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New to Caravanning - The basics

Hi I'm have just bought my first ever caravan, a Bailey Pageant Moselle 2001. I understand how to connect the gas bottle but could someone kindly explain how I connect up water and what basics I need to get started like what water containers I need to buy. Electric hook up is straightforward. The caravan hasn't come with any water connectors apart from some pipe but it looks like there is a container you can access outside which looks like the pump around where the toilet is. I believe it has Truma pump fitted as there are a few switches inside. Also if someone could kindly explain how the toilet waste works. I'm complete newbie to everything.
Many thanks
 
There is a lot to learn when starting out. There are a lot of good you tube videos that may be more helpful than long wordy explanations. Like this one
View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=A7Umxjxl2Wo


For water basics you need a fresh water container ( an aquaroll or similar) and a waste water container ( a wastemaster or similar).
You can get these second hand on eBay and the like.
You will need some waste pipe from the waste outlets to the wastemaster. I assume you have a submersible “pump” for the Aquaroll
Keep asking. We will try and help
Mel
 
Thank you I've had a good look around my caravan and now have a better understanding. Just another question if you don't mind, I'm looking for a suitable pump as the caravan only came with bare basis, so winder and a hook up lead. Can anybody advise what type of pump is best for me for this fitting? Whale seems to look like it will fit? Also the other flap I can put the toilet cleaner fluid in directly? Many thanks for all the help so far!
 

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Whale pumps are good in my opinion. Started with Trauma but I had 2 fail on me. Yes the second picture looks like the filling point for water and chemical for the toilet. You only need a small amount of chemical. Good luck with your adventures.
 
The two clubs do excellent courses for those new to caravanning. The courses include practical manoeuvring tuition as well as indoor sessions on the practical, legal and safety aspects of caravanning. Thoroughly recommend attending a course as the knowledge will remain throughout your days caravanning.
 
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I addition to all the good advice mentioned this script may be of interest to you


Do you know when it was last fully serviced? There is probably a good qualified caravan engineer near you.check out the AWS members and the MCEA members.

Do you have the original Bailey Handbook/ Manual?

Whilst you know how to connect the gas bottle did you know there are individual gas isolation valves for the gas appliances?

You tube have plenty of good videos explaining how the gas systems work.

If you don’t have them I recommend you buy both a Carbon Monoxide alarm and a Fire /smoke alarm.

In isolation most of the caravans functions are straight forward. If you live near me I’ll happily give you a few hours showing how everything works. We had a 2002 Pageant for a few years.

Which County do you live in?
Good luck and do enjoy the Moselle.
 
Further to Dusty’s advice you need a fire/smoke detector suitable for use in a leisure vehicle, not normal domestic units.



BS EN14604:2005 refers.

Fire Angel and Kidde are well known makes.



Manuals for older caravans can be obtained from Caravan Archives……at a cost.

 
Further to Dusty’s advice you need a fire/smoke detector suitable for use in a leisure vehicle, not normal domestic units.



BS EN14604:2005 refers.

Fire Angel and Kidde are well known makes.

I don’t wish to criticise the advice, but I don’t quite see the purpose of fire/smoke detectors in a caravan as one would always be close to any open fire in such a relatively small enclosed space and able to react just as quickly as the detector itself. That’s why I’ve never bothered myself.
 
I don’t wish to criticise the advice, but I don’t quite see the purpose of fire/smoke detectors in a caravan as one would always be close to any open fire in such a relatively small enclosed space and able to react just as quickly as the detector itself. That’s why I’ve never bothered myself.
You assume that the fire will wake the occupants in sufficient time for them to exit the caravan. I’d suggest your assumption is flawed as a slow evolving fire can be detected before it ramps up sufficient to awake the occupants. By then it may be too late for them.
 
Having been the owner of a Minuette I feel I can help with a Moselle.
Of the pics, 19 is the fitting to connect a Whale submersible pump. The pump 12V is supplied through the two contacts near the bottom of the enclosure. I would suggest you clean them up a bit with either a fibreglass contact cleaning brush or a small piece of fine wire wool - if the latter make sure all 12V is switched off. Also clean the aperture thoroughly as the water will be used for washing. Th water container can make the water taste and you might get infections from it, so whilst it is OK for washing I would suggest you get a new second smaller container to carry drinking water.
The second pic - 20 - is indeed the inlet for the toilet cistern. There is no real need to put anything in the cistern but if you get flakes of debris when the toilet is flushed then a suitable (usually pink) additive in VERY small quantity is a good idea. Fill it with plain cold water up to the lip. However you should put additive in the toilet waste container to break down debris and to kill any smell. This liquid will be blue or green. Historically it used to contain Formaldehyde but that can destroy to operation of a septic tank if one is being used so always used one that does NOT contain that chemical. Green does not contain the chemical and most (but not all) blue ones don't contain it either.
I would expect the van to have main electrical hook-up (known as EHU). If it does you need to check it thoroughly (if you are suitable qualified or experienced) or get it done by an electrician (does not need to be a caravan specialist.) You can buy a suitable cable compliant with regs from any caravan dealer for maybe £20 or so. It will have blue 3-pin connectors (to CEE17 standard) on the ends and the cable will be 3-core flex of 2.5sqmm per core with a tough bright orange outer cover.
The caravan will likely have an under-counter fridge which can be run off mains or gas when you are on site, and from 12V when you are towing. The van will likely have two car connection plugs, one black and one grey. The black carries all of your road lighting, the grey carries 12V continuous for caravan battery function/charging, and switched 12V for the fridge which, since it draws nearly 7A, should only be powered when the towing vehicle engine is running. If there is only one 13-pin plug on the caravan that carries all connections, but if/when you have a towbar fitted you MUST specify to the installers (and ideally get it written and signed on the work order) that the socket needs fridge wiring which some systems omit.
Finally it is likely that your insurers will require you to have some sort of lock to stop theft. This can be a lock that fits on one wheel, and/or a device that clamps or fits around the towball mechanism. These can be expensive new, but you may be lucky and find a used one on line.
Good luck.
 
You assume that the fire will wake the occupants in sufficient time for them to exit the caravan. I’d suggest your assumption is flawed as a slow evolving fire can be detected before it ramps up sufficient to awake the occupants. By then it may be too late for them.

But I wouldn’t have an open fire while asleep and besides, having seen how quickly a fire in a caravan can spread and completely destroy it within minutes I’d always keep a naked flame under control so that I’m able to react immediately, probably even before the detector has deployed.
 

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