Here’s how I clean my van!
AS A LONG-TIME subscriber to Practical Caravan, one of my first ports of call each month is the letters pages.
I felt I had to put pen to paper after reading Phil Tupman’s letter in issue 417, in which he queries how to keep his caravan clean.
My first bit of advice, after caravanning for some 40 years, is to purchase a decent cover.
The next is to not allow a pressure washer anywhere near your ‘pride and joy’ for the following reason.
Five years ago we purchased a brand new, upmarket-level caravan from a main dealer.
We chose an ex-demo model produced by the same manufacturer as our previous three caravans, due to the fact that we liked the build quality.
On the van’s first annual service we were devastated when our engineer said it was “riddled” with damp. We recalled when collecting our van from the dealer that they had only just given it a clean, and had been using a pressure washer!
In all fairness to the manufacturer, they collected the van and stripped all the salient items out, replaced the window seals, wallboard and so on, and covered our expenses for collecting the van from the factory.
They also explained in detail all the work that had been carried out; they certainly went the extra mile, and the van has been perfect ever since.
So in conclusion: buy a decent cover, a bottle of Fenwicks streak remover, and keep the pressure washer for cleaning the patio!
Chris Moore
CLEANING FROM TOP TO BOTTOM
In response to Phil Tupman’s question (issue 417): the way I keep my caravan clean is to first wash it with Autoglym. Then I let the van dry, then get a gentle garden sprayer; after reading the instructions, I add Fenwicks Overwintering.
Start the process of spraying your caravan by doing the roof first (if you are not going to
use your caravan in the winter, spray the roof and roof lights; if you are using it in the winter, do not spray the roof lights). Then spray your caravan from the bottom up, spraying the windows if you’re not using your caravan in the winter, and avoiding the windows if you are using it over the winter.
I swear by this system – because I use my caravan during the winter months, if the van gets dirty, all I need to do is wash it with water and leather it down. I don’t need to do it again until the autumn. B Fowler
HERE’S MY HANDY HANGING TIP
Our solution to keeping hangers on the rail in transit is not as elegant-looking as Ginny Doe’s idea (issue 416), but once the wire that we use is removed, clothes can be accessed with ease (see photograph, below).
As an aside, I love your new Road Sense series. Although I can appreciate that the M25 is a major route, I suspect that the M6, M5 and A1 are also major caravanning routes worth covering. I look forward to building a reference resource over the months ahead.
Toby Braddick
VANMASTER IS THE ONE FOR US
In reply to Andy Yeoman’s letter in issue 417 regarding bespoke caravans: in February 2018 we called into a dealership and noticed a secondhand Vanmaster Occasion 640 twin-axle four-berth caravan. The van had been hand built to order at the factory in Wigan.
When we saw the outside of the van, we thought “wow”: all of the fittings on the outside are stainless steel rather than plastic or aluminium.
We then went inside, and again thought “wow”. There is proper wood ash timber rather than chipboard; plenty of storage top and bottom; and the carpets are specially made for Vanmaster and can be removed for cleaning.
The van was designed by the previous owners and built by Vanmaster at Wigan. There is a ‘proper’ washbasin in the shower room, with a good, large-sized shower. The toilet flushes from an underfloor insulated water tank; there is a cocktail cabinet with six lead-crystal wine glasses; the whole headlining from front to back is almost like a carpet… There is too much to list on paper.
So yes, Andy – you can go to a manufacturer and request exactly what you want in a caravan. I hope this helps.
H J Gilliver
HERE’S MY OPINION ON DOGS ON SITE
I am writing with reference to the letter from Kay Jenkins (issue 416) regarding the less-warm-than-expected welcome to her dogs at a site in Cornwall. While I appreciate her point, I would like to make the following observations.
First, there are plenty of ‘dog-friendly’ sites to choose from; indeed, most of them are classified thus. There are very few that don’t accept dogs.
I and many others would appreciate more of the latter. There can be many reasons for this preference: for example allergies, fear, noise, dogs fouling on the ground (not everyone cleans up!), and urine against most vertical surfaces which then smell.
I could go on, but please: spare some thought for those people who don’t share your love of dogs! Patricia Readman
WHY ARE THERE SO FEW DOG-FREE SITES?
