Need some advice please

[sorento1]

MOBIL. I have caravanned for about 13 years now, and I have always made the bed up in the van with the cushions turned bottomside up, I was wondering after all this time if it was the right way?? Also I hookup the caravan at home. Do I add ionised water to the battery in situ? Or do I take the battery out and charge it from a charger. Your advice would be much appreciated.
Thank you first time on

 

[Parksy]

Hi Sorento, welcome to the Practical Caravan forum. The way that you make up the bed is a matter of personal preference but many caravanners prefer the cushions to be bottom side up on their bed.
Make sure that you turn off the caravan electrics to add ionised water if the battery is on the caravan to minimise the risk of a battery explosion caused by a spark. The battery can be charged in situ but it will never be fully charged in the way that it would if you used a deep cycle charger such as a C-TEK.

 

[sorento1]

Thanks for the comments and advice Parksy. I only just started using the hook-up to the house recently and was not sure. Before I used an Acumate Charger, but lifting an 110amp battery out and putting it on charge in the garage became a bit too much not as young nowadays??Ha Ha. Changed caravan last year from a Bailey Imperial to a Pegasus426, had some niggles but nothing major. I tow with a Kia Sorento,anybody had any bother with the clutch?? Early this year went on a couple of trips to Wales, noticed clutch slipping(done 60,000miles) took it to get repaired. Cost? 850pounds,apparently this model has a flywheel and if you do not get this changed as well as the clutch, the clutch will keep breaking down. Any comments from anybody.
Thanks again from a new member

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Sorento
My Sorie has been with us from new and at 97k miles is still on the original clutch.
We tow a heavy TA and always use the Low Ratio gears for manoeuvering. No clutch burning smells

£850 is not a bad price if they changed all the clutch bits including the, driven plate , diaphragm spring plate, hydraulic slave cylinder and the Dual Mass Flywheel.
Have a look at Uksorento http://kiasorento.proboards.com/index.cgi
Clutches are strange things and normally wear out prematurely because of misuse. 60k isn't to bad but it could be better.
Never use the clutch pedal as a footrest.
Never ride the clutch on a slope , select neutral and use the handbrake.
Don't sit stationary , in gear waiting for the lights to change. All these things wear the clutch parts out.
And I'm not for one minute saying you do any of these naughty things!!

When we had a non fixed bed unit I left the cushions as was , covered them with a thick feather undermatress , sherets and duvet.
We never had any sweat stains. That is what can happen.

 

[Beachball]

Hi Sorento Welcome to the Practical Caravan Forum look forward to your posts in the future.........

 

[sorento1]

Hi Mark, thanks for the greeting. Makes me feel like I belong to a great group who if I encounter any problems I can get unbiased information . Cheers.