New Member

[djduracell]

Hi guys quick message to say hi to you all, bought my 1st van 2 weeks ago then a car to tow it lol, I know wrong way around but couldnt resist the van. sterling 4 berth 2001, going away 6 sleeps time, 1 hours drive for 1 nite just to see how we get on, really looking forward to it. had a little problem with battery but got great advice on here, thanks so much. regards Jim

 

[Parksy]

Hi Jim, if I remember correctly I enticed you over to the forum from the Practical Caravan Facebook profile, so thanks for taking my advice and joining the Practical Caravan forum.
Facebook is a great tool with which members of the Practical Caravan team interact with the readers of the magazine but for detailed and ongoing technical support and real time information from experienced fellow caravanners the forum is hard to beat.
I hope that you will continue to enjoy using the forum, and that you and your family will have many happy times away in your caravan.

 

[djduracell]

Duplicate Post

 

[djduracell]

Your 100% correct, thanks so much its great to speak to people that have caravans for tips and advice, everyone has to start somewhere, thanks again..

 

[dougie201]

Hi

Welcome to the forum and the wonderfull world of the caravan. Hope you have a great first trip out, and all goes well.
Any questions before you go just ask and someone is bound to have an answer.

Enjoy..

Dougie....

 

[Mel]

hi dj, welcome to the forum. Many folk set out to buy a van based on logic and analysis and end up buying the one that they fell in love with! Keep posting
mel

 

[emmerson]

Mel, whats logic got to do with caravanning?

Surely we all went with our hearts, not our heads?
Dj, just go with it, and enjoy

 

[djduracell]

Just returned from 1st night away it was really really good, was a bit scarey at 1st towing a van for the 1st time, but was alot better on return journey, enjoyed using my motor mover WOW so easy compared to pushing, only real issue i had was creaking coming from my new tow bar ball, I do have the ALKO stabaliser, I am asuming this will go away in time, I never removed the paint from the ball, should this be removed to reduce noise?. Regards Jim

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Welcome to the Forum Jim
Yes, all paint should have been removed from the ball with emery paper, and is best cleaned each time before use with brake cleaner. You will also need to clean the pads in the head to remove any paint.
You have an AL-KO stabiliser, but do you have a corresponding AL-KO compatible tow ball (with extended neck)?

 

[djduracell]

Hi, I just have a standard tow ball, will clean it in the next few days, should I really have a AL-KO compatible tow ball? regards Jim

 

[Parksy]

If your caravan is fitted with an AlKo stabiliser hitch then you need to use an AlKo towball which has a slightly longer shank than a 'normal' towball.
Failure to use the AlKo towball could result in the caravan becoming detatched from the towing vehicle.

Keep a spray can of brake cleaner handy, you will need to give the stabiliser friction pads pads a good clean now that they've become contaminated by paint and a good squirt every now and then keeps the towball really clean. Use a towball cover when the towball is not in use to protect it from rust and oily road grime.

 

[Beachball]

Hi Jim This is a belated welcome to the practical caravan forum enjoy yourself on here ................