Site van on pitch and level. Legs down. (I lead. I use the rechareable drill and bit, wife tightens with the hand brace.)
Wife & Daughter go off and find toilet (if they haven't already done so)!!!
I connect EHU and Gas bottles. I get out aquaroll from under fixed bet and wastemanter and pipe from front compartment. Wife (sometimes helped by daughter) set up water and fill aquaroll. I set up waste.
Wife checks water is coming through into van and gets air out of pipes etc, also checks electrics including polarity. I fill top tank of toilet (bottom tank is usually set up with fluid and primed with small amount of water). Wife switches fridge over to electric. Wife gets kettle out.
I put down the groundsheet and get out the awning from the car. Wife lays out awning poles. We then put up the awning together. Wife feeds the beading throught the awning rail starting at the tow bar end, I pull the material up and over. I put up the pole structure while wife holds poles in position (I take the lead). We both zip in awning panels (Wife takes the lead).
I peg out the corners of the awning nearest the van (both sides) and the corners at the front, and the pegging pole near the central pole. We both fill in the rest of the pegs. Wife always pegs the flaps against the van on the inside of the awning.
I get in van and pass out the table, tablecloth, chairs, washing up stand from under fixed bed. Wife assembles table and washing up stand. I arrange stuff in the awning. Wife gets out and sets up rubbish bin and dirty washing bin. I get out and set up Cadac, small BBQ table and remove Cadac gas bottle from front compartment.
I get out rotary washing line from front compartment, wife sets it up. I get out buckets, broom , dustpan and brush from the front compartment and position them in the awning. I move the awning fridge from the car to the awning and set this up + extension leads, table lamp etc.
...... it's like a well oiled machine!!!
This time we have two extra tasks - putting up a windbreak and my fairy lights. We haven't yet worked out the prorocol for this... Bags doing the fairy lights!!
Ooh I wish I had someone to help me! I'm ok at home, a neighbour helps me before I set off with the hitching up and all that, after which I'm on my own (most of the time - sometimes a mate comes with me). Like another poster said, don't be afraid to ask for help, most caravanners are only too willing to help - and thanks from this particular one to all those who have helped me with things in the past!
Quote: Originally posted by Jax365 on 20/7/2011
Ooh I wish I had someone to help me! I'm ok at home, a neighbour helps me before I set off with the hitching up and all that, after which I'm on my own (most of the time - sometimes a mate comes with me). Like another poster said, don't be afraid to ask for help, most caravanners are only too willing to help - and thanks from this particular one to all those who have helped me with things in the past!
If I had to do it all on my own it would take me absolutely ages - it takes us long enough with two of us (+ a little help from DD). Well done, you for setting up on your own. There's one thing that's far worse than setting up - and that's packing up at the end, especially when we are going home and not to another site. We have the cleaning/vacuuming to do as well as making sure everything is back in exactly the right place. The van has to go straight back to storeage so it's ready to come out for our next trip. It's difficult for us to take the van home, so we usually have to make a seperate trip to storeage to empty the clothes bedding etc.
Quote: Originally posted by realbusdriver on 20/7/2011
our tin tent trips usually go something like this.........arrive on site, find pitch, position 'van, put down the legs, then me and the OH frequently have a row over who's doing what , which ultimately ends up with my good lady traipsing off to take the dog for a walk while I , A/ attach the EHU, B/ attach the water pump, C/ turn on the gas, D/ fill the aquaroll, E/ fill the potaloo flush tank etc, F/ put up & peg out the porch awning, G/ set up the tv & sat' dish, H/ get out the camping chairs. I/ attach the waste water tank, all this normally takes about an hour
then I sit back with a cold tinney from the cool box, which is usually about the time the missus comes back with the mutt, and says sweetly 'you've forgotten to turn the fridge on again'
one day i'm just going to turn the fridge on and forget the rest
Post last edited on 20/07/2011 11:38:19
Do you know, I think I might be married to you........... or maybe we just all do it this way!!
