The letter of the law
Identifying your caravan if you are unfortunate enough to have it stolen can be a problem, with large numbers of similarlooking caravans out there. Although CRIS will certainly help, it is not unknown for these identification numbers to be tampered with. If you carry out the sort of internal modifications described in this series, your caravan will be different from the others inside, but what about the exterior? Using self-adhesive vinyl letters and numbers to apply a memorable code (not your postcode) on the roof might help to identify your missing caravan while it is being towed under bridges, because it is unlikely thieves would go to the trouble of climbing up to check for identification marking. In the past, I have always been able to carry out this work by standing on a small pair of steps in the centre aisle of the caravan and reaching out to the roof through the rooflight. Unfortunately, in this case, neither of the rooflights would open far enough, so I used my scaffold tower instead. Using tall steps from outside the van could be dangerous, so would require extreme care. I sourced some 25cmhigh black vinyl numbers on the internet – these proved to be an ideal size. First, give the part of the roof to be marked a good clean with damp and dry cloths. A length of insulating tape can then be temporarily applied to ensure the digits go in a straight line. Some letters will come with just a backing paper to cover the adhesive, and others will also have a transfer film applied to the front, which makes handling much easier and avoids having to touch the adhesive backing. Apply the letters with care from one end, smoothing down as you go to avoid trapped air bubbles. Once all are in place, give everything a firm rub down to ensure good adhesion.