1. Will any alko hitchlock fit an alko hitch? Or are there sizes/subtypes/complicating factors that I know nothing about.... In other words, if I see the words Alko hitch lock on Ebay, am I safe to simply buy it, or do I need to know more?
2.How is a leisure battery different to a normal battery (I think I know the answer to this but would welcome confirmation)? And how do I know whether I need 100 or whether 85 would be enough?
3. What does the words Truma and Crystal mean as far as water is concerned? I think "our" van has this set up, but don't know what the implications are (and does it mean I have to buy a different sort of aqua roll?)
Sorry for the basic questions - have spent all night trying to find answers to all the other questions my head is buzzing with, but do need to go to bed now so would really welcome any overnight help from the UKcampsite Answer Fairies
1. There are 3 different types of Alko stabiliser, the 1300, the AKS 2000 and the 3000. One specific type of hitch lock will fit the 1300 and 3000 but the AKS 2000 is a different type as the locking handle is offset and covers the hitch handle that locks on to the towball so a different type of hitch lock is required.
2. A leisure battery is manufactured differently which is called a deep cycle battery in order that it will produce a smaller output over a longer distance of time. A car battery is a shallow cycle battery and will produce a mass of power in a short distance of time. It takes a lot of power to start an engine so this is why the two batteries differ from each other.
3. Carver was once a company that manufactured water components for caravans but when they ceased trading Truma took over and now supply identical parts to the caravan industry. Whale also supply water components but is independant from Truma.
4. When you buy an Aquaroll you have to make sure that the the screw cap access hole is large enough to accept your water pump as earlier Aquarolls have a smaller diameter access hole.
Thank you Tango, that's great. I don;t think my brain can make sense of any more info tonight but will read it with a more alert head tomorrow.
The Crystal/Truma thing was also complicated by the fact that the shower taps had Whale on them so every bet seemed to be covered! I think I need to ask the dealer for more info on this one ...
And does a leisure battery recharge very quickly as you drive home (if you've not been on EHU) or do you have to disconnect it and take it home to charge further (if you leave your van in storage)?
Lordy, the things I don't know ... and the scary realisation that the things I know I don't know are only the tip of the iceberg!!!
The caravan leisure battery will only trickle charge when connected up to the towing vehicle so it won't put the whole charge back in, even in a few hours. What you need to do is re-charge it when you get home but make sure that your charge doesn't fall below 12.7 volts otherwise you will have problems getting the battery to hold a charge afterwards. A fully charged battery should be around 13 volts or more but you will only get a true meter reading when the battery has been standing for at least 4 hours. Under load (when charging) you could get a reding of up to 14 volts. Don't use a typical car battery charger as this is far too powerful, what you need is a what they call a smart charger which senses and records how much power the battery initially needs then it slows up till fully charged. You can leave it on charge 24/7 with this type of unit as it will not only prolong battery life but you can trust it is designed to do the job perfectly.
Thank you again, Tango :-) Actually, I wonder if I may be ok on my car battery charger, it's got a mysterious setting that does something like that that we've never used .... Will have to hunt out the instructions!
Andi - yes, it looks very much as if we are :-) We're off back to pay the deposit this morning and am hoping that the promise of good weather for the rest of the summer is accurate! I am starting to panic about being so completely clueless now though!!!!
And actually, that reminds my about your second hand awning post that I never got round to replying to in yesterday's excitement :-)
Can a weekend/porch awning really fit all caravans?
Most porch awnings should fit the Lunar no problem at all, the only thing that stops some caravans using certain porch awnings is the height, but the Lunar is pretty much standard so no worries.
So you could get a porch awning without worrying if it will fit.
If you have a motor mover then a 100amphour batter would be better as movers can drain the power especially if you are moving some distance and up a sloping drive.
For hitch locks I would suggest that you ask your dealer which is the right one for your van and buy from him. You never know what may be wrong or missing from a second hand one on ebay. Security for all the money you have paid out for your van should not be skimped.
You need a Leisure Battery. I take ours out about 2 or 3 times a year to charge it using one of Halfords chargers. I keep the battery at home over winter and charge it up regularly so that it is fit for spring. I check the power level using one of these...don't check the level whilst it is on charge as it will always read 13+!
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
Al + Mel, that looks lovely I'd seen an awning on preloved for 30 quid advertised as "weekend/porch fits all caravans" and thought that it might just be a posssibility that would fix my gap - and if it's fitting like that size-wise, I'd be perfectly happy. I just want somewhere to fit all the mayhem that comes with a nearly 5 year old, and in a couple of months, the buggy and general chaos that comes with a newborn!
Thanks Andi - we're about to set off and pay...! I'm really hoping I've not gone off it overnight ;-)
Phil - we don't have a motormover (the van is so lightweight I reckon I could shift it myself) so that should help a bit with the battery drainage issue. I think you are right about the hitchlock - I'm sending myself cross eyed with it. The dealer actually had a fairly chunky looking wheel clamp in second hand, so I might pick that up at the same time ... That Halfords charger looks like a newer, posher version of the one I have so I think that might be fortunate! Will add a multimeter to my list of essential acquisitions ....
Best thing we bought when we bought the Dandy FC was the Caravan handbook from Halfords, it's seen us through lots over the last few years and very easy to follow!
Thanks Old Chap - we picked a hitch lock up today but I'm completely failing to remember which one we bought in the end - after lots of weighing and re-weighing the relative merits of cost versus speed of fitting versus solidity .... I think the Alko did win out but am not sure!
Andi - I have a Waterstones voucher burning a hole in my handbag - when I was given it a couple of months ago, I had some lovely holiday reading planned for it ... now instead I'm trying to figure out which of three or four different caravan books to spend it on :-) Obsessive? Me? Naaahhh!
Quote: Originally posted by White Rose on 17/5/2011
Andi - I have a Waterstones voucher burning a hole in my handbag - when I was given it a couple of months ago, I had some lovely holiday reading planned for it ... now instead I'm trying to figure out which of three or four different caravan books to spend it on :-) Obsessive? Me? Naaahhh!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Three novice questions...!
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I'd seen an awning on preloved for 30 quid advertised as "weekend/porch fits all caravans" and thought that it might just be a posssibility that would fix my gap - and if it's fitting like that size-wise, I'd be perfectly happy. I just want somewhere to fit all the mayhem that comes with a nearly 5 year old, and in a couple of months, the buggy and general chaos that comes with a newborn!