------------- Gail
March - Bamburgh
Easter - Low Park Wood CC Kendal
May - Yellowcraigs CC North Berwick
June - Wharfedale CC Grassington
never feel silly about asking what you may think should be obvious,chances are we have all had to learn or ask the same when first starting out on lifes caravan adventures. As far as the loo goes we always empty top/flush water out at end of each trip before setting off for home and dont fill up till on site next time out
------------- Live Each Day Like Its Your Last, One Day Youll Be Right
Quote: Originally posted by realbusdriver on 20/7/2011
our tin tent trips usually go something like this.........arrive on site, find pitch, position 'van, put down the legs, then me and the OH frequently have a row over who's doing what , which ultimately ends up with my good lady traipsing off to take the dog for a walk while I , A/ attach the EHU, B/ attach the water pump, C/ turn on the gas, D/ fill the aquaroll, E/ fill the potaloo flush tank etc, F/ put up & peg out the porch awning, G/ set up the tv & sat' dish, H/ get out the camping chairs. I/ attach the waste water tank, all this normally takes about an hour
then I sit back with a cold tinney from the cool box, which is usually about the time the missus comes back with the mutt, and says sweetly 'you've forgotten to turn the fridge on again'
one day i'm just going to turn the fridge on and forget the rest
Post last edited on 20/07/2011 11:38:19
Do you know, I think I might be married to you........... or maybe we just all do it this way!!
glad it's not only us then
------------- no tin tent outings booked as yet ,just another cruise in Sept' booked so far
Quote: Originally posted by skiddly on 20/7/2011
far as the loo goes we always empty top/flush water out at end of each trip before setting off for home and dont fill up till on site next time out
Yes, we do the same, but when I empty the bottom tank, I alwayd put in the blue and a little bit of water so that the bottom tank is set up for next time out. I'd rather fetch the cassette out once than twice. I know it's only a small job, but just saves a little time.
Quote: Originally posted by littlebasher on 19/7/2011
Quote: Originally posted by La-la on 19/7/2011
Thanks little basher. Our last caravan just drew it's flush water from the aquaroll so I hadn't given this any thought. Will be sure to just put in enough for a flush or 2 (in case we need to `go' on the journery) then instead of filling right up.
One more thing though - why are people saying fill `top & bottom' ?
ps sorry for hi-jacking your thread OP !
You need the flush water for the top tank, plus a couple of litres of water in the 'poo' tank (mixed with the blue chemical) to break down your 'offerings'!
Of course, the 'top' tank may not actually be above the bowl - it depends which model of toilet you have (the bench style toilets have the flush water tank incorporated into the bench)
Aha that explains it. We don't put water or blue stuff in our poo tanks as we never poo in it - that's BANNED !!! Guess that makes ours just a wee tank really then
Quote: Originally posted by littlebasher on 19/7/2011
Quote: Originally posted by La-la on 19/7/2011
Thanks little basher. Our last caravan just drew it's flush water from the aquaroll so I hadn't given this any thought. Will be sure to just put in enough for a flush or 2 (in case we need to `go' on the journery) then instead of filling right up.
One more thing though - why are people saying fill `top & bottom' ?
ps sorry for hi-jacking your thread OP !
You need the flush water for the top tank, plus a couple of litres of water in the 'poo' tank (mixed with the blue chemical) to break down your 'offerings'!
Of course, the 'top' tank may not actually be above the bowl - it depends which model of toilet you have (the bench style toilets have the flush water tank incorporated into the bench)
I suppose I ought to contribute our `routine' as well - only we don't really have one !
Basically once caravan is positioned as level as possible one of us winds the legs down, and we pretty much do the same as everyone else only there's no set order & no jobs are deemed especially to be either his or hers..... Are we unique in this then ??? !!!!
Actually we do always get the dogs out pretty much as soon as the caravan is in posiition so as to let them answer the call of nature & have a drink etc. Other than that it's no particular order though. Often a cuppa comes before all the other stuff, especially if it's nice enough to sit outside with it.
I always take a big bottle of water in the caravan so as to be able to give the dogs a drink en route, & also so we can do the same as soon as we stop & also have a brew without having to trudge to fill the aquarolls.
We don't stick absolutely rigidly to our routine, but it doesn;t seem to vary that much. We have never sat down and planned it, but we have just developed it over time.
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: Where do you start? set up advice please
