Help - what else haven't we thought about...
Looking for help here. We have been towing a caravan for a long time, and we are pretty good at packing down to fit the available space / payload. After 40 years trailer caravanning, we feel it might be time to change to something like a 6 metre panel van conversion. We recently had a good look round a Wildax Constellation with a list of all the stuff we normally carry and managed to find a home for pretty much all of it. However, we then realised we would seem to need a hose to fill the on-board water tank. Then there are the levelling blocks and no outside locker.....
Questions are, are there any other motorhome specific bits and pieces we won't have thought about? Where do people keep these items - both in transit and on site? What do you do with excess stuff if you want to take the van off site (which is part of the reason for choosing this type of van)? And, of course, the answers to any other questions you think I should have asked!
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We used to have a small storage tent to keep the "overflow" in,we also had a small waste container to save trips to the emptying point and a watering can to keep the fresh water and toilet flush topped up, you could have a Diana rack and box on one of the rear doors but then that increases the length and if not care full could "stress "the rear door hinges
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Some people put a rack on the back and use a Fiamma box to put "stuff" in. We've been lucky with good storage in our small vans but we have thought of putting a box on the back as things like the large Milenco ramps take up quite a bit of space. We sometimes leave an unplugged cable on site but tend to pack most things up, we've learnt not to unpack too much and travel as light as possible.
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Lack of outside lockers does come as a bit of a shock. We have a small cupboard by the door where the toilet chemicals are stored.
Wedges, hose, tools and extra length EHU cable etc travel under a bunk and, after altering the access arrangements, can be accessed via the rear door. We also carry two collapsible buckets there. One reserved for fresh in the unlikely event of not being within reach of a tap and the other for draining grey waste if we can’t reach a drain and for windscreen cleaning. This part of the underbunk storage is partitioned off from the rest where spare towels, dirty laundry and so on travel. The frequently used EHU cable travels on the van floor in a circular bag. Once on site, the bag goes in the cab. If we’re taking folding chairs, they travel on the bike rack.
We try to keep the van floor as uncluttered as possible and also prefer not to leave stuff, other than the cable, on site if we go out.
Shelves fitted to the overhead lockers made a terrific difference to storage and we can now easily fit clothes for two weeks for two of us in them. Our wardrobe is a joke being full with just two jackets in it.
It’s surprising the nooks and crannies you find which can hold a pair of shoes or a small box of tools. The cab door pockets hold a lot and you might find storage space under the cab seats.
Do you carry a drinking water bottle and waste bin? Ours travel on the washroom floor and sit between the cab seats on site.
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You need to unlearn 40 years of caravanning if you can
Travel light, in a panel van, there's no need for water containers or waste masters, just a decent hosepipe, selection of tap fittings, a fold up bucket, and a length of pipe to use to guide waste grey water into hedge rows with permission. Ramps will take up most room, but once on site they are outside, and we always leave ours, along with unhooked cable unless we are moving on. Our little MH does have external lockers, so ramps hosepipe go in there. Look at space behind seats when travelling? Or bottom cupboard under sink? Use a wash up bowl in sink for doing pots, keeps all bits from going down pipework, just dump bowl water after use. Can highly recommend external screens for warmth in Winter, cool in Summer and less steaming up!
As brue says, you could look into a Fiamma box, we have one, fits on bike rack, but it is box or bikes. Tend to use it more in Winter, but we do have two dogs as well, so a lot of their stuff goes in there. We put a couple of fold up chairs in there as well.
Happy hunting. At least you are not plunging into buying, but going about it sensibly.
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Just one thing that a lot do not realise is as others have also stated you will have less space a six mtr PVC is not a six metre caravan and if the front seats also do not swival round you could be looking at four metre or less "living" space
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Yes, we realise that. Our first van was an 11'3" 5 berth Trophy so we have had small environments before!
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Possibly not obvious from the picture, but it is the smallest Pegasus, the Genoa
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Same model as ours,so much space for the size ,it is the third and possibly best c/van we have had since having two motor caravans, and realizing that we should not have given up the versatility of caravans,with transport to go any where parked next to it
Ps if it was possible to change my avatar the number would be 50yrs
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Downsizing to a PVC felt rather like going back to a small caravan. We soon got used to it though and you learn to move one at a time.
