As you'll have seen in our latest blog from Martin Roberts, we're rewinding to 2013. But we'd still be interested to hear which caravan accessories you swear by, which make you smile – or maybe some you'd like to see invented?
What are your top caravan accessories?
- Thread starter LizziePope
- Start date
This is a difficult question - what is an accessory? In the dealers shop, almost everything is an accessory, but the products can be divided between 'needs' and 'wants'. I need a leisure battery and a water carrier, so these would tend to be my 'top accessories', but hardly something interesting to be excited about.
So I guess the question is really about those 'wants' or inventions. My own favourite is my adaption of the humble decorators plumb bob for levelling - its simple, its truly useful, its accurate and it never breaks. But the follow up to this is why don't manufacturers build in such a device, when their customers have to do level their products on most trips?
So I guess the question is really about those 'wants' or inventions. My own favourite is my adaption of the humble decorators plumb bob for levelling - its simple, its truly useful, its accurate and it never breaks. But the follow up to this is why don't manufacturers build in such a device, when their customers have to do level their products on most trips?
chrisn7 said:
Cost?? There's a lot of things needed every trip, including the water carrier and battery you said about. But if everything you need/require is included the initial price would be sky high. Also, the dealers/retailers wouldn't then be able to charge extortionate prices for the addition things with the word 'caravan' in the title.
Well a levelling device is hardly costly. Buccaneer have introduced self levelling steadies, which is a step in the right direction in practical equipment terms, though pricey as would be expected. Still once these things appear, the price comes down in time, as customers come to expect them - just look at cars and all the aids present now compared to years back.
It seems that manufactures see fabrics, colours and graphics as more important than where to store the Aquaroll and Wastemaster and other such paracticalities
It seems that manufactures see fabrics, colours and graphics as more important than where to store the Aquaroll and Wastemaster and other such paracticalities
No contest - my Bosch electric drill with TWO batteries (absolutely essential !) for my favourite hate job - endlessly winding up and down the corner steadies.
- Jun 20, 2005
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chrisn7 said:
8 years ago Bailey supplied a free TV with their Senator range. Trust me it was absolute junk. Far better the manufacturer leaves us to make our own choices on quality and cost of all accessories.
I've seen the levellers you refer to and believe they are way too pricey for what is a straight forward job especially with a ramp or wooden planks and the cordless drill. My old Swiss Army knife has proved its worth many a time.
I think the most important caravan accessories would be ..........something to pull it with .
Sir Roger .
Sir Roger .
- May 7, 2012
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The motor mover is probably top. We have had one for well mover ten years because we kept the caravan in the drive3. The roar is on a hill, the drive is narrow and slopes down from the road and the council put a lamp post opposite just where you might mount the pavement when reversing in. As the caravans got too wide for the drive and too long to get out without grounding we now keep it in store but the mover is still needed for difficult sites like one we were on in France last year.
1 The Kettle
2 The Other Half (someone to operate No 1 accessory)
3 Old carrier bags (for the rubbish)
4 The hoover
5 The Dog (for when its to much for No 3 and 4
2 The Other Half (someone to operate No 1 accessory)
3 Old carrier bags (for the rubbish)
4 The hoover
5 The Dog (for when its to much for No 3 and 4
- Oct 12, 2013
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1 ) kettle as Graham said ;
2 ) BBQ ;
3 ) my beer , wife's wine for our much needed unwinding ;
4 ) bottle opener for the above !! :lol:
2 ) BBQ ;
3 ) my beer , wife's wine for our much needed unwinding ;
4 ) bottle opener for the above !! :lol:
It's the motor mover for me, I used to see people on site with them and always thought they were a waste of money.... Right up until I got a van with one fitted already.... Omg... how did I manage before without one, yes you don't need one but it sure makes vanning that bit more enjoyable.
That's what I currently think is the best accessory but what I'd like is a device that tells me when the rear of the van has safely passed the front of something I'm over taking and I can safely pull in... I normally rely on the 'flash' from friendly lorry drivers or use the shadow from the rear of the van but a device simular to say a rear parking sensor would be a good idea... Something stand alone that connects to a control device in the car via Bluetooth would be good.... It could beep when you have something alongside the van but stop once the rear end had passed.... just like a parking sensor...
Rog.
