Just home from hols and were faced with two incidences and wondered what anyone else would have done. We were caught in traffic jam ,road closed due to serious accident and needed the loo .After almost an hour I cracked and used the caravan one. Was I right to enter van with steadies not down? Second incident was on our overnight site . We had an early booking with Eurotunnel and were about to unhitch van when we noticed others had left van hitched to cars but had let down steadies thus easing the quick getaway in the morning. Should we have done the same? Any replies will be most welcome and may save a 30 year marriage!!
What would you do?
- Thread starter missellie
- Start date
We've used the loo in an emergency (but the advice is to make sure there's only a small amount of liquid in both top and bottom tanks whilsts travelling - not a full flush tank or an unemptied cassette), and we've left the van hitched up whilst staying overnight, but we always put the steadies down as well.
Our van is now ten years old and hasn't suffered anything untoward during that time!
Hope this helps.
Our van is now ten years old and hasn't suffered anything untoward during that time!
Hope this helps.
Hello Miss Ellie
re your first incident, when you have 2 desperate kids who need the loo who cares if the steadies are down or not, the van wobbles a bit but ah bliss!!!!! re the second part cant comment as we havent been in that situation.
re your first incident, when you have 2 desperate kids who need the loo who cares if the steadies are down or not, the van wobbles a bit but ah bliss!!!!! re the second part cant comment as we havent been in that situation.
We've slept in the van hitched up and with steadies down, no problem. Usually on an overnight stop travelling a long distance to a site.
Hello miss ellie
First incident - if youve got to go,then youve got to go,steadies down or not.
Second incident - I dont hitch it the night before cos I like to have the van horizontal,I do it first thing and line the van up with the mover.Its quieter than reversing the car.I tip toe about trying not to wake the neighbours up,which I think is the main consideration.
I dont think there are any hard and fast rules on this,whatever suits you.
Obviously it must have caused a bit of friction at the time,with a difference of opinion.Actually Ive lost count of how long weve been married,must be thirty odd,give or take a year or two!!!!!!
Cheers Richard
First incident - if youve got to go,then youve got to go,steadies down or not.
Second incident - I dont hitch it the night before cos I like to have the van horizontal,I do it first thing and line the van up with the mover.Its quieter than reversing the car.I tip toe about trying not to wake the neighbours up,which I think is the main consideration.
I dont think there are any hard and fast rules on this,whatever suits you.
Obviously it must have caused a bit of friction at the time,with a difference of opinion.Actually Ive lost count of how long weve been married,must be thirty odd,give or take a year or two!!!!!!
Cheers Richard
Hi,
So you are in a line of stationary traffic on a motorway. You guess that nobody is going to move in the foreseeable future, you think there has been an accident ahead, but don't actually know.
Are you allowed to get out of your vehicle?
602
So you are in a line of stationary traffic on a motorway. You guess that nobody is going to move in the foreseeable future, you think there has been an accident ahead, but don't actually know.
Are you allowed to get out of your vehicle?
602
I have noticed that some dealers only wind one corner steady down before entering a van to inspect it. That's why I think one of mine is bent. Consequently I'm not sure on the effect of a large person putting all their weight over one corner without the steadies lowered would be.
I am a new caravaner and my wife always needs the loo on route, we just pull in to a lay-by and use the loo with the steady s up.
We stopped for a cup of tea once and a nap.
41 years married, just thought I'd add that.
Reg and Pat
We stopped for a cup of tea once and a nap.
41 years married, just thought I'd add that.
Reg and Pat
Hi miss elle,
if you need to use toilet on route it wont harm the van it just be a bit wobbly.also leave car hitched up to caravan for a quick getaway ln the morning but wind the four steadies down.dont forget to emty toilet when you get home HA HA HA All the Best Alan P/T
if you need to use toilet on route it wont harm the van it just be a bit wobbly.also leave car hitched up to caravan for a quick getaway ln the morning but wind the four steadies down.dont forget to emty toilet when you get home HA HA HA All the Best Alan P/T
Hi Christine and Alan,
We once upon a time tiptoed into Black Horse at 11.30pm after getting off the ferry and found that 'our pitch' was directly facing the 'out' road.
Won't bore everyone but I left the hitch on, dropped the jockey wheel and had the temerity of putting the rear legs down, "ON THE GRASS". I then went to bed.
The following morning whilst I was abluting, the wife got a very ill deserved rocket from the assistant Camp Commandant who stated "Its against the rules" ???
The snivelling little weasel wouldn't show himself when I went to the office to give him a piece of my mind.
For what its worth my view is that you can leave the caravan hitched if thats what you feel like doing and you are not causing anybody else any problems. It causes less noise and inconvenience if you are either a late arrival or an early departure.
Regards
We once upon a time tiptoed into Black Horse at 11.30pm after getting off the ferry and found that 'our pitch' was directly facing the 'out' road.
Won't bore everyone but I left the hitch on, dropped the jockey wheel and had the temerity of putting the rear legs down, "ON THE GRASS". I then went to bed.
The following morning whilst I was abluting, the wife got a very ill deserved rocket from the assistant Camp Commandant who stated "Its against the rules" ???
The snivelling little weasel wouldn't show himself when I went to the office to give him a piece of my mind.
For what its worth my view is that you can leave the caravan hitched if thats what you feel like doing and you are not causing anybody else any problems. It causes less noise and inconvenience if you are either a late arrival or an early departure.
Regards
Also stayed a night at Black Horse - remained hitched up, within the confines of the pitch, for very early departure next day - very small van. Warden came round and told me to unhitch - it's a fire hazard!!!
i dont think there is anything on the statute bids that condones or prohibits the use of steadies while hitched up.I dont the law makers really care.
However , stationary or not the motorway is not a place to be wandering around on. Imagine if an emergency vehicle was tearing along the hard shoulder just as you opened the caravan door.
However a wet seat is not the most pleasant of things
However , stationary or not the motorway is not a place to be wandering around on. Imagine if an emergency vehicle was tearing along the hard shoulder just as you opened the caravan door.
However a wet seat is not the most pleasant of things
Thanks everyone .Have told hubbub about the replies but he is yet to read them. Could this be because many agreed with me.....
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