Recent content by rob_jax

Hi Roy, Pin 12 is reserved for future use - it could be used for a caravan stability system - but it's my belief that the AL-KO ATC just takes a feed from the caravan battery charging circuit. Most of the time ATC like systems won't draw a significant current, only when the brake plunger...

Hi Ray, There is a considerable power and torque difference between a ML270 and an E320 - the current E320 produces close to 550NM compared to around 400NM for the 5 cylinder 270. The E-class takes a fraction over 6 seconds for the 0 to 60 - and the tyres fitted reflect this - and these don't...

"Two Red Kites.......fantastic! Do you mean they come down to feed feed in your garden?" Not often - but other people in the village do feed the kites on a daily basis. Since the introduction of a few dozen pairs on the Chiltern Hills (about 20 years ago) they've been highly successful - not...

Roy, The 13 pin connector is a better design - but if the old 7 pin connector is perfectly clean and in perfect condition - then it shouldn't be any different. But it's so easy for the 7 pin connectors to get knocked, start corroding, whatever - so they rarely work at 100% efficiency. So -...

How much water do you intend to use? If it's high usage (showers / washing up in van / etc) - then an Aquaroll and companion waste container would be a sensible purchase. If it's low usage (food preparation in sink / washing teeth) - then we use the internal 10 litre CarrySan for potable water...

Hi, I can't remember if there's a specially reserved area - but there is a series of lay-byes just outside the dock - but I'd guess they will be filled with trucks. An alternative is a 30 minute drive north-east on the A16/E40 - the Texaco service station at Mannekensveere - about 1/2 way...

Hi Garfield, Continental PremiumContact2 are the MO tyre on my Mercedes E-class - typical life expectancy on the rear is around 10k miles - which is exactly what I'd expect from a performance orientated tyre on a car with 220+ bhp. Longer life means a harder tyre compound or a less grippy tyre...

Richard, If it's a classic caravan, or one with a very active owners club, or a caravan with a specialist following - then I'd go with that caravan forum or owners web-site. If it's a generic white shed of a caravan - then maybe the owners club is worth a go, or somewhere like preloved.co.uk -...

Hi Mark, Is it legal? Well as long as the trailer weight (for example, the caravan MTPLM) is less than the car maximum braked trailer weight - and it is - then it is legal. Is it safe? That's a different question. Without trying it, the rule-of-thumb is that if the caravan MTPLM is 85% of the...

We have three feeding stations in our garden - four-port seed feeders in-between our apple trees, and fat ball feeders in the yew trees. Currently visited by: 20+ goldfinches 20+ chaffinches 10+ greenfinches 10+ blue tits (fat ball) 5+ great tits (fat ball) 5+ long tailed tits (fat ball)...

Roy, The caravan plug has a twist-lock - grasp the body of the plug and turn the twist lock ring 90

D, The mains input to any caravan should be a simple straight through connection between the hook-up socket via the "fuse box" to the 230 volt sockets in the caravan. Probably the only reason for damage to occur is a poor (loose) connection somewhere between the hook-up and the socket - and...

Stephen, That's a good question - car and caravan shock absorbers work in both directions - they dampen movement both ways...

Hi, We have a Russell Hobbs 800 watt kettle - boils around 1 litre of water (maybe less)- sure it takes longer than our kitchen kettle - but it's been used all over Europe. Fridge + 800 watt kettle + radio + battery charge is safely below the MCB 6 amp trip on many continental sites -...

Nick, I'd leave it as it is - but to explain why I need to tell you about Eriba caravan floors... Eriba are known to be long lasting caravans - and are a good test bed for exposing problems that crop up after many years of ownership. In the 1970's and 80's, the Hymer / Eriba factory coated...