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What clever modifications or upgrades have you made to your caravan?

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Woodentop said:
From the top - it is now nigh impossible to get a car radio so that a fitted unit can be replaced. As many cars - especially EV - have changed to an' Infotainment' unit (how I hate that name!) that is functionally part of the vehicle computer system and includes a radio (albeit FM and DAB only) the market for car radios has all but disappeared.
In our last two caravans (2 berth) we have only fitted the carpet between the front seats. For the remainder of the floor we have put down (pre-used) dark grey rubber-backed matting that you often walk onto when you enter an office block or (some) shops. It is usually branded Initial, and we got ours from an outfit on line called Splendid Pets - they call them 'Dirt Trapper' mats. The good bit is that they can be washed in a machine, they are warm under your feet, easily vacced, and you don't have to worry about muck on the carpet.
Most vans have a plate that houses a 12V 'cigarette lighter' socket with a TV aerial socket in one corner. I either replace the socket with a screw-on F-type (as used on satellite kit) or replace the complete plate so that it has two sockets. The F-type on the plate is actually a double ended socket held in by a spring washer and nut which means whichever route is chosen dis and re connection is simple and quick. The benefit is that F-types give better and more secure connection and will better withstand free cable tension between the socket and TV. Notice that most modern vans now use aerial amps that have native F-type sockets for the same reason. The double socket also gives the option of installing another external connection where a pillar signal or a satellite dish can be directly fed in to the TV leaving the fitted aerial amp to be used for radio - if you have one.
Finally our latest caravan does not have a radio but comes with a Bluetooth connected amplified speaker so that you can play music etc through it from your phone/tablet/laptop. This gives you the option of either feeding the speaker unit by cable with headphone audio from the TV socket (if it has one) bringing the source nearer the listener, or by fitting a low latency* Bluetooth transmitter to the TV. If the speaker does not have a cable connection and you prefer that method just get a speaker that does have a cable socket. I got one (Anker) from a Cash Converters for £10 and it works a treat.
*Low latency means such as Bluetooth V5 which has almost no delay on the audio and you thus gives almost zero transfer delay such that the sound and picture stay in sync. Cable connection does not suffer latency.
Click to expand...
WOW, you are an avid tinkerer, i don't see anything on the WIFI, is this something you have done or intend to do or just stay off it?
 
otherclive said:
How much weight difference is there between an alloy and the OEM steel wheel? Why go for an alloy?

If it’s a non OEM alloy buy a quality make as some aftermarket ones may not be strong enough to take the impacts from potholes. Caravan suspension isn’t as forgiving as a cars suspension.
Click to expand...
I am talking about picking up a matching alloy wheel already fitted to caravan. As previously stated i am going to weigh the steel and my own alloy and note the difference, if it significant enough to do then i will, if minimal, not worth it.
 
  • Upgrading the radio to DAB or Bluetooth. No, but do use hot spot streaming via I phone to smart tv

  • Adding Wi‑Fi or a 4G/5G system. No but use Sky HD + with portable dish

  • Improving taps, pumps, or plumbing changed all taps and upgraded on board pump

  • Carpet or flooring upgrades Original in the loft. Every three years or so buy top grade remnants and make luxury fitted carpets.

  • Extra USB or 12V sockets. Added own twin satellite input socket on exterior and wired to point near Sky box and TV.

  • Lighting changes (LED strips, dimmers, spotlights)

  • Storage mods, shelving, hooks, organisers. Various hooks added

  • Heating or ventilation tweaks
  • Security improvements

  • Any DIY fixes you’re proud of Triggers Broom! Must have fixed every appliance on board, from failed oven grill, water heater, fridge collapsed door mounts, broken timbers, sky lights x2.Heki blinds galore. NB. All items involving gas safety checked after fix by a qualified gas engineer!
 
One other tip. If, like Bailey, your manufacturer uses an oval rail sitting in side cups in the wardrobe, zip the rail into the cup using a couple of lengthy but tough tie-wraps. Clothes stay in situ no matter how many 'sleeping policemen' you go over! Aldi/Lidl often do packs of mix size ties at very reasonable prices. IMO you can never have enough tie-wraps with you!
Per the comment about wi-fi, I am on GiffGaff which at the moment is doing 70GB with unlimited calls and texts as a bundle for £10/month. Won't get many films to see but if you want to watch say foreign news bulletins that are present in the Freeview 251-289 range (Internet sourced) it would last you quite well.
 
A good suggestion from Woodentop to keep your hanging clothes in place. Even if your rail is fixed you can use foam pipe insulation over the rail to push the clothes hangars together and reduce the likelihood of them falling off.
 