I refer to Les Hornibrook’s letter in issue 417, in which he points out that not all readers are dog lovers. We agree with his point of view. We have been pitched alongside units with up to four dogs. We have also been sited on pitches with lingering smells from the previous occupants’ pets. This could be a health issue if young children were involved.
Why do dog owners think that it’s okay to allow their pets to foul pitches on the site? We already have adult-only sites, so why not dog-free sites? Rita and Roy Stevens
The editor says… Thank you for all your feedback on this topic – it’s something that we’ll look to address further in an upcoming issue.
MY TOUAREG TOWBAR COMMENTS
Reading issue 413, I noticed a reader was having a problem finding a VW dealer to fit a towbar to a VW Touareg. I used my MK1 for towing for eight years with no major issues.
But I experienced the same problem trying to fit a towbar to my new, 2018, MK2 Touareg, a forecourt pre-registered vehicle.
The factory-fit tow bar needed a special uprated radiator; my dealer provided and fitted the uprated radiator as a goodwill gesture free of charge, if I went for the factoryfit towbar made by German company Westfalia. The dealer also gave full warranty. I do not know if the uprated radiator is still fitted when the factory-fit towbar is ordered for the new, 2018, MK3 Touareg.
I hope this is of help to my fellow Touareg owners who know a good tow car when they see one! Happy caravanning.
C Knight
HOW HAS MOVER FARED OVER TIME?
Last year you published an article by Nigel Hutson showing how to re-grit a motor-mover roller using a kit. I wondered how well it had stood up to use since? Also, would Nigel still recommend the process after his subsequent experience?
T Dixon
Nigel Hutson says… The answer to your question is that yes, it was very successful. We swapped the old Carver mover (with the re-gritted rollers) for a much newer Powrtouch Evolution, because the Carver was getting a bit temperamental with age. But the rollers were still perfect. With the resin on the new grit, we experienced no wear or bits breaking off.
Well worth it in our opinion!
LUNAR DIMENSIONS WERE INCORRECT
As I write this, I – along with all Lunar enthusiasts – await news of negotiations for Lunar to find new owners.
However, you owe Lunar an apology for the erroneous details in your ‘First Look’ test of the Ariva (issue 416). You quoted shipping length as 6.88m, when it is actually just 5.17m.
You quoted internal length as 5.54m, and width as 2.3m, in place of the actual dimensions of 3.65m and 2.04m. Ariva single beds measure 1.81m by 0.68m, according to Lunar; not the 1.82m by 0.60m you printed.
The neat little Ariva suits owners who value its compact size and easy manoeuvrability. Anyone using your report to assist with the selection of a new caravan will go away disappointed.
I’m still going to renew my magazine subscription, though! David S
The editor says… Thank you for the email, David – good spot! Unfortunately the incorrect measurements were accidentally copied across from a different caravan in the previous issue of the magazine. Apologies for any confusion caused.
CHECK YOUR TYRES BEFORE EVERY TRIP
During a recent holiday to Cornwall from our home near Sheffield – a trip of around 320 miles, and taken in the recent hot weather – we arrived on site and began siting our van.
I began manoeuvring the van into position with the aid of the motor mover. After getting it in place I noticed small pieces of rubber in front of the caravan; when I disengaged the mover it became apparent that the tread on the tyres had been torn by it.
I had to remove the wheels and get the tyres replaced at a nearby village garage.
I believe this damage was caused by not letting the tyres cool down enough before engaging the mover, resulting in it digging into the soft tread. The mover has since been checked and found to be in good order.
I check my tyre pressures before every journey when leaving the storage compound, but my point is that your tyres are the only thing in contact with the road, and should be checked – visually and mechanically – on a regular basis – and that includes any spares!
Safe towing to all.
Mark Robinson
HERE’S MY LIGHTFANTASTIC TIP!
I wanted to add lighting around the van,xso decided to buy four fence solar lights; x using Velcro, I attached xx them to off-cuts of awning x rail-protection strip. x
They can be slidxinto the awning channel anywhere, top or bottom, and they really are quite bright!
Glyn Bull PC