Thought i'd say hello to you all, been reading through UKCS forums for a while now for inspiration & advice and after much deliberation i bought a caravan.
Quick history about me, been camping for a good part of my life & the last 7yrs have owned classic VW campers. All well and good just me & my mates at festivals but once i'd met my wife & the kids came along it all got a bit cramped. We had a good 2 week trip to France last yr in the VW but it was pretty obvious we needed something bigger.
Having looked at every option other than a caravan, Outwell tents, trailer tents & folding campers it soon became obvious that if i wanted something to just go away at short notice, quick set-up, not worry about the weather & stay dry then i was barking up the wrong tree.
So here i am today with a 1995 Bailey Sundowner to my name & itching to get away & test the water.
Ist question of many no doubt (complete novice with a caravan) is concerning winter storage & usage.
I'm hoping to grab the odd midweek break through the winter months,weather dependent. What do you remove & what do you leave in your caravans over winter? Last thing i want to be doing is reloading the van once a month if i can get away as often as i'd like.
Anyway, great site, enjoy browsing through when i get chance & will post some pics up once i've had chance to take some.
We caravan over winter and do leave bedding etc in the 'van in between trips.
It's essential in cold weather that you drain down the water system, to make you water doesn't freeze in the pipes.
I'm sure someone will give you better advice but in our van, it's a case of running all of the water off, removing the hot water tank plug and making sure all pipes (and toilet flush etc.) are empty.
------------- Gail
March - Bamburgh
Easter - Low Park Wood CC Kendal
May - Yellowcraigs CC North Berwick
June - Wharfedale CC Grassington
You wouldn`t run your caravn with water in it, either in the system or in the toilet. Thathas to be done when you install on site. But winter caravanning should be fun. Watch your water container for possible frost. But that seems to happen rarely these days . . .
Hi sundowner welcome to the forum have a great time if you take your caravan away in winter mine has gone to bed and we are putting the winter cover on soon ...........
Quote: Originally posted by peterws on 10/10/2012
You wouldn`t run your caravn with water in it, either in the system or in the toilet. Thathas to be done when you install on site. But winter caravanning should be fun. Watch your water container for possible frost. But that seems to happen rarely these days . . .
Why is there a need to drain the water system (including the toilet / flush) between every trip? I use my van all year for rallying and, apart from when very cold weather, never feel the need to go through all that rigmarole.This is just making work.
OP - please check your tyres (for sidewall wear and age) as well as pressures. Cold winter caravanning is great fun but again, check your heater system is working correctly.
Quote: Originally posted by peterws on 10/10/2012 You wouldn`t run your caravn with water in it, either in the system or in the toilet. Thathas to be done when you install on site. But winter caravanning should be fun. Watch your water container for possible frost. But that seems to happen rarely these days . . .
Why is there a need to drain the water system (including the toilet / flush) between every trip? I use my van all year for rallying and, apart from when very cold weather, never feel the need to go through all that rigmarole.This is just making work.
OP - please check your tyres (for sidewall wear and age) as well as pressures. Cold winter caravanning is great fun but again, check your heater system is working correctly.
Quote from Thetford;
"Important Warning Notice! Please do not travel with a flush water tank that is too full (we advise empty, but for sure not filled more than half-full). Do not travel with water in the toilet bowl. Failure to adhere to this notice may result in water damage to your caravan or motor home."
A full water tank has an effect on payload, noseweight and stability too.
Quote: Originally posted by peterws on 10/10/2012
You wouldn`t run your caravn with water in it, either in the system or in the toilet. Thathas to be done when you install on site. But winter caravanning should be fun. Watch your water container for possible frost. But that seems to happen rarely these days . . .
Why is there a need to drain the water system (including the toilet / flush) between every trip? I use my van all year for rallying and, apart from when very cold weather, never feel the need to go through all that rigmarole.This is just making work.
OP - please check your tyres (for sidewall wear and age) as well as pressures. Cold winter caravanning is great fun but again, check your heater system is working correctly.
Quote from Thetford;
"Important Warning Notice! Please do not travel with a flush water tank that is too full (we advise empty, but for sure not filled more than half-full). Do not travel with water in the toilet bowl. Failure to adhere to this notice may result in water damage to your caravan or motor home."
A full water tank has an effect on payload, noseweight and stability too.
Correct - TOO FULL. I can't imagine anybody keeps water in the toilet bowl (!). I would respectfully suggest that if a few litres of water in the loo / flush affects the stability that much you either load incorrectly or have the wrong towcar. And perish the thought of using the loo in a layby on the way to your destination
The flush tank takes a surprising amount of water. Gallons o` the stuff, it all ends up in the drain tank of course. Which on the road, will make the caravan twitch . . or even pitch Dammit, we buy lightweight crockery, pots and pans, etc etc . . . then carry the best part of a hundredweight of water on board!!
I carry a very small amount of flush water for en route bog stops . . . .
------------- Peripheral people don`t have as much excitement but they sure live longer
I can honestly say we i've never had the caravan act unstable due to the toilet and flush contents - and my loo is right at the back. As I said sensible loading if the caravan is the key,
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Topic: Newbie bought himself a caravan
