Advice for the Newbies,

[Hutch]

Having just replaced my towbar for a better type, in my opinion. I was polishing up the Alko style towball, and thought I wonder how many of the very welcome"Newbies" know about removing the paint from an Alko type towball. As recommended by Alko when using an Alko tow hitch.
What other tips can we give to our new friends.
Hutch.

 

[Mel]

Good thread Hutch.
My top tip is on stowing when towing. Locker doors can and do open while towing so keep items that will spill, break or damage what they fall on, out of top lockers until you arrive on site. This includes but is not limited to; tinned food, bottles of juice, cooking oil, jars of coffee, bottles of cough medicine, and shampoo. We have Previous when it comes to getting this wrong so next to nothing travels in overhead lockers now. It is in folding crates on the floor and stowed when we arrive.
Mel

 

[chrisn7]

Mel there is a simple solution to this - no need to spend time emptying overhead lockers. Instead of leaving tea and hand towels in a drawer somewhere, spread one or more out over the contents. Its very effective at damping out movement of the contents.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Mel,

This has been a longstanding issue with many caravans, and christen has suggested one solution but another where the locker handles allow it is to use a bungee cord threaded through them and anchored to convenient fixtures or even adding a cup hook to take the bungee.

That said, your own solution has several merits; I'll bet there are several kg of weight you move out of the lockers, which is then relocated at a lower level. This will improve the caravans resistance to instability by a little bit. So if your happy then just carry on.

 

[brian_c]

Good thread Hutch.
My top tip is on stowing when towing. Locker doors can and do open while towing so keep items that will spill, break or damage what they fall on, out of top lockers until you arrive on site. This includes but is not limited to; tinned food, bottles of juice, cooking oil, jars of coffee, bottles of cough medicine, and shampoo. We have Previous when it comes to getting this wrong so next to nothing travels in overhead lockers now. It is in folding crates on the floor and stowed when we arrive.
Mel

We probably use the same type of folding crates (Ex Wilkinsons)
We Never travel with anything in the overhead lockers. It only takes a few minutes and saves any problem of things being broken.

 

[Martin24]

We would never overload the top lockers or put weighty things like bottles and tins in them. In 44 years of caravanning (a lifetime) I have never known a top locker come open or to have anything fall out. The contents of the children's cupboards (when they have packed) sometimes falls out on arrival but that's it.

 

[Mel]

Thank you for your helpful suggestions. Martin you must have overhead lockers with press in catches to keep them shut. Our previous two vans didn't and having lived through black current squash gate and coffee granules gate; nothing but nothing travels in overhead lockers. I'm sticking with my crates
Mel

 

[Hutch]

In our Coachman 545, after a run from around the Paris perifery race track, pulled into an aire to let the dog out, and a cup of tea, only to find the table had come unstowed and had smashed into the oven door and shattered the glass. So on geting to the pitch the first thing was to get out the vacum cleaner, the Dutch around must have thought my wife very caravan proud, to be cleaning straight away.
Morel, make sure everything is stowed away properly.

 

[Martin24]

Oh Hutch, ouch! Not a good thing to happen.

Sorry Mel but the last 4 vans haven't had positive catches.

 

[Hutch]

No it was a mess, but luckily just the very small crystalised, stuff, about £70 to replace.
But the funny thing was where we had to pitch up at Gandspatte, at 5 pm, so we were the entertainment for others. Really tight pitch, Said to SWMBO, we have get this in first time, and YES, we did, reversed straight in , levelled, chairs out cold beer and a G&T, within 20 minutes. Then Elaine and myself cleaned up the mess. Ah the fun of caravans. You never really know whats happening next.
H.

 

[mealsonwheels]

My advice to a newbie caravanner or motorhomer would be this:
When you arrive on a site that has electricity supply bollards, get into the habit of always plugging your electric hookup cable into the caravan or motorhome FIRST and connect the other end of the cable to the site supply bollard LAST.
At the end of your stay, do the reverse, disconnect from the site supply bollard FIRST, before disconnecting from your van or motorhome LAST.
SAFETY NOTE: Motorhomers who are driving out for the day, should never, ever disconnect a cable from their motorhome and leave the end dangling over a fence, or worse, left lying on the ground, whilst it is still connected to the supply bollard.

 

[Raywood]

We have never had a problem with locker doors opening when traveling but usually put light things in them.
Not sure if Coachmans may be jinxed but the only real damage we had was many years ago with our Mirage (remember them) We were traveling through France when a JCB pulled out from a side road and I had to do an emergency stop. When we next stop we discovered the sink cover had flown off the sink and gone through the top of the table which was stored on the floor at the front. Moral keep heavy sink covers in the seat lockers.
We use Tesco Big Green Bags for clothes as they are easy to pack, lightweight and can be stored easily. We did use the folding crates at one time but the bags seem better and because they are flexible can be shaped to fit any space we have.

 

[Hutch]

Just seen on another thread, if you are hooking up on a CC site when connecting you have to turn the connector., I checked out all my connections wiring , etc, until realised , i was the problem. Ho hum.

 

[Craigyoung]

I remember pulling onto our first site , and me trying for an hour t try and get the wheel clamp on , 3o second job !! It was a tight fit !! Little tip , I put the trolley jack inbetween it and stretched it !! Done the trick ! Same prob the other week after new tyres fitted , stretched the parts off the clamp and it fits no problem .
Happy caravaning .

Craig ,

 

[Hutch]

Oh you Numptyy. glad you are keepinh OUR standards up mate. :evil:

 

[Hutch]

If you have new vans with Alko wheel locks, note the numbers etc, make sure your TV "things" I can't spell ariels. down. In France the barriers take them off. Not mine, a couple of Dutch folk travelling together. Both done it. :blink: