Preparation for your first trip
What have you done in preparation for when you can take your first trip this year?
I have washed and cleaned off the black streeks of my motorhome and in the process given the body work a thorough inspection. Some paint touching up is necessary and I have procured what is hopefully matching paint and I am waiting for warmer weather to commence this task.
While washing the roof I found one of the 4 solar panel’s feet which should be glued to the roof had come adrift. Managed to lift it just enough to wipe the join clean as best I could and squirt some Sikaflex 512 under the foot and this has thankfully secured it again but regular inspection is probably now necessary until I am confident there will be no more problems.
Chassis cab service and MOT were carried out in December. Batteries checked ok and it started first time but tyres need pumping up all round before the next outing. Windscreen washer topped up with screen wash, oil and lights all checked ok.
I decided to add an external TV aerial connection point for both satellite and terrestrial TV. It was with in trepidation I drilled two holes three centimetres apart in an appropriate place in the side of the van to feed the two coaxial cables into the interior and trunking. The exterior unit was then glued to the side wall with Sikaflex 512. It seems a sturdy enough fix not to bother with any fixing screws. I still have the internal terminations to complete to make it easy to swap TV aerial feeds.
No habitation problems noticed but the interior needs a tidy up before use and when it warms up the water system needs priming and the fridge vent coves will require removing. Hopefully everything will then be fine after a long layup.
peedee
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Not sure I’d ever be happy with a bonded solar panel. Nothing quite like a mechanical fitting, ideally the type made for the marine market.
I had a near miss several years back. Used to own a Triumph TR4A with what’s called a ‘surrey top’. It’s like a targa top with a removable folding metal frame that supports the vinyl top in the central section of the roof. Mine wasn’t secured properly at the front and flew off at speed, luckily nobody on the road behind me, otherwise would have been very nasty.
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Evening
I've been preparing my van for sale so have been doing lots of extra jobs to show it's potential. It's been used all this winter and has been fully serviced cab and hab. Talk of solar mountings, when I installed my 100 watt panel I added a self tapping screw to each corner bracket for peace of mind. Sikaflex is your best friend when doing any installs on the roof.
Also been spring cleaning the caravan ready to live in for this season. Hab service showed no damp (10 years on) but truma gas fire and blown air need attention. A window at the front was also delaminated but that was an straightforward fix using the bonding agent from the excellent www.bondrite.co.uk company. Really helpful and knowledgeable.
So, I'm prepared ok but a bit anxious where it comes to a new van. I've bought 4 vans and 2 RV's in my time but had one truly horrible experience which I don't want to repeat. But as the market is sparse I'm not in a hurry.
JK
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Our MH has had a good wash today. Everything else works fine, except the fridge on gas. OH is currently investigating, don’t think it’s anything major, but we shall need it on gas in Summer. Swopped Fiamma Box off back, bike rack now ready for bikes. We don’t fret about things to be honest, just get on with it. Inside will get a good clean, bedding freshened, food stocked and then she’s ready to roll🥰
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Caravan cleaned on the outside. Car cleaned outside and in.. 12 stes booked. Caravan service booked. Just need to spruce up the inside of the caravan and make the bed and to put stuff in the caravan and car. First site: Grafham Water CAMC site.
David
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The old girl was serviced in December and no problems, all the outside washed with Fenwicks and then given a rinse off with Bobby Dazzler, thought we had a problem with fridge on electric but all seems ok now , do have a dink off side rear thanks to a sleeping policeman at camping Oyambre in Spain a few years ago, was going to get fixed, but gave it a belt with a club hammer and looks not bad so, so will leave well alone
I use the caravan at lot at home, just like to sit in and read the newspaper listen to the radio and dream of being away, so apart from returning the bedding and provisions she is ready to go. OH has 2nd jab 1st May so we are off on the 4th to a nice site we have used before in Dorset , then on to Cornwall in June, then Devon in September.
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Husband did the outside of ours 2 weeks ago, I cleaned inside last week and there’s just the tea and coffee etc to replace/refill and we are ready. Have been trickle charging the battery over winter and it’s been for a couple of local runs.
We are booked for 2 nights at the Wirral next Monday and have our fingers crossed for that. Don’t want to tempt fate but my Mother in Law is due to come out of hospital after a week in there so hope we can get her settled again with her carers before we go. It’s only an hour and a bit away from home but a good break after a stressful winter.
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I have been eyeing up the Wirral Site Ann, never been, but looks good cycling territory.😁
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Cleaned inside and out and serviced (no problems) on Friday so all ready to go when it gets a bit warmer! A number of UK trips booked but it looks as though our twice postponed Eurotunnel crossing at the end of May will have to be postponed yet again! We will look at end of Aug/Sep in a few weeks when we may know how how things are developing over there.
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Does look a nice interesting location. I want to see Lady Lever Art Gallery as well. Might be one for the Autumn for us👍
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Definitely good for cycling around there, tda with lots of waymarked cycle tracks, and Elsemere Port and the art art gallery certainly worth a visit.
