Travel & Product Tips
Caravanning Tips for the Long Distance Traveler
Caravan trips usually require a lot of preparation which includes getting all the necessary items as well as checking the vehicle for proper functioning. This could prove to be a hassle if you are planning a long trip. You need to get the finances lined up and also mark important milestones so that you may reload your resources and also get the vehicle checked. If this is your first caravan trip, then I can only imagine how daunting it might appear to you.
Before you head out on your long distance trip, make sure that you follow these suggestions to steer clear of problems and have an enjoyable journey.
Always Keep a Fire Extinguisher in the Caravan
This is a basic necessity for caravans. Fire is one of the most common risks that a caravan is subjected to. There can be a lot of reasons for a fire to break out. By keeping a fire extinguisher handy, you can reduce the harm that would be inflicted in the event of a fire.
Choose Your Caravan Carefully
Caravans come in various types and sizes. You need to make sure that your caravan suits your lifestyle and is spacious enough to accommodate your family members. There is no point in getting an excessively large caravan or a small caravan if it does not fulfill its purpose. Consult with manufacturers and caravan experts to find out exactly what you need.
Get a New Oil Cooler for Automatic Vehicles
Those who prefer automatic vehicles seldom undertake the required measures to ensure the smooth functioning of their vehicles. People have run into problems with their automatic vehicles just hours after starting their trip. This is why it is better to get a new oil cooler for such vehicles. Trust me, this is a cheaper option than getting your vehicle’s gearbox changed due to the damage caused by the lack of proper coolant.
Distribute the Load Properly in the Caravan
Caravans are not independent vehicles that can be maneuvered on their own. They are towed with the help of a separate vehicle. Due to this, it is important for the load to be distributed properly in the caravan. Uneven distribution of load can cause the caravan to sway, making it difficult for the driver to control it on the road. Make sure that the heaviest items are packed on the bottom of the van, in the middle, above the wheels. Medium weighted items need to be kept in the middle and both ends evenly. Light items can be stored at the top. Make the most of the entire length of the caravan while storing the light items. This will ensure that the center of gravity for the caravan is maintained at appropriate levels.
Check the Capabilities of the Towing Vehicle
This is one of the most important aspects to be checked before embarking on a caravan holiday. You need to be sure that the towing vehicle is capable of handling the caravan easily. Don’t just assume the base weight of the caravan while evaluating the capabilities of the towing vehicle. Keep a buffer of approximately 300kg which would be added due to stocking of necessary resources and the presence of family members in the caravan itself. Plus, you need to practice towing the caravan before hitting the road on your own. It can be a tough task for the uninitiated.
Get Levelers or Blocks of Wood to Provide Even Surface for the Caravan
You might have to park the caravan anywhere. This means you wont always have leveled ground to park it. Keep levelers or blocks of wood and a measuring tool to ensure that the caravan is positioned at the correct level. Ask any accessory retail outlet for levelers and you should be able to get one that is best suited for your caravan.
Get the Best Caravan Awning and Other Accessories for a Comfortable Trip
Caravan awnings and annexes provide personal spaces and homely comfort even on the road. No matter where you are parked, you would be able to get some much needed shade and shelter by simply setting up the awning or the annexe. Make sure that you get the best caravan awning in the market to avoid unnecessary hassles and enjoy the road rather than spending a good portion of your time trying to fix the issues that crop up.
Maintain a Checklist
A checklist is always helpful in ensuring that all the required items are accounted for. This way, you don’t forget anything and your trip won’t be affected at all. Don’t make the mistake of preparing the checklist in the last minute. It should be done well ahead of time as this will help you to identify all the things that need to be done before embarking on the road trip.
Now that you have gone through these tips, you should be able to prepare yourself for an exciting road trip ahead. Have fun. Don’t forget to share your views and suggestions in the comments section below. We would love to hear from you.
How to Make Your Caravan Invisible
If you have ever gone on a caravan holiday, then you know very well how tiring it can be to maneuver the caravan and control it with the towing vehicle. This isn’t one of those rides where you have to handle a different vehicle altogether. You need to control the towing vehicle as well as the caravan. Now the problem with towing it is that the rear view is blocked by the caravan. This can make it a bit difficult to check out the rear view properly.
