Teething problems (hopefully!)
Having just returned from our 2nd outing this will have to be my last post under “New to caravanning” as I can now move to the “Veterans” section. We did however encounter a few teething problems.
1. The Jockey Wheel mishap as mentioned in an earlier thread.
2. One of the pins of a 240v plug breaking off inside a socket (my initial thought was having to make a special order of a new socket from the manufacturer until it turned out our local dealer stocked then for £3.50)
3. Preparing to come home and came to connect the van electrics to the car. The plug wouldn’t fit as the lugs had become misaligned. Googled it and saw that it wasn’t an uncommon occurrence but a tool was required. A local(ish) caravan repair shop realigned it for me and a tool was purchased.
4. Disaster with our first awning erection. Couldn’t understand why the centre of the awning sagged but the two corners were overstretched. It took 2 days of puzzlement and pondering before realising that the two front door panels WEREN’T actually the same shape and were on the wrong way round.
5. On our second outing, up to Scotland on the M6, we suddenly heard a loud banging noise. Pulled onto the hard shoulder (closely followed by the Motorway Police). Turns out the jockey wheel had dropped. Very puzzled as we were positive it had been tightly clamped. Reset it but at the next services noticed it had dropped again. Realised it wasn’t the outer clamped part that was dropping but the inner section. Remembered we had a bungee cord that had come with the Wastemaster so used that to hold the wheel in place (further investigation required)
6. Booked a fully serviced pitch but TV aerial was too short (and had the wrong connections anyway) and, despite extensive research, my combination of different sizes and length of pipes would still not reach the drain.
7. My fixation over weight issues (caravan, not body) came to a climax when we had a major row over where to pack a small basket contains peanuts and a pack of Ryvita. (She wanted to leave it in a top locker whereas I insisted it went with the dustpan and brush at floor level over the axle).
Having said all that, we loved the whole experience immensely and can’t wait to do it again.
Comments
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I think we can all recall a few disasters from when we started. However, you seem to have coped well and have a positive approach and I am sure things will improve. Although even after many years it's still possible to make the odd error. Having recently switched to a motor home we have a whole new set to go at.😂
As to the jockey problem, was it wound up thightly into the slots ( that stop the shaft turning) before pulling up as high as it will go and clamping off? This should ensure the centre part can't vibrate loose and start lowering.
A 25m aerial lead, which can be made up yourself, or purchased from most CAMC sites that have the sockets on the bollards, along with an F type to coax adaptor, for the odd sites (not CC) that have the satellite type connectors on their bollards, should sort the TV problem.
Some service pitches, on non CC sites, do seem to site the drain and tap further away. I am sure it is not to sell the extra lengths of waste and hose they sell in their shop. 😉 Although we always found that two lengths of the coiled waste (that could be joined) one 3.5 m the other 2.0m always proved adequate.
Best wishes for your next adventure.
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A few weeks ago on our journey back from collecting our van from the dealer we made a couple of one night stop overs to get used to things. I managed to drop the front of the van onto the ground by unlocking the jockey wheel! At the second site the lugs on the 13pin plug became misaligned. I didn't want to force it incase it broke, fortunately a fellow caravanner assisted in getting them re-aligned. I later found the green tool amongst the starter pack provided by the dealer.
An expensive mistake was that either the wife or I had failed to close the blade lever on the toilet. I yanked the cassette out and got the blade stuck! I now have a sticker on the cassette to remind me to check before removing!
I'm sure that there will be other mistakes to be made but we are learning all the time and loving our new hobby. I'm grateful to all helpful posts on here and the help it has provided me in producing my complete idiot's guide to hooking up, setting up etc.
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That was an adventurous start.
We have had problems on the last caravan with the jockey wheel dropping both because the clamp needed to be extremey tight and the wheel could unwind itself. In both cases they needed to be in very tight but in the end the wheel failed when we were pitching. We got a new one from a local dealer and never had the problem again so it must have been the original jockey wheel rather than the caravan.
The new wheel cost less than £30 so replacement was not a major problem.
As for the other two points the TV connection is normally on the hook up post so you need a cable of similar length to the electric one. The drain is normally at the back of the caravan and sometimes to one side, so the norm would be a single length to cover the distance from the outlet to a couple of feet past the other side.
I do not see a few peanuts and Rivita making any difference to the loading, whether at head height or floor level. It is not good to put heavy items up high, but lighter ones should not be a problem.
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You seem to have experienced many of the mishaps we all experience but on your second trip! I once had a jockey wheel drop and, like you, was sure I had tightened it fully. I now ensure that I wind it up tightly into the housing and that the wheel is tucked up by the A Frame; not had the problem since. A service engineer suggested that I fit the green adjustment thingy when the caravan is not in use. He said that this would keep the terminals clean and dry as well as perfectly aligned when it came to connecting up. Still thinking about whether or not to do this - he gave me a free thingy anyway so I now have 2
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Three of us have just spent an hour assisting a motor caravaner who when reversing on to his levelling ramps,one tipped over and jammed under his chassis and exhaust from his heater
He has had this vehicle since new its a 56 rev so there is always something "new"to go wrong
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Thank you for the messages and advice. I have since purchased the 25m aerial lead (together with every combination of male, female, f- plug and co-ax connectors) and a 5m length of the coiled waste pipe (which I shall cut into 2) and a connector.
