I haven’t got a scooby do !
I have never owned a caravan before and have wanted one for years but I really haven’t got a clue what I am doing . So I brought an LMC 655 2014 - I’m taking it out for the first time in two weeks .
Issue 1- have an onboard water tank which I fill with a hose ? What do I need to put in (chemical wise) the guy showed me how to empty it which is under the sofa. Is there a pump somewhere ? what if there is no hose close by is there a back up method?
issue 2 - I have a cassette toilet - don’t know where this is or what to do. The documents and everything are still in the toilet and we don’t think it has ever been used . What chemicals do I put in it I have pink but have watched you tube where they are using blue?
im so confused I have a degree but not finding this all easy ? Any advice would be absolutely great thanks in advance .
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You can clean the water system with Puriclean, instructions on the tub, but otherwise no chemicals needed.
There will be a pump to supply water from the tank to the taps, but typically you will need to fill with a hose, (you would need to bring a hose) if no additional pump is supplied, or many watering cans full!
An alternative is to obtain an Aquaroll and a portable pump, fill it at the tap and then pump it in.
The toilet cassette is usually accessed via an external door. In the cassette you should use a blue or green chemical, or do as many do and use a bio laundry liquid capsule. The pink goes in the flush tank, but plain water is also fine.
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Have you checked out the Advice and Training section on the tabs at the head of the page?
Your onboard water tank is your domestic water supply. Some people use it for drinking, some don’t. Do not add anything to it!
The toilet needs blue (or green organic) chemical in the cassette to breakdown the waste. Pink is not essential but is for adding to the flush water if you choose to and assuming you have a separate flush tank.
I can’t answer your other points as I don’t know LMC caravans but everything should be covered in your handbook.
Edit: cross posted with Kj.
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As an afterthought.....I read your post about the attempted theft, but you did not mention the model number of the caravan.
Can I ask how long this van is, as the maximum body length of caravan that it is legal to tow in UK with a regular car or 4x4 is 7 metres? This is the actual external body length and does not include the drawbar.
Often these twin axle German vans are longer than the larger UK ones, so it is best to check. What is the tow vehicle?
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The model is LMC 655 Exquisit VIP- I brought it from a local dealer known by the LMC supplier so hope it’s all legit - seats are covered in plastic - towing with a ford wildtrak and the total length is 7.3 I believe . He went through it with me but not the toilet .
I have checked with CRiS and there appears to be no problems and am registering that in my name but won’t know yet.
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my thoughts too
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Ford Ranger wildcat 3.2 can tow anything
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Not really 'anything'. GVM 3270, GTM 6000.
Hope you’ve got the right licence.
I'm getting vibes here.😕
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Thanks for your help - really useful - Would this need to be an electric one ? I have found some 12v ones ? Thanks again
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Oh gosh - don’t worry me anymore . I only wanted to know about toilets, water and chemicals ! lol - do I need a new licence now ? I have friends with a bessicar exactly the same length and they tow it no worries . Held full driving licence for 30 years ? Thanks Clare
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Yes, 12v pump is fine, but you will need somewhere to plug it in.
I have fitted a 12v socket in one of our outside lockers and adapted an old spare submersible pump to use to fill our toilet header tank, but you can buy a suitable ready made pump
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As I advised before, check out Advice and Training.
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There is no vehicle in the Ford Ranger range that has a GVW over 3500Kg. Hence it is not legal to tow a caravan with a body length exceeding 7m with a Ford Ranger. The LMC 655 appears to exceed 7m body with its 8.9m shipping length so this combination is not legal on UK roads. As a small point it is most likely to invalidate you car insurance when attached as it is not a legal combination.
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I think you will ultimately be glad of the replies you have received to your latest thread as it will save you ,what could be a very expensive outcome as far as towing this caravan, as soon as you answered my post the alarm bells started to ring, as the c/van you have bought is 99% sure from the traveller community,and was as normal towed by a Ford Cargo Lorry, as no way is your friends Bessacar the same size,it is much smaller even the largest,is not as long or as wide as the LMC you have purchased
Sorry
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Sorry I’m a little naive - what vibes are you referring to? I was told to come on here for advice and support as caravaners are a friendly supportive and helpful bunch and I am not feeling this vibe at the moment. I’m feeling quite judged and being made to feel stupid by some members. I just want to enjoy caravanning with my family so I’m sorry if I have offended anyone with my silly questions it was not intentional .
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Yeah I thought as much and that it was probably owned by a traveller family , I was told that it needed a commercial vehicle and mentioned my husbands ford ranger that he uses and the dealer said that it can tow that. I drive a Range Rover but that wouldn’t pull it. When you say expensive what do you mean ? sorry like I say I am new to all of this . Thanks Clare
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You have not offended any one and do not feel stupid ,but i think you have got the best advise that can be given ,now that a lot more information has come our way with your queries,in may not be what you were expecting,
IMHO i really think you need to contact the dealers and ask some more questions and get their reaction, did your friends not voice any opinions ?
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I see - it’s just getting worse 🤦🏻♀️. My husband had a van as well but to be honest I wanted to be able to take it away without him and would struggle in his van. Maybe I just need to get rid of the van , it just seems to be one thing after another and only had it a few weeks. If it is illegal for UK roads should it be legal to sell them by an authorised dealer ?
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Not really - they do have a massive van too it measures the same length probably not as wide but is set out very similarly. They go abroad quite a bit though and don’t usually go for the odd weekend here and there. Maybe I need to just get rid and cut my losses ASAP. I spoke to the dealer again the other day and said I was having second thoughts he said he was sorry to hear that. They only sell the German vans, Fendt, Hobby, LMC etc. I actually went for the Hobby but it sold just as I got there and looked at that one and liked it. What a mare !!!
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Your friends' van is probably the same size as ours, 7.95metres overall, though some of the newer UK T/As are a little longer, but never longer than a 7m body.
We too tow all over Europe without problems, and in UK, our van has done well over 40,000 miles. The towing, for you, would not be the real problem, but the legal situation would be.
We have seen a few of the longer German T/As being towed by a vehicle that is surely not over 3.5 tonnes, but that would be taking a huge risk, and not something that I would ever contemplate.
The caravan itself is not illegal, it is the caravan and tow vehicle combination that you propose.
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I am not being defensive just feeling a bit stupid . I haven’t worked my way around the site yet so don’t know where that section is. Have been looking at you tube doing lots of online checks etc. I know you are only giving advise but some of it is quite technical and as explained I am new to all of this and therefore struggling to understand allot of it. It comes allot easier to some people than others. Again sorry if I have offended you with my naivety, not intentional at all.
In my original post regarding the attempted theft, I was advised not to give up on it and that many people enjoy LMC’s/German vans - which is what I am trying to do. it is very much a learning curve for me as I am sure you had at one point when you first set out in the caravanning world.
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As explained before, the Advice and Training tab can be found at the top of this page.
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It is a shame that you did not join up here and ask more questions first, then you would have been made aware of the rules. The German vans are very attractive and might seem a good buy compared to a UK van of a similar size, but that is often just because most people will not have the correct tow vehicle and the dealer will find them more difficult to sell.
IMO you have a good case to negotiate with the dealer to return the van, or at least exchange it for a slightly shorter one, you have been very badly advised by him.
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