That's what I currently think is the best accessory but what I'd like is a device that tells me when the rear of the van has safely passed the front of something I'm over taking and I can safely pull in... I normally rely on the 'flash' from friendly lorry drivers or use the shadow from the rear of the van but a device simular to say a rear parking sensor would be a good idea... Something stand alone that connects to a control device in the car via Bluetooth would be good.... It could beep when you have something alongside the van but stop once the rear end had passed.... just like a parking sensor...
Rog.
Memory foam topper from Duvalay, for our bad backs.
Lafuma recliners.
Smokey Joe BBQ
Lightweight small clothes line put at end of awning, for hanging bath towels after showering.
O S Maps for whichever area we're in.
Torches
Fly swat
The most important accessory must be the motor mover!
Lafuma recliners.
Smokey Joe BBQ
Lightweight small clothes line put at end of awning, for hanging bath towels after showering.
O S Maps for whichever area we're in.
Torches
Fly swat
The most important accessory must be the motor mover!
- Mar 22, 2012
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I have considered buying an aquaroll mains conversion kit for awhile and on a recent holiday in Anglesey, I succumbed to temptation whilst in an accessories shop and purchased said item.
So no more late night trips to the tap to fill the aquaroll especially after the OH and grandkids showers
So no more late night trips to the tap to fill the aquaroll especially after the OH and grandkids showers
The mattress topper, definately, but you won't believe the latest 'accessory' that Sir Fixalot has come up with...
An l.e.d projector and 6' screen for films in the awning on rainy days! The projector also connects to the site tv access, so tv is now available on wet days.
Totally ott, and if I have my way it'll be left at home next time.
An l.e.d projector and 6' screen for films in the awning on rainy days! The projector also connects to the site tv access, so tv is now available on wet days.
Totally ott, and if I have my way it'll be left at home next time.
The roof mounted satellite dish was at the top of the list
Until i bought the Amazon Fire Stick ....
I was a bit sceptical at first, but after using it at home and now being able to use it with our MiFi in the van makes it an even better purchase as i bought it at the pre order price of £19.00
Until i bought the Amazon Fire Stick ....
I was a bit sceptical at first, but after using it at home and now being able to use it with our MiFi in the van makes it an even better purchase as i bought it at the pre order price of £19.00
Mel
Moderator
- Mar 17, 2007
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Sproket said:The roof mounted satellite dish was at the top of the list
Until i bought the Amazon Fire Stick ....
I was a bit sceptical at first, but after using it at home and now being able to use it with our MiFi in the van makes it an even better purchase as i bought it at the pre order price of £19.00
What is MiFi? Words of one syllable please Sir Sprocket as one's brain doesn't do technical. (I have a condition known as CBA.
)Mel
MiFi explained
Ours on the three network, we have had ours a few years now, but it was only yesterday when I came back to the van that i remembered to bring the Firestick back with me to try it.
Have watched quite a few things from it today. as i had lowered the satellite dish down due to the strong winds.
Ours on the three network, we have had ours a few years now, but it was only yesterday when I came back to the van that i remembered to bring the Firestick back with me to try it.
Have watched quite a few things from it today.
as i had lowered the satellite dish down due to the strong winds.
- Mar 8, 2009
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I reckon Sprokets van with its array of gadgets, electronics, gizmos, you name it, must make Nasa headquarters look positively primitive!
- Jul 15, 2008
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...........by far and away my best accessory is a Satnav.
The bigger the vehicle the more help you need to navigate to unfamiliar places and that is what I like to do with my caravan.
For little over £100 I have a device that tells me exactly where I am in real time.
It only works because the USA military spent billions of dollars to put the other parts of the system in place......and they let me (and every one else) use their system for free.
Set up and used in conjunction with Google Earth you can pre plan a suitable route that won't take you down unsuitable roads.
Leave the routing to the Satnav and you could end up on unsuitable roads............ but that is a case of a workman not knowing how to use his tools!
Gone are the days of the wife shouting " you should of turned left back there"
The bigger the vehicle the more help you need to navigate to unfamiliar places and that is what I like to do with my caravan.
For little over £100 I have a device that tells me exactly where I am in real time.
It only works because the USA military spent billions of dollars to put the other parts of the system in place......and they let me (and every one else) use their system for free.
Set up and used in conjunction with Google Earth you can pre plan a suitable route that won't take you down unsuitable roads.
Leave the routing to the Satnav and you could end up on unsuitable roads............ but that is a case of a workman not knowing how to use his tools!
Gone are the days of the wife shouting " you should of turned left back there"
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