Thursday 22 December 2011

Save Your Caravan From Winter Weather Element

We often use caravans as a substitute for home while living temporary to some other place. We start using it so carelessly that it becomes deprived of due care and attention. Constant exposure to the winter weather elements increases the chances of reducing its actual life. Some of the extreme weather conditions, like snow, hail, wind and heavy rain occurring on regular basis take away the charm of the caravans. Therefore, it is vitally important to protection it adequately and keep the vehicle in tip top condition. A clean caravan not only boost the life of the vehicle and helps it function properly, but also make you feel good whilst enjoying your trip.

To clean outer body of caravans there are several assortments of cleaning products available in the market. Choose one that helps to prevent moss build-up and green algae growth on the outer body of the vehicle. This will make spring cleaning much easier when you will take it to workshop for servicing.

Start with simple wash of the exterior part of the caravan or motor home as overall cleaning process. Next, initiate work on cleaning additional caravanning accessories, like gazebos and awnings. These accessories also need maintenance after surviving several years travelling on the road. Using protective cleaning products will prevent the formation of algae on their surface and keep them in shape for several months to come. People using caravan as motor home or for long distance travelling need to put more attention to take care of wear and tear that get accumulated over a period of time.

Monday 12 December 2011

How To Keep Your Caravan Cool

Most people like to take their caravan on holidays during the summer months because the weather is so much nicer and this is when most people get time off work. But sometimes the heat can become unbearable, especially because a caravans has such a small interior space. There are, however, ways that you can keep yourself, and your caravan, cool on those summer treks.



Fluorescent Lighting

In summer, it is best not to have any lights on in your caravan at all, but at night there is some need to be able to see what you’re doing. In this case, have fluorescent lights installed, as they don’t heat up the room the way that many other light globes do.

Air Conditioner
Technology these days means that air conditioning systems are not just for our houses – we can use them in our caravans too. A lot of newer caravans will already have some form of air conditioning system, but if it doesn’t you might want to consider investing in one.

Fan
If you don’t like the idea of an air conditioner, or if you find that they can be overly noisy to run, especially overnight, perhaps using fans in your caravan is a better idea. These can be placed at various intervals in your caravan, keeping the areas that you want cool.

Shaded Campsite
It is generally best to park your caravan in a spot where there is a large shady looking tree a little way off to the west. This will ensure that your caravan is shaded during the hottest part of the day, while at the same time preventing branches, leaf litter, and animal droppings from falling onto your roof.

Cook Outside
Cooking in your house heats up the kitchen, so why should it be any different in a caravan? Cook outside on a BBQ or over an open fire wherever possible, and if you have to cook inside, leave the door and some windows open to help disperse the heat.

Tuesday 29 November 2011

How To Check For Damp In A Second Hand Caravan



One of the most common problems associated with second hand caravans is damp. When viewing a second hand van that you intend to buy, the first thing you should do is check it top to bottom for signs of damp and water damage.

If you’re buying second hand from a dealer, you can ask them to run a damp detector over the caravan for you – they should be happy to oblige if they have nothing to hide. It is also a good idea to invest in your own damp detector as you can use it if looking at a second hand van from a private seller.

The key areas to check for damp in a second hand caravan are: under the sink and beside pumps for signs of leaking onto caravan shelving; underneath the mattresses and cushions (also check for staining); inside cupboards, lockers, etc as these areas are parallel to outside seals on the caravan; mismatching or obvious patch up attempts of caravan wall coverings; and soft spots on the walls, roof and floor (this can indicate rot as well as damp).

First walking into a second hand van is usually your first indication that it may have a damp problem – try to determine if the caravan smells mouldy or musty.

You should also check the external sealing of the caravan, especially around the body and windows, by pressing close to the joint and feeling for sponginess. Give the cupboard and door handles a good tug as loose fittings can indicate that damp has gotten into the second hand van.

If the second hand caravan passes all these tests, then it is safe to say it doesn’t have a damp problem, but if it fails any of them, it might be better to keep second hand van hunting.

Sunday 20 November 2011

Should You Install a Toilet in Your Caravan

custom made caravans

Camping in the bush with your caravan has many great advantages but unfortunately does not include being waited on hand and foot by friendly hotel staff. This means that while you are on your caravan holiday you will need to cook your own food, and take responsibility for your own waste. While this might be an icky topic, it is also vitally important to planning any caravan holiday. So ask yourself the question, do you need a toilet for your caravan, and how should you choose one?

Fortunately, many caravan parks include full bathroom facilities, such as showers, baby change rooms, and toilets. These camp sites give you the best of both worlds; you get to enjoy the wilderness without the worry of bringing your own toilet with you. For the most authentic camping experience, however, you might consider installing a toilet into your custom made caravans. This allows you to travel wherever you like in the Australian outback, in a relative degree of the comfort and luxury you are used to.

But how do you go about choosing and installing a working toilet in your caravan? Obviously you can't just bung in a standard household model, and you need to consider the environment while taking care of your family's waste. One model you might consider installing in your caravan is the cassette type toilet, which includes a permanently installed toilet seat and bowl and detachable waste tank.

The waste tank can be removed from outside the caravan, for safe hygiene, and emptied in an authorised waste dump. These toilets need to be prepared with environmentally friendly chemicals to ensure that no harm is caused to the bush while you are camping.

Thursday 17 November 2011

Caravans And Things To Consider While Buying




There is nothing better idea than spending summer vacations in camps, if you want to take your family or friends along with you. Your tour can be more amusing if you have a caravan with you. A caravan is well equipped with all most all the facilities like home. It includes berths, kitchen, toilet and some times TV and other equipments depending on the type of caravan. The more luxurious will be the caravan the more facilities you will get.

Caravans are not cheaper. So, if you are planning to buy a caravan don’t miss to set your budget. Also, it is important to list down your needs and requirements. Do not add things are less important to you as it will unnecessarily increase your budget. Size of caravans is another important aspect to be taken in concerned. Although, larger caravan provides more luxurious option, like more berths, well equipped kitchen, spacious interior, etc. but it has a downside as well. Bigger caravans need bigger and stronger tow car to pull. Besides, these are also difficult to pull on road and on camp sides. Therefore, do not opt for larger caravans until and unless you actually need.

If you do not want to spend too much, used caravans are a better option. These vans are as good as fresh caravans. You get them at cheaper price and will be provided all the facilities like fresh caravan. No matter what you buy used or the fresh one, always research well before you finally decide to buy a caravan.

Monday 14 November 2011

What To Consider While Buying Caravans


No matter whether you are buying new caravan or the used one, there are certain things that must be kept in mind before you finally decide your choice. Without a proper planning and research, you may go out of the track and end up with expensive or useless caravan. The first step of planning says to have a budget in mind. Obviously, you will surely not like go beyond your budget. So, make a budget and stick to it.

Secondly, decide for what purpose you need caravan. Is it for long tour, short tour, kids, without kids, staying at a specific place or moving around to different places? This will help you get an idea about the size, layout, features and also you need to find out caravan manufacturers, you are looking for. Although, smaller caravans are suggested as these are easier to tow, however, choice is entirely yours. If you have large family you have to choose spacious van with multiple tiers and features.

It is also important to known whether you want to include any cooking feature. If yes, then try to look for kitchen accessories that can be moved out of the caravan, for the case when you want to cook outside the caravan.

Caravans are made for both roads and off roads. For each purpose, caravans are designed and cost individually. For instance, vans for off road have elevated clearance from the ground, so that they can bear jerks and other harsh road conditions. This feature is obtained with heavy-duty suspension and chassis. Considering these factors you can own a caravan exactly as per your requirements being in the budget.