Caravans and camper-trailers need to be signed up separately to your car, and serviced frequently. Before you triggered on your trip, it is worthwhile spending some time comprehending your caravan workings and all its elements. Although numerous functions are now standard, especially in new vans, there will still be some equipping of your caravan to do.
SERVICING
Similarly to your car, caravans need routine servicing also. The wheel bearings and brakes have to be inspected every 20,000 km or each year. Your normal mechanic that services your vehicle will have the ability to service your caravan also. By comprehending your caravan you will be able to take a spare vehicle bearings with you and replace them yourself. If you are not sure of how to do this, simply ask your regional mechanic and he will gladly explain how to change them.
Brakes are a bit more intricate. Once again your typical mechanic ought to be able to examine them for wear etc, however often you might need to go to a brake specialist.
The majority of other areas on your caravan are simply routing examining like the battery and lights etc. You can either do this yourself with a little bit of knowledge, or anywhere you are travelling the garage mechanic will be able to check them for you.
Power Supply
Caravans are typically wired to operate on both 12 volt and 240 volt. The 240 volt supply will be a plug-in supply from your powered camping site or from a house power point if you are sticking with friends. They require 15 amp plugs, which are not normally suited homes so make certain your extension lead caters for 15 amp plugs.
Many caravans have a 12 volt battery to run the electrics in your caravan and this must be charged regularly by either a battery charger or via an Anderson Plug linked to your cars and truck when it is running. Some caravans and motorhomes are also fitted with a switch which charges your caravan battery while the vehicle is plugged into 240 volt power. It is strongly advised you have this switch linked.
If you have an Anderson plug fitted that utilizes your car’s generator to charge your caravan battery, make sure you have a seclusion devise fitted so the batteries can be separated when the car is not running. The last thing you desire is for the caravan to drain your car’s battery and not have the ability to begin your vehicle.
If you are going bush you might think about bring a generator with you also. If you are going to remain in caravan parks you will not require a generator. If you think you just might want one, they are heavy, take up a fair bit of storeroom and are loud to run.
Another popular source of power these days is solar power. Similarly, to the generator this would just work if you are not remaining in caravan parks and do not have an Anderson plug fitted to your lorry to charge your caravan’s battery.
Refrigeration
What sort of a fridge should you have? For many years the three way refrigerator has actually been the favored choice for caravan owners. These operate on 12 volt (battery), 240 volt (power point) or gas. These fridges work rather well on 240 volt and gas, however battle a bit when on 12 volt despite using quite a lot of power – a few of the more recent models perform a bit better. Performance can be a little enhanced by setting up a ventilator fan behind the fridge to enhance airflow. These are readily available at caravan device shops.
Gas Supply
Most caravans, campervans and motorhomes have gas-operated ranges, ovens and hot-water services. Gas is efficient, clean and rather safe. Use a two gas bottle system so you can utilize one gas bottle up until it is totally empty and then switch to the other bottle. This will conserve you attempting to think how much gas is left in a bottle and how long it will last as well as allows you to utilize all the gas and not refill it with gas still left. Constantly stand gas bottles in a vertical position and make certain a regulator is fitted so it will turn the gas off if a major leakage happens
Check that your gas bottles are not out of date. The date is stamped on the collar of the bottle, and it ought to show that the bottle has been checked within the last Ten Years. It is against the law for a reseller to fill out-of-date gas bottles. Most filling station now have exchange gas bottles. This allows you to take your empty gas bottle and just pay exchange it for a complete bottle. Check the out of date on the brand-new gas bottle as well, to ensure it will not end shortly.
Lifestyle Extras
By comprehending your caravan and equipping your caravan, you will want a few required bonus. Tv, video recorders and DVD’s are increasingly popular products to travel with. A lot of Australian towns have some kind of television reception but for those who want reliable reception, there is the choice of setting up a satellite dish to your caravan, using access to a choice of free-to-air and cable channels. If you are off the beaten track, remember you DVD’s. Tv and videos been available in 12 volt and 240 volt.
A full annexe, total with floor, can add thousands of dollars to the expense of a brand-new van. It may appear like a preferable product but, if you are moving a lot, you may find that it gets used seldom. Awnings have the tendency to be better as they are a lot easier to set up.
You will invest nearly as much time outside under your awning as you will within your caravan. As such an outside table setting is an important addition to your outdoor camping equipment. Likewise desirable are a few comfy chairs to unwind in. With these type of purchases, you tend to get what you pay for in regards to quality.
Another relatively indispensable product is an outdoor stove or barbecue. Cooking outdoors while caravanning is sociable and enjoyable, and it implies not needing to live and sleep with the smell of cooked meat or fish. Many parks have barbecue areas, however these can be in high need.
Portable chemical toilets are used by those travelling in smaller campervans or with caravans that do not have a built-in facility. They need regular emptying and the chemicals have to be renewed. They are popular with older tourists who do not relish the concept of navigating a course to the facility block during the little hours.
Blocks and Chocks
You will rarely discover your camp site perfectly flat, so you will have to carry levelling blocks to rectify the situation. These come in the type of shaped wedges (or you can utilize a thick, flat board). They are placed on the ground and your caravan is driven onto them. Some motorhomes have integrated self-levelling supports. (see come to camping site).
A set of shaped wheel-chocks is really convenient for stabilising your van. Chocks can be bought commercially or easily made in the house. They must be put on the downhill side of the caravan’s wheels to prevent the system rolling.
This is the seventh page of 23 with associated details about maximizing your caravan vacation. Examine our site at http://caravankingmobilerepairs.com.au/ for the other short articles.