Last edited:
I've got a 92 Abbey,I haven't done a lot of modifications or upgrades,mostly I've carried out preventative maintenance and aesthetics,I have however fitted cooling fans for the fridge, fitted fuses for external road lights, fitted ,a radio, replaced the missing spare wheel carrier in the front lockers,updated the gas bottle carries,installed a small circular mains light on ceiling (replaced halogen bulb with two LED bulbs using a second lamp holder) .
 
I fitted fridge cooling fans on a thermostatic switch , switch. fitted 260W solar panels on roof , fitted high current cable to external 280A.hr Li po4 battery , designed and fitted micro controlled unit to regulate the temperature of an external cool box ( beer cooler) based on temperature , battery voltage and solar input so it doesn't flatten the batteries whilst off grid. Designed and fitted USB sockets for phone charging ( so upset on how cheap the commercial ones are now!) and like so many other threw away the Alko wheel carrier ( 13kg) and keep the spare wheel in an dimpa bag within the caravan whilst travelling. fitted 12V cigar outlets for the THO twinkly lights whilst on site.Finally I bought a Falcon mobile wi-fi unit which attaches to the outside of the caravan to provide a good signal .
 
IanB1485 said:
I fitted fridge cooling fans on a thermostatic switch , switch. fitted 260W solar panels on roof , fitted high current cable to external 280A.hr Li po4 battery , designed and fitted micro controlled unit to regulate the temperature of an external cool box ( beer cooler) based on temperature , battery voltage and solar input so it doesn't flatten the batteries whilst off grid. Designed and fitted USB sockets for phone charging ( so upset on how cheap the commercial ones are now!) and like so many other threw away the Alko wheel carrier ( 13kg) and keep the spare wheel in an dimpa bag within the caravan whilst travelling. fitted 12V cigar outlets for the THO twinkly lights whilst on site.Finally I bought a Falcon mobile wi-fi unit which attaches to the outside of the caravan to provide a good signal .
Click to expand...
Which model of Falco did you buy and why did you chose that one over the other models available. Was it portability, price, etc?
 
I've not done any upgrades but a number of modifications to correct design and manufacturing defects.

This is nothing new as our last, from new, Motorhome had numerous problems of this type to the extent that I managed to convince Swift to come along and fix all the snagging issues. Even so that still left bad design problems which I altered to make work.

On our new Elddis some of the design details we'd seen on the Swift were still giving problems.

Just a few to note:

  • 13A Mains sockets - a double socket mounted one above the other but you can only plug in one appliance as the mains plug and cable above or below prevents two at once. Rotated through 90 deg to make both usable.

  • Also one near the floor into which you couldn't plug anything since the cable exit from the plug was too near the floor. Rotated through 90deg.

  • Bed slats with poor supports that broke on first use - altered supports and strengthend them

  • Blown heat ducting poorly laid out so one outlet got no supply - rerouted pipework

  • Red/blue water pipes bent at 90deg in places so flow was restricted. Re-arranged.

  • Water pump in motorhome mounted on wardrobe side panel so sounded like a woodpecker operating a jack hammer - moved it around and added anti-vibration mounts.

  • Door to bathroom/wet room not sealed at bottom so water escapes. Added sealing strip

  • Hanging rail in bathroom just sits in mounts. First bump and it falls out. Secured it better.

  • Useless wire cup holder in cupboard taking up too much room - removed.

  • Glass and holder in bathroom stuck out too far and at the entrance so you knocked it when going in. Useless anyway so removed.

  • Fold up/down shelves not secured when down so rattle around with potential to damage wall panels. Added foam draught excluder to at least dampen down the rattling.

  • Front window stays in a position so that when opened fully the weight of the window would prise the hanging bar at the top away from the caravan wall. Only open on catches never on stays.

I could go on but it depresses me :-(
 
Sam Vimes said:
I've not done any upgrades but a number of modifications to correct design and manufacturing defects.

This is nothing new as our last, from new, Motorhome had numerous problems of this type to the extent that I managed to convince Swift to come along and fix all the snagging issues. Even so that still left bad design problems which I altered to make work.

On our new Elddis some of the design details we'd seen on the Swift were still giving problems.

Just a few to note:

  • 13A Mains sockets - a double socket mounted one above the other but you can only plug in one appliance as the mains plug and cable above or below prevents two at once. Rotated through 90 deg to make both usable.

  • Also one near the floor into which you couldn't plug anything since the cable exit from the plug was too near the floor. Rotated through 90deg.

  • Bed slats with poor supports that broke on first use - altered supports and strengthend them

  • Blown heat ducting poorly laid out so one outlet got no supply - rerouted pipework

  • Red/blue water pipes bent at 90deg in places so flow was restricted. Re-arranged.