Land Rover has developed an innovative “see through” technology that makes a trailer or caravan ‘disappear’ in the rear-view mirror. This gives the feeling that the caravan has become invisible. No one has come up with spells or an invisibility cloak that can manage this trick. Plus, this is as real as it gets. So don’t mistake it for a hoax. The research’s findings has been demonstrated at the Burghley Horse Trials in the UK where a Range Rover prototype was used for the test.
Check out the video of the see-through technology below.
The system has been designed to work in a way such that the blind spot is removed while towing the caravan. This not only makes it safer to overtake other vehicles, but also helps in controlling the parking as well as reversing maneuvers. The concept behind this technology is simple yet effective. The video feed from the vehicle’s existing surround camera system is mixed with the video from a digital wireless camera that is placed at the rear end of the caravan. Once the video feed is mixed to create a live video, the caravan gets a see-through appearance. The beauty of this technology is that the live video is made to appear on the rear view mirror, thereby creating an almost realistic experience for the driver.
Wolfgang Epple, director of research and technology at Land Rover, said, “When you are overtaking it is instinctive to check your mirrors, but if you are towing your vision is often restricted with large blind spots. Our Transparent Trailer project is researching how we could offer a view out of the vehicle unrestricted by your trailer, no matter what its size or shape. Our prototype system offers a very high quality video image with no distortion of other cars or obstructions.”
This new technology will definitely help to reduce the number of accidents that occur while overtaking and even drivers with relatively less experience in maneuvering caravans would be able to manage the movements with ease. As of now, the technology has been tried with a prototype. However, a full-fledged commercial application will reveal the true capabilities for this innovative technology. Also, it would be interesting to see how the system works in a real caravan setting where accessories such as caravan awnings are installed along with other components.
6 Space Saving Tips For Caravanners
When you are out on the road in your caravan, you tend to bring along a lot of stuff from your home to avoid running out of resources. Now the biggest challenge that a person faces during such trips is to keep things organized. It is not difficult to organize your things and keep them in place. All it takes is a little creativity and some research to find out simple hacks that could help you to optimize the utilization of space in your caravan.
1. Using Nesting Bowls and Spoons
Utensils like bowls and spoons are often in demand during trips but it becomes difficult to store them. A good way to manage them is to use bowls and spoons that nest into a single unit. This helps in storing more units in the space used by the largest container. Not only does this look really cool, but it also ensures that all of the components are kept together safely.
2. The "Dangling Jar" Effect
Image Source: thecreativeimperative
Did you know that you could use your old jars for storing common knick-knacks? Well, you can also hang them from the ceiling of your caravan with the "dangling jar" effect. This is not a magic trick. All you need to do is to screw the lids of the jars onto the ceiling and then you can stuff the jar with your things before you screw them into their respective lids. I must say that whoever came up with this idea has amazing creativity.
3. Fold Up Chairs Can Be Stored in Less Space
Ask any camper about the single most desired furniture during trips and you would get the same answer every time – collapsible chairs. These chairs are sturdy enough to hold the weight of an average-sized person, but it is constructed in such a way that it can be folded up into a small bundle. This is great for taking along on trips because you can get a good seating space without having to manage the bulk of a rigid chair.
4. Carry Your Air Mattress for Comfortable Sleeping
The air mattress has provided a space saving solution that goes beyond beds. This technology has been used for chairs, sofas and other furniture where you simply fill up the material with air (using a blower) and voila – you have a sturdy place to lie down or just relax. When you are done using it, you can deflate it and the entire thing can be rolled into a small bundle that can be stored in a small space. It is light enough to be carried around in your backpack.
5. Keep Your Stuff at One Place with a Bedside Caddy
The bedside caddy may appear to be a simple storage unit, but if you consider the extent of its application, then it would be easy to understand the versatility of this humble product. You can store anything from books and magazines to remote control units and mobile phones. The best part about this caddy is that you can hang it pretty much anywhere as it is not confined to your bedside. During a trip, you can organize all of your reading material, important documents and electronic gadgets in this amazing storage unit.
