Best Gadget
Hi, I don't know about you but when I'm in caravanning mode I love wondering around caravan dealers and eyeing up all the gadgets, I'm definitely a bit of a sucker for them and I don't suppose I'm alone. So I wondered - what is your best gadget and why? Mine is the Kampa Easy Awning Pulley which lets me put up my heavy air awning on my own, very hard if not impossible without. I'm hoping some suggestions and reasons will lead me to a next sensible? purchase.
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Firstly for us it has to be a Remoska as we do not have a caravan oven or grill. With a 2 amp load it can be used anywhere and ours sees service when away most days. We are so impressed ours is used weekly on the house. Good 2nd hand buys can be found on Gumtree.
A Bialetti Moka is a must and one lives in the van.
Similar to Deleted User User, we carry a single plate induction hob to save on gas and cook outdoors. If you buy one then just make sure you get one where the start-up setting is low in case your amperage to van is on the low side. We went with a Tefal that we also use at home. IKEA do some at a great price, but I'm unsure about the start-up load.
Colin
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Hi There
I’ll agree with AD above except I have a single induction hob. Fine if you’re on full electric hookup. Another for me is a couple of bedrolls from Duvalay I think they’re called Raskelf? Good customer service from them as well.
Another good van gadget is a mifi router. I have one in my rv with an external antennae with dual SIM card slots. Always get fast internet.
Remember all that stuff adds to the pay load.
JK
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Small back up gas burner for cooking, add to that the ridgemonkey & it needs a super small space yet covers all needs. As gadgets go they are excellent timesavers too👍🏻-
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Hi, So far as van specific items go, and stretching the term “gadget” somewhat, an I-Boost Wi-Fi, filter coffee machine, electric pan, Aquaroll, 3 way fridge (beer, for the use of), flexible & rigid pipe for waste water.
The biggest, and most used, apart from the I-Boost, is the Cadac BBQ. This lives at home and using it there and in the van means we get good value for the price.
Again, whilst not a gadget, our van stored Crespo chairs are superb being light and very comfortable.
Our van is in storage so the heavier stuff, awning flooring, BBQ, fridge etc lives at home and travels in the car.
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I think our best gadget has been the induction hob. Far easier and quicker to cook steaks etc outside than firing up a BBQ and it takes up less space / weight.
How about also putting on here the worst gadget you have ever bought. Not so much because it turns out to be very poor quality but more a case of "why on earth did I buy this? I've never used it since I bought it".
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Lock'n'level. Makes fitting the ALKO wheel lock and levelling side to side a breeze.
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Clever👍🏻, I see what you did there😊
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How about also putting on here the worst gadget you have ever bought. Not so much because it turns out to be very poor quality but more a case of "why on earth did I buy this? I've never used it since I bought it".
The worst one we ever bought for our caravan was the Milenco leveller. Bought at one of the shows at a cost of £75 and carried back to a far car park ( should have bought online)😂 It was used about twice, before I decided it was doing more damage to the tyre than I was prepared to accept. Perhaps they have improved the design since, as they still sell it, but ours on anything more than a minimal cross grade, distorted the sidewalls to an alarming extent.
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My best gadget is a little solar powered and wind up Duronic radio. Rarely needs a wind up as propped up by a window it charges well in daylight. Cost less than £12.
I've also got a very small Sony digital radio via USB which I use most of the time, lasts longer than the phone.
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If I remember correctly, many years ago wind deflectors were tested and the conclusion was that, if you were lucky, it might save up to £0.50 per 100 miles. How many 100s of miles would it take to get the cost back - if you were lucky.
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Not sure whether it's fair to class it as a 'gadget' - but for me - it has to be the E&P hydraulic levelling because it's allowed me to continue caravanning for the last two years when my knee wouldn't let me kneel down to fit the twin Alko locks - or use alternative means of levelling / lock fitting.
Worst one was a stupid telescopic peg puller which was supposed to allow you to pull out pegs without bending down. It always came apart when the slightest amount of pressure was applied. Just can't understand why I bought it when a simple claw hammer does the job perfectly well
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Beware of the small, dehumidifiers for use in wardrobes. I thought that one would be ideal for the motorhome, to repel damp inside the wardrobe but when the crystals turned to liquid, the liquid leaked from the plastic bag, leaving a wet greasy substance. Luckily, as it was winter I was not using the M/H, so there was nothing inside the wardrobe, but it gave me a shock when I saw it as I thought that the M/H had acquired a serious leak inside the wardrobe. The rigid plastic dehimidifiers are really good and do prevent damp and mould but not the ones with a little coat hanger shaped hook!
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Best or worse not quite sure, but I bought these plastic wheel nut caps for a quick glance indication of a loose wheel nut. Good or bad they are still on there and I do look occasionally.
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Hi, I’ve found that a couple of recycled plastic Chinese take away containers filled with table salt does the job as well as any dehumidifier and costs pennies.
JK
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I'm not convinced that any dehumidifier will work in a caravan because of all the gas drops that allow outside air in to circulate.
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A few years ago, the M/H wall had some spots of mould above the high shelf which is above the side window. I cleaned them off and put a dehumidifier there (replaced every now and again) and have not had any problems there since, so I assume that it works.
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I forgot the wi-fi booster. This mainly used abroad where our pitches usually have free wi-fi and has picked up reception at over 200m. The second fridge, not a cooler is also a must have. We have previously ran ST rated table top fridge and freezer that would sit side by side in the boot for 6 week trips abroad. We have now switched to a 12v/230v Combicool that will run at down to -15 even when it is 30+ outside.
Colin
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My favourite gadget is a microwave steamer, and my second favourite is my slow cooker. I can do some really good cooking with these.
The gadget I would like would be something to make it easier to release the door retainer when I want to close the door.
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