What's the most useful advice?
Hi everyone,
I was wondering if I could get your thoughts and feedback. We're looking at doing some filming for our caravan and motorhome training videos and want to also put together some top tips for people new to caravanning and motorhoming, such as:
For caravans: Coupling caravan, breakaway cable, fitting a mirror, checking hitch, checking lights, seat position and mirror.
For Motorhomes: maximum height label on dashboard; check tyre pressures (and tyre condition), adjust mirrors and consider fitting a rear view camera (if not standard), learn where your fuel and water filling points are and don’t get them mixed up, learn where your waste water outlet is and practice parking so it lines up with the service point drain.
Do you think these are good suggestions and do you have any thoughts of your own that would be useful for anyone new to caravanning and motorhoming?
The videos will be very short but we want them to be useful advice.
Many thanks. I appreciate your feedback on this.
Comments
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A lot of people seem to have problems with fittings eg Rossie's heater this morning and the dreaded wc. Electricity 12v and 240v, water supply in the caravan and gas options seem to cause a lot of concern. Your suggested topics whilst very valid are covered in detail in the handbook.
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I would also suggest that topics such as using the equipment in the caravan / motorhome would be more useful to beginners or even those that have moved on to a more modern outfit,
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Had a few more thoughts over a cup of coffee! Simple maintenance eg washing and polishing; wheel torque, Importance of noseweight and loading. Check inside all secure, cupboards closed and fridge to 12v. Pre drive off walkaround - starting at hitch (all done properly), jockey wheel up and secure, steadies up!!, all covers secure (water heater cover and water inlet), all hatches closed properly and locked, windows and roof hatches closed, mover disconnected from wheels!, control panel to 'off' and door locked. This list is drawn up from experience - won't admit to what I have forgotten
Most beginers start off with older caravans/motorhomes so showing what they might find on these models would be very useful rather than shiny new ones.1 -
Best advice - never be afraid to come on here or any of the Facebook groups and ask for advice/help and ignore the sarcastic comments from the know-it-alls.
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"For Motorhomes: maximum height label on dashboard; check tyre pressures (and tyre condition), adjust mirrors and consider fitting a rear view camera (if not standard), learn where your fuel and water filling points are and don’t get them mixed up, learn where your waste water outlet is and practice parking so it lines up with the service point drain."
The tyre and mirror checks are no different to what anyone should do with a car. If you include those checks you should also include other road going items such as lights.
Fuel and water filling points and drain taps tend to vary on different makes of van. You can't standardise an instruction. As for manoeuvring to line the waste outlet up with a drain, any competent driver will be able to do this BUT it's no good being able to line up in a nice empty trial area when the drains on club sites are not standardised and often fitted in the most badly designed areas imaginable with heavyweight covers to lift. Tips like carrying a length of hose to drain waste water on the occasions you can't get within 4ft of the drain point might be useful.
I agree with the other posters that helping people understand their heating, plumbing and gas/electrical systems could be of use. Some of the questions posed on this forum show that people have little understanding of the systems. I'm not being unkind here as we all have to learn.
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Don't do it.
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With a caravan always check side to side level before unhitching from tow vehicle, front to back is easy,
With a motor caravan remember that most Sevel based conversions,sit nose down, so will nearly always need some form of leveling under the front wheels
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Hi Ro, I think the comments above just about cover all you would need to know to get started. It all depends of course on how 'deep' you want to go. Go too deep and you'll scare the living hell out of them, don't go deep enough and leave them ill equipped.I certainly think that the care of batteries and understanding what voltages you should have should be a priority. As Solar panels are being supplied by manufacturers now, some basic care of these? The different types of gas cylinders, refillables and non refillables that are available now should have their place on a video. Brue mentions a good one- getting your van level- again, we have various methods now with Ramps, planks, jacks and Lock and Level. Show them and let them choose. Hope the family is well.
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For caravanners, Learn to reverse your outfit. Too often we see examples of poor quality reversing, both on-site and off-site.
A training video on the principles of reversing is a good start.
But
Nothing improves your reversing skills better than Practice. Take your outfit to an Industrial estate or empty car park at the weekend and Practice Practice Practice.
K
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I like Brue's levelling advice too, worth mentioning that if you don't have a spirit level or an app that a glass of water is quite good as a stop gap! I also think there a plenty of videos out there and people should be encouraged to READ THE MANUAL! Not wait till all else fails!
I was in a caravan shop yesterday and the Miss Marple in me deduced a young couple with a baby were just beginning their journey which she confirmed and said "we don't know where to start". I was about to say "with the Club and CT" when she was whisked away! I think CT needs to be more widely promoted - the knowledge bank from people who Caravan and MH is VAST and I am surprised how many members I meet don't know about it.
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Not looked at any of YouTube videos mentioned above so don't if this may be covered there.
Use of the correct designated areas for filling fresh water, empyting/rinsing waste water container & emptying/rinsing loo in order to avoid contamination of drinking water tap/area.
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I would add to the useful information something about ensuring a motorhome is not overweight in total and on each axle. Also, something about how to deal with rattles, and more importantly, the importance of correctly loading a vehicle which you are inside. Rather than just lining up with a waste point, how about parking between the white lined car park bays to which can be added waste points. I would add width/width including wing mirrors and length to the height label.
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What if someone cant afford it. I think there are many caravaners that are enjoying the hobby on a budget. This certainly applied to me in my previous caravaning days with a young Son and a mortgage to pay.
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I would include something on actually walking and looking at the chosen pitch before actually parking on it! Covers both vans and MHs, and particularly grass pitches. Some folks don't have a clue about how soft ground might be, and how to use the gears on their vehicles to best advantage. Unhitching and spinning a caravan on one axle using a motor mover isn't always the wisest option! Applies to Club Sites, CLs etc.... we have observed a lot of stuck vehicles, badly cut up grass, and ill parked tourers down the years, where a simple look at conditions would have helped.
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Unless you are a little like me with a slight bit of OCD creeping in.
I know when I checked enough times though as SWMBO ask me if were going or not
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Once the 'essentials' have been covered ie Wheel nuts/importance of servicing/nose and towing weights etc etc (all have been covered in previous posts) It would be a good idea for a short video entitled 'What to do when you get to a site''
Reversing onto the pitch has been covered, levelling, EHU where applicable and a few basic rules:
5 MPH on site
Using facilities (including a video on how to squeegee the shower)
How to use a toilet brush
Not walking across others' pitches
I mention this, because lots of 'members' seem to have forgotten!
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"How to use a toilet brush"
This one especially, How the minority can just leave the cubicle in such a mess beggars belief. And then the Warden has to deal with it
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My suggestion would be a buyer's guide, what to look for when buying a caravan or motorhome. Also, practical tips for towing - speed, nose weight and reversing.
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My thoughts exactly because when you first walk into a dealership you are bombarded with information, and often the salesman is just that...a salesman desperate to make a sale possibly to up his/her commission.
A what to look for guide could save someone £000s with a wrong choice.
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