Must have accessories
We just bought a second hand caravan and we are not sure of the things we MUST HAVE in order to start planning our first trip.
At the moment I have on my list:
Electricity Cable
Fresh water carrier - Do we need to buy any pipe, connectors? Or do things come as a kit?
Waste water container - Do we need to buy any pipe, connectors? Or do things come as a kit?
Liquids for the toilet (pink and green/blue)
Gas Bottle - Should we get just 1, or is it best to have 2?
Caravan Step
Motor mover
Towing Mirror
REG Plate
Is there anything else that you would say is a MUST HAVE to start the experience?
We dont have an awning, but we are thinking of doing 1-2 trips without one and see what we think will work best for our needs.
Looking forward to hearing tips and suggestions so we can become part of the "gang" :-)
Thank you
Roberta
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Hello
Yes you'll need pipes for the wastemaster but not for the 'Aquaroll' if you have the usually blue pipe that has a pump at the end that dips into your aquaroll, it normally comes with the caravan but check it is there and it works.
On the gas bottle it depends on how much gas you will be using, if on a site with EHU then maybe one, if you intend to use sites without EHU then two. However they do weight a lot so one means more payload for other things.
You have missed out the most important thing though... a wine bottle opener and beer bottle opener. GET one now!
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I think you've covered it RA. Other things can be added if and when you find a need for them.
Make sure you’ve got a few basic tools just in case.
Btw, blue or green chemical (or an equivalent) is essential but pink is not. That's personal choice. Some people say it is the cause of the formation of black algae.
Don't forget your sense of humour👍🏻
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Even experienced Caravanners like Cornersteady can miss out the most important items. Like a very persuasive tongue and access to a pair of fluttering eyelashes
Those essentials apart try to get your very first site as close to home / dealer as you can -- then stuff you have not got but need is available easily.
As for the Toilet fluids -- there are loads of posts on this site with many & varied views on this subject !! My motor takes the flush water direct from the built in water tank so no pink can be added there. I just use a small spray bottle with a water / Zoflora disinfectant mix after flushing. The Blue fluid many of us have stopped using and use LIDL's washing liquid gel pods instead -- Hunt the threads out for yourself 'cos its a very personal decision !
Whatever you do remember to enjoy yourselves coming, going as well as Caravanning then let us know how and what you have done / enjoyed please.
Brian
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I would suggest a spirit level and some form of levelling ranging from ramps, suitable pieces of wood or other more expensive solutions. A small tool kit would also be useful to fix things that may have come undone. If you are using an aquaroll you may need a short tube to fix on the tap to ease filling. If you have a spare wheel make sure you have something to jack up the caravan unless you use the AA or similar organisations.
When preparing the caravan for towing try to set up a standard procedure and accept no interruptions as it is easy to miss something like attaching the breakaway cable or raising the jockey wheel or corner stays.
I hope you have as much fun with your caravan as we have had over the years.
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In addition to the above I would add a check list. We've been doing it over 30 years now and still forget things, like remembering to print and use a check list!
Try to have a "dry" run before going anywhere, if possible at home. Use the water, gas and electric to make sure you know how to work them. Always carry some tools and things like washers and a torch.
For gas use a propane bottle in winter months.
As someone mentioned concentrate when hitching up and unhitching. It's easy to forget to uncouple the breakaway cable after unhitching or forget to take the handbrake off when setting off. Done both of them.
Enjoy it.
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and DON'T leave the remote on the A frame as you drive off, they are expensive to replace apparently.
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Mmm, I think ours was about £75 😳
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Thank you for all the suggestions.
With regards to keeping it safe in storage and when on the road... Should we get all the items below?
Caravan Wheel/Chassis Lock
Proactive tracker
Hitch Lock
Thank you once again, and we are very excited, full of smile and with our wine/beer bottle opener.
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Yes, yes, yes ( with apologies to Harry and Sally)
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Check what your insurance says about this as there may be clauses to say you have to have one (or more) or it invalidates the insurance and there could be discounts for having one.
But apart from that all three are a good idea.
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I was struggling to realise why my car & caravan wouldn't go backwards the other day enroute to our site. We'd found ourselves in a situation where I'd to reverse 50yds back along the road (thanks to COMAND sat-nav) and the car just wouldn't move!! If you open the driver's door with it in Drive, it'll automatically engage Park but sometimes it'll also apply the electric parking brake ... I've yet to work out why/when. Frustration at being in the situation with cars & a MH behind me, I'd not noticed the parking brake being on! Argh!!
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Your insurance will have details of what security devices you need, most require 2. If only one needed a hitch lock is much easier to fit. I don't have a tracker but my caravan is 11 years old now! You may want to take a TV, just get an inexpensive small one. A travel kettle is an essential item for us. I would strongly recommend 2 gas bottles as there is nothing worse than running out of gas - it always happens at inconvenient times! A local trip for a weekend will confirm that you have got it right.
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Something to use to fill your Aquaroll or similar is useful, they are often not left in situ so they don't get algae. I have 2' length of plastic waste pipe with a bit of paracord to secure it to the tap. They sell them at club sites but I had the makings kicking around the garage, so fashioned my own - there's no standard for what the site tap termination will be, but the waste pipe fits anything.
A small piece of sandpaper in the boot is handy if its wet and your towball starts to rust before and while you're away and if you have 15 pin electrics a plastic 'recentering' tool can be a couple of pounds well spent - again leave it in the car boot/glove box. Also consider getting a spare van key cut and leave that in the car, I've broken into two vans now for people who have locked themselves out (faulty door lock)/lost keys. I always keep a torch in the van for when the electrics trip and spare fuses for the 12v side.
Other essentail things not mentioned (and may be fitted to yur van, so forgive me) are a fire blanket and extinguisher.
You'll find that you see folks on sites with kit you'll think "oh that's useful" and if you're like us, realise what you drag around with you all the time and never use, with experience. "Less is more" is a good way to go to start with - enjoy!
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I agree with everything that others have suggested but have a couple to add. First of all you say "Towing Mirror". That really should be two, one for each side of the car and get used to using them.
You will probably need, at some time, a ramp or series of wood blocks to get the caravan level side to side. You will probably need wood blocks under your corner steadies if the site is very sloping. Wood blocks shouldn't cost you anything.
I recommend a check list left inside the caravan of things to make sure are done before driving off, eg widows shut, cupboard doors closed, Heki rooflight closed, fridge changed to 12v, water drained out of heater, etc etc.
When hitching up do things in a methodical way and don't get distracted by others around you. Tell them politely to "go away"
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When hitching up do things in a methodical way and don't get distracted by others around you. Tell them politely to "go away"
We read in our local paper today about a caravan that became unhitched whilst towing, not far away from here, in early July and killed a motorist coming the other way. Double tragedy, reading about it, as the driver seems to be genuinely distraught and obviously the family of the unfortunate driver killed will never get over it.
Just shows, Always check the hitch is attached and always use a breakaway cable.
You are never too experienced to become complacent.
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