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In 16 years of using small panel vans - firstly a VW then a Peugeot Boxer - we have never felt the need for windscreen covers/silver screens. We have used the vans in all seasons.
RamblingSid - you will need some sort of small sign to display on your pitch to show that it is "occupied" when you go out for a day.
Depending on the heating system in your van, a small electric panel heater may be useful. It is something which can be left on safely overnight if necessary.
I wouldn't worry about what you might need. On your first trip you may have everything you require. If not, you will soon decide what item(s) to get for subsequent trips. Personally, I think that is better than initially buying items which you subsequently do not need or use.
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We have a plastic box similar to <<THIS>> for storing mains lead, toilet fluid, sponge and a folding bucket etc etc .... all the stuff which with a caravan goes in your gas locker. It travels easily inside the van, and lives outside on site where it makes a useful coffee table etc. Our ramps go in a storage bag in the shower when travelling, as does our 23 Ltr Fiamma waste container and our Taylormade outside screens.. We find without the screens condensation was dreadful from October through to April. We also have a Kampa Diddy Heater which is a tiny fan heater for the cab end in the winter as heat distribution wasn't great and the cab end is cold without it. We also have a pop up tent in the summer, and that along with the box stays on the pitch if we go out.
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Sid, I meet motorhomers who tow a luggage trailer for extra kit, as of course many tent campers do.
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Hmm, part of the motivation is the ability to use Lane 3!!
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RS, life in a PVC is as simple or as complicated as you make it. We aim for simple and self contained and it works for us.👍🏻
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I'd forgotten about the little heater! We got a compact oil filled radiator one, fits lovely behind passenger seat when on road, and in a footwell on site! £20 from Dunhelm. Great for drying odd pair of socks and a towel as well. One of our dogs sleeps on two swivel seats pushed together. She loves this heater!
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Many thanks to all who have contributed to this thread. You have given us lots of ideas and food for further thought. Thanks again.
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Or you could buy an East Neuk Fifer with underfloor storage accessed through the rear doors.
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Or you could buy an East Neuk Fifer with underfloor storage accessed through the rear door
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We have never found condensation to be "dreadful" without screens.
We do carry a small fan heater, stored in the wardrobe. Whenever there is any condensation, running the fan heater in the front usually disperses it quickly.
RamblingSid, as you will probably have already realised, opinions vary. That is a reason for probably trying without screens on your first trip and if you find condensation to be "dreadful" you can buy some before the next trip.
As has already been stated elsewhere, a fan heater is also useful for drying items, including waterproofs. By placing wet items and the fan heater in the on-board loo/shower area and leaving its door slightly open we can dry things quickly.
I am glad that you have found this forum useful. Thank you for letting us know, (Too often a question is asked, many replies are given and there is no acknowledgement from the questioner - so your comment is appreciated.)
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I've found that condensation starts to become irritating around the end of September although, of course, this can depend to some degree on the weather. Today looks very damp and clammy out there. During the summer months I haven't had to bother with screens, relying on the Remis to provide privacy.
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Agree CY, we don't always use ours in Summer. Although we did find leaving it on this Summer helped keep the MH cool if the cab was facing into the sun. While we were out in day of course!
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Thinking about clothes drying etc and fan heaters it's a good idea to check whether the van washroom has a blown air outlet. Much better to have one, nice and warm in winter and useful for wet weather gear.
On the subject of van screens we have never had condensation, heat or cold problems to any great extent. We use the blinds or curtains to control the temperature and a little bit of over night heating controls things too. One thing which had proved useful are the curtains being used instead of blinds in hot weather, they let air through.
If you take screens you will need to store them somewhere.
A lot of things to consider and frequently there has to be a compromise.
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Yes, we looked at those, but they don't seem to have a dealer network and it would be an awful long way to take it for remedial work!
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The Constellation comes with silver screens as well as fitted blinds, and has a blown air outlet in the washroom.
The point about the cab area being a source of cold is well made.
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