  • Water pump in motorhome mounted on wardrobe side panel so sounded like a woodpecker operating a jack hammer - moved it around and added anti-vibration mounts.

  • Door to bathroom/wet room not sealed at bottom so water escapes. Added sealing strip

  • Hanging rail in bathroom just sits in mounts. First bump and it falls out. Secured it better.

  • Useless wire cup holder in cupboard taking up too much room - removed.

  • Glass and holder in bathroom stuck out too far and at the entrance so you knocked it when going in. Useless anyway so removed.

  • Fold up/down shelves not secured when down so rattle around with potential to damage wall panels. Added foam draught excluder to at least dampen down the rattling.

  • Front window stays in a position so that when opened fully the weight of the window would prise the hanging bar at the top away from the caravan wall. Only open on catches never on stays.

I could go on but it depresses me :-(
Click to expand...
That just about sums up the state of the UK caravan industry with perhaps one exception. Not really surprising Eldiss have ceased trading given their other well publicised issues with panoramic windows etc.
 
Sam Vimes said:
I've not done any upgrades but a number of modifications to correct design and manufacturing defects.

This is nothing new as our last, from new, Motorhome had numerous problems of this type to the extent that I managed to convince Swift to come along and fix all the snagging issues. Even so that still left bad design problems which I altered to make work.

On our new Elddis some of the design details we'd seen on the Swift were still giving problems.

Just a few to note:

  • 13A Mains sockets - a double socket mounted one above the other but you can only plug in one appliance as the mains plug and cable above or below prevents two at once. Rotated through 90 deg to make both usable.

  • Also one near the floor into which you couldn't plug anything since the cable exit from the plug was too near the floor. Rotated through 90deg.

  • Bed slats with poor supports that broke on first use - altered supports and strengthend them

  • Blown heat ducting poorly laid out so one outlet got no supply - rerouted pipework

  • Red/blue water pipes bent at 90deg in places so flow was restricted. Re-arranged.

  • Water pump in motorhome mounted on wardrobe side panel so sounded like a woodpecker operating a jack hammer - moved it around and added anti-vibration mounts.

  • Door to bathroom/wet room not sealed at bottom so water escapes. Added sealing strip

  • Hanging rail in bathroom just sits in mounts. First bump and it falls out. Secured it better.

  • Useless wire cup holder in cupboard taking up too much room - removed.

  • Glass and holder in bathroom stuck out too far and at the entrance so you knocked it when going in. Useless anyway so removed.

  • Fold up/down shelves not secured when down so rattle around with potential to damage wall panels. Added foam draught excluder to at least dampen down the rattling.

  • Front window stays in a position so that when opened fully the weight of the window would prise the hanging bar at the top away from the caravan wall. Only open on catches never on stays.

I could go on but it depresses me :-(
Click to expand...
I put this down to massive preferences and, in fact, improvements that others may find useful. So don’t feel depressed — think that many people may find this helpful. Well done on the mods.
 
Sam Vimes said:
I've not done any upgrades but a number of modifications to correct design and manufacturing defects.

This is nothing new as our last, from new, Motorhome had numerous problems of this type to the extent that I managed to convince Swift to come along and fix all the snagging issues. Even so that still left bad design problems which I altered to make work.

On our new Elddis some of the design details we'd seen on the Swift were still giving problems.

Just a few to note:

  • 13A Mains sockets - a double socket mounted one above the other but you can only plug in one appliance as the mains plug and cable above or below prevents two at once. Rotated through 90 deg to make both usable.

  • Also one near the floor into which you couldn't plug anything since the cable exit from the plug was too near the floor. Rotated through 90deg.

  • Bed slats with poor supports that broke on first use - altered supports and strengthend them

  • Blown heat ducting poorly laid out so one outlet got no supply - rerouted pipework

  • Red/blue water pipes bent at 90deg in places so flow was restricted. Re-arranged.

  • Water pump in motorhome mounted on wardrobe side panel so sounded like a woodpecker operating a jack hammer - moved it around and added anti-vibration mounts.

  • Door to bathroom/wet room not sealed at bottom so water escapes. Added sealing strip

  • Hanging rail in bathroom just sits in mounts. First bump and it falls out. Secured it better.

  • Useless wire cup holder in cupboard taking up too much room - removed.

  • Glass and holder in bathroom stuck out too far and at the entrance so you knocked it when going in. Useless anyway so removed.

  • Fold up/down shelves not secured when down so rattle around with potential to damage wall panels. Added foam draught excluder to at least dampen down the rattling.

  • Front window stays in a position so that when opened fully the weight of the window would prise the hanging bar at the top away from the caravan wall. Only open on catches never on stays.

I could go on but it depresses me :-(
Click to expand...
Yet again proves it's all about design looks rather functionality.
 
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