6. Roll Out Awnings Eliminate the Need to Store the Awning in the Caravan
Rollout Caravan awnings are great for using awnings but without having to store them inside the caravan itself. These are attached to the side portion and you just have to roll them out whenever you need them, and the entire structure can be fixed by using the support arms. Other annexes and awnings require you to disassemble them and store them inside the caravan, and this consumes a lot of space. It is also tedious to assemble and disassemble them every time you need some extra space when the vehicle is parked. So the rollout awnings come as a life saver where you not only minimize storage space, but you also increase your personal living space.
7 Things That You Need to Keep Handy Before Going on Your Caravan Holiday
So you are planning for a caravan holiday. That’s great. But have you made all the preparations. By “all-the-preparations”, I mean the most important ones, because the actual list of preparations would be virtually endless. This post would become excessively lengthy if I were to describe each requirement. Moreover, people have differing requirements so specific items would be different. But there are common items that you should prepare well in advance so that you can have a hassle free holiday.
In order to ease things up a bit, here is a simplified list containing the 7 most important things that you need to keep handy before you venture out on your road trip.
1. Prepare Your Caravanning Kit
If you thought that your work was over after furnishing the interiors of the caravan, then you are highly mistaken. You need to prepare a caravan kit comprising the essentials that are required to ensure that the caravan functions properly throughout the trip. Common things that you would need in the kit include caravan step, fresh water container, electric hook-up led, waste water container, caravan leisure battery, smoke alarm, fire extinguisher and levelling blocks.
2. Install a Caravan Awning / Annexe
It is impossible to imagine a caravan holiday without the comfort of an awning or annexe. Just think about the amazing times that you can spend on your trip where you only have to erect the awning and enjoy the company of your loved ones and friends under the cool shade. The annexe or a full awning would also give you your very own personal space so that you may enjoy some privacy and the comforts of your home even during a road trip. So don’t forget to install the best awning or annexe for your needs. You can always check out our amazing collection of best caravan awnings that on AWA website. If you are not able to find one that suits you, then send in your query and the guys at AWA will come up with a custom solution just for you.
3. Create an Itinerary
Always create an itinerary, even if you are familiar with the region. The best part about road trips and caravan holidays is that you get to explore the roadways and the connected networks that join various places. You never know what place might fall along your way. So check up all the cool places and make sure that they fall on your path so that you may avoid excessive detours and save fuel in the process. You can even check out some new places and add them to your itinerary.
4. Pack Appropriate Clothing
This is not a reference to formal attire or casual wear. Appropriate clothes is a reference to clothes that are in accordance with the weather. Check up on the weather forecasts for the region that you wish to visit and plan your clothes accordingly. After all, you would not want to end up wearing summer clothes during cold weather.
5. Bring Along Proper Bedding
If there is one thing that is precious to every traveller, then it would be proper sleep. Everyone knows that it is difficult to get a cosy and snug bed during trips. But if you have caravans with annexes or full awnings, then you are bringing along a piece of your home with you. In such cases, you can bring along mattresses, blankets, pillows and bedsheets. For those who want to camp out in the open, you should bring along sleeping bags and enjoy a nice sleep under the starry sky while lying on the soft ground. Sleep doesn’t get more rustic than this.
6. Food and Cookware are Absolute Must-Haves
Food and cookware need to be brought along on the trip unless you are making the mistake of relying on outdoor restaurants and diners for food. Canned food may be considered but there is something special about cooking up a one-pot recipe out in the open and enjoying some finger food by roasting it over the open fire. There is only so much canned food that people can bear with. So bring along portable cookware and pack enough food supplies to last the duration of your journey. Make sure that the supplies are fresh and are not spoilt easily. You could always stock up on the way if you find retail stores.
7. Don’t Miss Out on Toiletries and First Aid Kits
Hygiene and health are the two most important things to take care of during such road trips. You should always bring along your toiletries such as toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, deodorant, toilet papers, washcloth, towel, sandals for showering, shaving cream, and nail clippers. For first aid kits, you need to include the standard components, any specific medications that you may have been prescribed by your doctor and a list of emergency health centers on your route so that someone can contact them for assistance in the case of emergency.
Image Credit: lovebungay.co.uk