With regard to the alignment tool, I was also told by the repair man to keep the plug connected to the tool when not in use as it has a seal to prevent water ingress.
Now the van is safely on our drive I have had a good play with the jockey wheel and when it is wound tightly into its slot and then clamped tightly onto the frame it looks and feels incredibly secure. It’s possible that in my naivety and over-eagerness to look like I knew what I was doing, I may not have secured it correctly. Just need to decide whether to risk it next time or persevere with the bungee to be safe.
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Ive never driven across a complete site with people waving at me all the way ..me waving back thinking how friendly everybody was ,,Youve guessed it ,,jockey wheel down ,, And i didnt do it again last year !! mind you twice in 30 years aint bad ,
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Even after ten years there will probably be "new" issues that you haven't come across to problem solve, it's part of caravanning. I still have to put my thinking cap on after 25 years.
If you have put a new electric socket on the back of the car, they are usually held by three thin bolts and nuts. Put some grease on the new nuts, so if you have to remove it again in a few years, it won't be rusted up solid.
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How far can you drive with the Aldi wheel clamp on? A few meters I discovered!
Drove along the M40 for a mile or so with the jockey wheel on the road when collecting our new van. New jockey wheel needed.
Hitch slipped off when leaving a site in the Ardèche. Fortunately the security cable did its job but it broke so I tied a knot in it to carry on.
..etc. etc...
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My husband and I started 3 years ago. On our 2nd journey we didn't hitch up correctly - yes you can guess the rest caravan and car parted ways on the storage site. Thank goodness that there were people around to help the newbies. Oh and yes we've done the jockey wheel too
We still make the occasional mistake but pretty minor things. But we love the freedom and wished we'd started sooner.You'll have lots more fantastic journeys ahead of you - Enjoy
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For beginers it may be useful to have a pre-drive off check list - even experienced pilots have use one. Internal checks first (Cupboards, roof hatches, fridge to battery etc.). Disconnect mains electric (bollard end first). Then:
1. Check hitched up securely by using jockey wheel to raise car/caravan.
2. Secure jockey wheel.
3. Push down Alko arm if fitted.
4. Connect electrics and breakaway cable.
5. Hand brake off.
6. Disconnect mover.
7. Check all road lights working.
8 Check all external hatches closed/locked.
9. Walk around van double checking everything.
10. Switch main electrics in caravan off.
11. Lock door and off you go.
12. Check caravan breaks working by applying car breaks
13. After about 20 mins quick stop to check again and if wheel hubs hot.
Even if it is raining, I ALWAYS do the last walk round check before I drive off. It is surprising how often I find that I have left the mover connected
. Other ones you may miss are numbers 3 and 8 (Battery door!). I also find it useful move outfit forward a little then to have a quick look around pitch looking for pegs etc that you may have missed, and check that you have left nothing on the A Frame (Mover control!!!) Doing the above will become second nature as you become more experienced.1 -
The other thing to check is the cover where the pump plugs in. Make sure it has clicked shut. Otherwise it will drive you mad flapping until you can find a pull over place.
Also check the rooflights, how many times have we seen vans and motorhomes driving along with it open
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You forgot to turn the gas off.
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Comeyras, I liked your inclusion of "move the unit a few yards and then walk round the empty pitch". Very few people do that and it's amazing what they leave behind, that had been under the van. We often say, the only thing you take away are memories and the only thing you leave behind are footprints.
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Yes Cyberyacht I know that. I was just trying to simplify the 26 point list to be found on pages 625 and 626 of the Club handbook. My list is the order in which I do things .I could have added 'check torque settings' - item 2 in the Club's list and Item 5 'stow away mains cable', and Item 6 'check noseweight'.
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Just remembered most serious mistake .years ago .wife forgot can opener !!!
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On the 13 pin plug, its quite common where the socket is in the arm to the towbar as in Mercedes fitted ones. The alignment tool sits prominently in a collapsible crate that has toolbox, wheel clamp, locks, hitch lock and golf ball, better gun for steadies, handle for motor mover, towing mirror bag and other essentials that sits at the front of the boot in reach.
We also lost the jockey wheel, but the new soft/solid one is far better, always ensure it is properly locked with the 'splines' and raised fully.
Awning, 1st time we put it up the OH switched the pump off when it completed the volume cycle before it went into pressure, down came the awning.
All part of the caravanning lark, great fun.
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Only partially. Come on now. Hands up. Who has forgotten to turn off the gas? My other amnesiac characteristic is to forget to switch the fridge over, as I did yesterday.
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I have just such a list and use it each time I hitch up.
Takes just a few minutes but gives peace of mind and has prevented any mishaps so far.
You’ll see that they’re all in order of importance 😉
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