Hi everyone. We are thinking of venturing into the world of CL CS touring , or dare i say it, NO HOOK UP! Just wanted to know how you hardened lot cope without your EHU for heating, cooking, making cuppa etc. I know the easy answer is use gas for everything, but have you any useful little hints, tips or pieces of equipment that may be useful for this extreme change of caravanning style. Also how tough is it coping without nice toilet blocks and hot showers? I have to admit I like my home comforts and so far have not caravanned without my microwave, DVD, electric heater etc. Could I cope au naturale?? Any suggestions gratefully received! Please be kind! Emmy.
Coping without hook-up
- Thread starter karenmshorter
- Start date
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Hi Emmy,
Had to post a reply to you,I'm trying to picture you au naturale...
lol (keep your Liberty Bodice handy).How did you get on with Touring in the Trees?.
We also considered it but its surprising how we get use to our home comforts.
You will find that quite a few cl's and cs's do have EHU. In N.I. out of the 11 CL's 4 have EHU. Hope this helps or has given you a laugh.
regards wee stevie
Had to post a reply to you,I'm trying to picture you au naturale...
lol (keep your Liberty Bodice handy).How did you get on with Touring in the Trees?.
We also considered it but its surprising how we get use to our home comforts.
You will find that quite a few cl's and cs's do have EHU. In N.I. out of the 11 CL's 4 have EHU. Hope this helps or has given you a laugh.
regards wee stevie
Emmy
The only way we camp is non EHU
fire.cooker.fridge and water heated by gas
And battery for lights and pump
Have an adapter to plug a stronger light in to car
A bottle of gas lasts a week and can get 2 weeks out of the battery hooked to a solar panel But always carry a spare
we have no tv and a battery radio
We both love walking and i do sewing and knitting Hubby reads
We use shower Wet/Soap/Rinse method
only boil enough water for what you are doing eg: tea/coffee
Give it a try we would not caravan any other way
The only way we camp is non EHU
fire.cooker.fridge and water heated by gas
And battery for lights and pump
Have an adapter to plug a stronger light in to car
A bottle of gas lasts a week and can get 2 weeks out of the battery hooked to a solar panel But always carry a spare
we have no tv and a battery radio
We both love walking and i do sewing and knitting Hubby reads
We use shower Wet/Soap/Rinse method
only boil enough water for what you are doing eg: tea/coffee
Give it a try we would not caravan any other way
Hi Emmy
We do mostly non EHU. The only hardship is not to be able to use the micro-wave.
I use a 20 litre re-fillable gas cylinder, at 48p per litre, which lasts 4-5 days in winter with 24/7 heating and a bit of cooking
TV and Sat receiver are 12v.
Fridge/freezer run on gas.
Alde hot water and central heating run on gas.
All but 2 lights operate on 12v.
I have 2x110 Ah batteries connected in parallel and a 1kw generator to recharge the batteries after 4 days use with a Ctek 9000 charger. A 1500W power inverter is connected to a dedicated socket to run any essential 240v appliances (hair drier, food whisk etc).
Using the on board WC is a little awkward to begin with but soon becomes OK.
So with a bit of preperation you will discover that EHU is un-necessary.
Good luck
Brum
We do mostly non EHU. The only hardship is not to be able to use the micro-wave.
I use a 20 litre re-fillable gas cylinder, at 48p per litre, which lasts 4-5 days in winter with 24/7 heating and a bit of cooking
TV and Sat receiver are 12v.
Fridge/freezer run on gas.
Alde hot water and central heating run on gas.
All but 2 lights operate on 12v.
I have 2x110 Ah batteries connected in parallel and a 1kw generator to recharge the batteries after 4 days use with a Ctek 9000 charger. A 1500W power inverter is connected to a dedicated socket to run any essential 240v appliances (hair drier, food whisk etc).
Using the on board WC is a little awkward to begin with but soon becomes OK.
So with a bit of preperation you will discover that EHU is un-necessary.
Good luck
Brum
If it was just husband and I, there wouldn't be a problem but with a teenage daughter in tow - phew too much hassle.
I did buy an inverter so we could power a tv but like many things I buy, never used it and sold it to a colleague.
Try it, I think you will be fine.
Lisa
I did buy an inverter so we could power a tv but like many things I buy, never used it and sold it to a colleague.
Try it, I think you will be fine.
Lisa
Oh Stevie, I dont think you would like me au naturale this time of year! Unshaved legs and no fake tan!!Hi Emmy,
Had to post a reply to you,I'm trying to picture you au naturale...
lol (keep your Liberty Bodice handy).How did you get on with Touring in the Trees?.
We also considered it but its surprising how we get use to our home comforts.
You will find that quite a few cl's and cs's do have EHU. In N.I. out of the 11 CL's 4 have EHU. Hope this helps or has given you a laugh.
regards wee stevie
This topic question is in peraration for Touring in the Trees. Your info was spot-on.
