that has sorted itself.
Flogas do a similar gas weight cylinder as an alternative, but comes in a couple of different physical sizes IIRC, may need to check they both fit (what size you get will be random on a refill) the locker OK, should do, smaller than a 6kg Calor.
Ah, thanks for that Monty15 (have only just seen your post). I had no idea Calor had reinstated the 3.9kg gas cylinder. There must have been a good number of complaints from the campervan fraternity, whose gas cylinder storage space is often restricted. I will investigate. The only thing I will be using gas for is the little two burner hob, (no heating) so 6Kg seems a bit of overkill for the job, and far too much weight to cart around in my front locker. I have an electric camping induction hob which I will be using when on EHU anyway.
It was the leisure boating fraternity that piled the real pressure on Calor, and got a change of heart! But I know a few peeps with microvans and such like, who had absolutely no chance of following Calor's advice to go up to a 6Kg cylinder that really wasn't going to fit in their lockers, nor were they enthralled with the alternative of the Campingaz 907 cylinder and paying 4x the price for gas (per kg) AND only suitable for summer use as Butane, not sure how much of that sentiment got back to Calor! .... do know Flogas got a lot of new business though, there was a bit of a run on their 3.9kg cylinders for a while, but they seemed to rise to the challenge OK and sorted supply.
In my caravan I've got a 3 gas burner (plus one electric) hob cooker with gas grill and gas oven, plus the heating and water heater, and the fridge can run on gas, and I've been EHU free a couple of times, and I only last year swapped the 6Kg cylinder that came with the van 6 years ago, so think you're right, 6kg is overkill for a 2 burner hob!
You are probably right about leisure boats Monty. I have had 3 river cruisers and none of them would take a gas cylinder bigger than a 4.5kg butane or the equivalent sized propane cylinder. The gas lockers just weren't big enough. Gas is discouraged on boats wherever possible anyway, as leaks can't find their way out of a boat except in the gas locker which must be vented overboard. They just find their way down into the bilges!!
Slightly off-topic, but I heard someone on TV last week say that 'Gas is lighter than air, so will disperse if you leave the windows open'
Really??? I thought it was the opposite, and that gas is heavier than air, which is why there are holes in the bottom of gas storage lockers, to allow any leaking gas to drop out of the storage area?
Maybe that is dependent on the type of gas? The gas in question was from a household gas boiler which had been damaged. Confirmation from 'someone who knows' would be helpful!
------------- Life without dogs? I don't think so!
It does indeed depend on the gas CyberCynth. Butane and Propane, that we use for camping and boating is quite a bit heavier than air, so it sinks to the lowest point. In a caravan it will go out through the floor vents, but in a boat it collects in the bilges, often with disastrous consequences!
I think household gas from the mains is possibly slightly lighter than air so it will disperse if the windows are left open.
To be more specific and perhaps emphasise the risks of where leaking gas goes, Propane is around 1.5x heavier than air, Butane is 2x heavier than air, and both are stored in liquid form which will flow like water before converting to gaseous form if it leaks (Propane gives around 270x the volume of gas compared to liquid form!) and linger in low spots!
Natural Gas (as in domestic gas) is 0.6-0.7x the weight of air, so will 'float away' BUT can fill the upper reaches of a sealed space!
All, fire/explosive risks aside, also have the capability of displacing breathable air, so if the 'bang' doesn't get you, you may suffocate!
Gas leaks are nasty, liquid gas leaks are horrendous, which is why cylinders MUST always be stored and used upright. And why 'drop out' vents in caravans/MHs etc. must NEVER be blocked up! I'm never terribly happy carrying LPG cylinders in a car - no where for any leaking gas to escape! - good job it stinks and even my poor sense of smell can detect it in quite small quantities!
If not abused, correctly handled, and equipment kept in good serviceable condition, LPG's are very safe - you'd be surprised just how much of it surrounds you! - many aerosols use LPGs as the propellent (which is why all the 'do not use near naked flame', 'do not incinerate' warnings!)
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Have Gone Full Circle
via mobile 07/5/2024 at 7:58am
