Water, water everywhere

One of the first things you’re going to want to do when you’ve pitched up is fill up your water tank so that you can get the kettle on. It is generally best not to have a full tank of water when driving – a 100-litre tank full of water weighs around 100kg and payloads on modern ’vans can be tight. Some campsites offer full-service pitches, which means that, in addition to an electric hook-up, they also include a fresh water tap and a waste water drain point – these are great if you just want to pitch up and not have to move your campervan again. On a regular pitch, you’ll need to drive to an on-site water tap – campsite owners put them in convenient places so you can park near.

Screw a Hozelock-style adaptor on the end of the tap

(it’s more hygienic to carry your own), then connect a food-grade hose pipe to the water tap, open the water filler cap up on the campervan and place the hose a few inches inside the hole. Turn the tap on and hold the pipe steady.

The water will gurgle away and, when it’s full, it will either come out of the water tank’s overflow, or spill out of the filler neck (or both). Turn off the tap and replace the hose.

If, when you start filling the water tank, water immediately starts coming out underneath the ’van, stop filling and check that you haven’t left the drain-down tap open or that the water boiler cold-weather valve hasn’t been activated (these automatic valves are designed to protect water systems from frost damage and can trigger in cold weather). Locate the boiler and reset it before refilling.

On smaller campsites, there won’t be a motorhome service point – perhaps just a general tap at the washing-up point or in the corner of a field, so always carry a water container with a nozzle/funnel or a watering can – then you can easily fill your water tank, even if you have to make several trips to the tap! With the water tank full, switch on your electrics and switch on the tap furthest from the tank. Keep it open until the water stops spitting out of it and you get a smooth flow. Repeat on all the other taps – this purges any air from the water lines.