Take a pressure cooker with you. You can cook a whole meal on one gas ring. I would also take a couple of flasks and keep any remaining boiling water in them. Very useful for washing dishes, etc. Good luck!
Ann
Ann
Hi Emmy,
Most of our 23 years of caravanning has been on non-EHU. Both our older girls and now younger son have grown up without it. We use the facilities in the van that we paid so much for, we have a nice warm shower 'block' of our own with all the facilities. We use gas and battery, a 6Kg propane cylinder will last 5-7 days during the winter for heating and cooking and our 110Ah battery 7-10 days without any attention (no solar panel or generator) as we have no TV etc. the microwave is just inactive!
Our son (10) plays outside with other children or in the van/awning with his own toys, we read or have been known to talk to each other.
EHU is nice occassionally but with it goes the hassle of a big site. Give it a try you'll enjoy it, I hope.
Alan
Most of our 23 years of caravanning has been on non-EHU. Both our older girls and now younger son have grown up without it. We use the facilities in the van that we paid so much for, we have a nice warm shower 'block' of our own with all the facilities. We use gas and battery, a 6Kg propane cylinder will last 5-7 days during the winter for heating and cooking and our 110Ah battery 7-10 days without any attention (no solar panel or generator) as we have no TV etc. the microwave is just inactive!
Our son (10) plays outside with other children or in the van/awning with his own toys, we read or have been known to talk to each other.
EHU is nice occassionally but with it goes the hassle of a big site. Give it a try you'll enjoy it, I hope.
Alan
A list of things we have obtained so far for non EHU sites.
All the prices are accurate but we tend to pick these things up when we see bargains.
Spare Battery
2 x 13W Solar panel briefcases
All the prices are accurate but we tend to pick these things up when we see bargains.
Spare Battery
2 x 13W Solar panel briefcases
Hi Emmy,
I never thought i would say this but i love caravaning without electric hook up. My husband and i have 3 children aged 8,10 and 12 and we have all learnt to cope without the 3 pin plug. For years i refused to rally as there was usually no electric and then one day my husband, talked me into buying a solar panel. We have never looked back, we did spend a considerable sum on it
I never thought i would say this but i love caravaning without electric hook up. My husband and i have 3 children aged 8,10 and 12 and we have all learnt to cope without the 3 pin plug. For years i refused to rally as there was usually no electric and then one day my husband, talked me into buying a solar panel. We have never looked back, we did spend a considerable sum on it
suggest investing in 2 leisure batteries this should be more than adequate for juice. gas seems to go on forever we have caravanned like this for 2 years with no problems dont beleive in generators batteries need to be recharged with good quality charger rob
Yes its a great idea ,every so often go EHU free.Its like having a cool shower before you get into bed [it makes you appreciate the luxuries of life when you stop
It makes a change to listen to the radio and escape the TV for a change .Most other things can be replicated by the use of gas .
As has been said a pressure cooker and a little econonmy works wonders .
You have to remember that this is past eleven in the evening and the glass has been refilled many times .
Col
It makes a change to listen to the radio and escape the TV for a change .Most other things can be replicated by the use of gas .
As has been said a pressure cooker and a little econonmy works wonders .
You have to remember that this is past eleven in the evening and the glass has been refilled many times .
Col
Emmy, about half of the Caravan Club CLs have got hooks ups so you don't need to go "au naturelle" just to get the benefit of CLs.
A list of things we have obtained so far for non EHU sites.
All the prices are accurate but we tend to pick these things up when we see bargains.
Spare Battery
2 x 13W Solar panel briefcases
cant see the point in going non EHU. If your useing gas why not EHU.
Gas only is not "au naturale" so why kid yourself.
Edd
Gas only is not "au naturale" so why kid yourself.
Edd
No EHU, no problem.
And we didn't even need to forgo the TV.
We spent two weeks last summer at Round Hill in the New Forest which has no EHU.
Gas lasted no probs, had to get the battery charged after the first week so a spare battery would have been useful.
We took a laptop with a Freecom usb freeview TV adapter, this provided 1.5 hrs or TV or DVD per day if I recharged the laptop whilst the car was running during the day using an inverter. Charged the Mobiles in the car as well.
Fridge, water, shower, cooking were fine on Gas.
We just had to think a bit about our usage of power.
The guy in the closest caravan had a pair of brief case Solar panels which he reckoned kept his battery topped up.
And we didn't even need to forgo the TV.
We spent two weeks last summer at Round Hill in the New Forest which has no EHU.
Gas lasted no probs, had to get the battery charged after the first week so a spare battery would have been useful.
We took a laptop with a Freecom usb freeview TV adapter, this provided 1.5 hrs or TV or DVD per day if I recharged the laptop whilst the car was running during the day using an inverter. Charged the Mobiles in the car as well.
Fridge, water, shower, cooking were fine on Gas.
We just had to think a bit about our usage of power.
The guy in the closest caravan had a pair of brief case Solar panels which he reckoned kept his battery topped up.
Practical Caravan is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.
© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.
Facebook
Twitter