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Our caravan was serviced at the end of November and had no issues. In preparation to get away we have gave the van a good wash and cleaned the roof we used Fenwicks cleaner going to get the inside all spring cleaned next week and that’s us ready to roll. Got a few sites booked already first trip out in due to be Maragowan club site at the end of April.
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We're nowhere near ready! I got everything out from inside our van recently, sorted out things we don't need etc, piled everything up from the cupboards and gave things a good scrub and clean. It's all sitting there waiting to go back...
The carpets need lifting out, the floor underneath needs a good clean, so quite a bit to do. It doesn't do the van much good to stand around unused and unloved, I dread seeing any mould but so far so good. I'll go over the washroom next. OH will do all the outside cleaning, it's really going to need it. Hopefully we'll give the van a run out before we go away anywhere, expecting dry brakes and a general shake up!
In the meantime it's all been serviced and MOT'd so we we're good to go in that respect.
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We’re off to Norfolk on the 20th April, the day after my 2nd vaccine jab.
Went down to the storage compound yesterday, cleaned the ’van inside and out, everything seems to be OK. Just have to relearn how to use the Swift Command thing, quite a challenge! 🙂
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Well we're getting an early start and are able to go on Tuesday, just in time for Winter to reappear.
Caravan has been cleaned inside and out, water which had been drained now back in, heating checked to make sure it's working, tyres on caravan and car checked both for psi and cracks etc, caravan moved slightly to make sure motor mover works, gas pipe changed to Propane from Butane.
However, it doesn't matter how many lists you have and how many jobs you do or things you check there will always but always be one you've missed. Just hope it's not important.
We did get to Wirral many years ago to find the ehu cable still at home!
Great cycling from there and walking and birdwatching. Sailing as well if there's a high tide.
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It’s in a great location for cycling as the Wirral way cycle path is across the way from the site entrance. Short walk through the nature reserve and you are on the beach. We love it there but it does get booked up quickly in summer.
Adding some photos of our van there a few years ago, the view over the beach and the dog on the Wirral Way near the site.
If you use the cycle path you will be in good company as we have seen Chris Boardman on there a few times - he lives in Heswall, just down the road
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We like the Wirral site too, have been there a few times, last time we headed off for Port Sunlight, previously we've done visits to Liverpool and Crosby for Anthony Gormley. But the site itself is very good for cycling and walking plus some nice coastal places nearby.
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Thanks for this Ann, does indeed look a lovely area. Our kind of place. 😁
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It would suit you Ttda.
It's the very first site we ever visited when we first got a caravan back in 1990 and as we only live about 30 minutes away one we return to most years at least once sometimes twice just for a refresher.
The whole of the West side of the Wirral is prime birdwatching area for us in 3 seasons, excluding Summer, all the way from the RSPB site at Burton to Red Rocks found at the northern tip of West Kirby then onto Hoylake. You can even spend some time on Hilbre Island, found just off the coast of West Kirby, but you really do have to check the tide and walk out in the correct way. The birdwatching website mentioned below has information about tide times and good information for anyone wishing to do this.
I attach a photo of a sunset we caught over the River Dee estuary.
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I have to say the Wirral site has/had one of the worst MHSPs we've ever used but that's not a major issue. It made a great place to recover after crossing the Irish Sea into Liverpool🤢. I'm not sure we would return unless we had a reason to be in the area and I guess cycling in the CP is a pretty good reason.😀
The second pic gives you an idea of the wind experience on site.
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Will watch out for that wind😁 Looks a good Autumn trip for us, somewhere different👍
Back to PDs OP, today is inside fettling day. All lockers, cupboards, etc... checked, restocked for things that have migrated into house this last year. Can’t believe it’s last October since we last used everything. Started up like a dream first turn of key though, that solar panel is worth its weight in gold for keeping battery topped up.
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MH given a good spruce inside, most things were there, just a few foodie items that need restocking. We keep a few odds and ends in there, such as herbs and spices, etc.... Did find a full unopened bottle of Lindisfarne Ginger Wine🤩. Forgot that was in there, it was put in on my birthday, to take away with us. And a rather nice garden ornament I bought in Norfolk last year, hidden in wardrobe👍
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Washed most of the outside, just got the front to do. Van has been serviced only issue was the fridge wouldn’t stay lit on gas but since we’ve never run the fridge on gas I’m not overly fussed. The tyres had to be renewed and there was a slightly high damp reading (18) in one back corner so I’ve taken the sealant out and resealed with Sikaflx 512. We’ll fettle the inside when we go away on 19th April. It’ll only take the first half day
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I decided to add an external TV aerial connection point for both satellite and terrestrial TV. It was with in trepidation I drilled two holes three centimetres apart in an appropriate place in the side of the van to feed the two coaxial cables into the interior and trunking. The exterior unit was then glued to the side wall with Sikaflex 512. It seems a sturdy enough fix not to bother with any fixing screws. I still have the internal terminations to complete to make it easy to swap TV aerial feeds.
Finished the internal terminations today when it eventually warmed up a bit in the sunshine and checked the food and drink stocks to see what needs to be bought to restock. I'll finish the other jobs next weekend.
peedee
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