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some helpfull hints Tutorial by Maurice (Fibre)
I have gathered together some ideas for when you want to buy a second hand caravan and what to look for…
Damp
Check all the corners, bed boxes and roof lockers and cupboards for signs of damp. This can be done with a damp meter, available from DIY stores and could save you time and money. Check the grab handles and give them a hefty tug. If they appear to be loose, it’s a sure sign that the seals have gone and water has entered the van. Beware, as a damp caravan could cost you twice as much to repair as you paid for it.
Possible cost £300-£3000
Seals
Various types of sealant are used in caravan production; acrylic, silicone and oil-based, which can last between five and 20 years. Have a good look around the panels for signs of perished, missing or penetrated seals, water ingress and rusting screws.
Possible cost £940
Doors and Lockers
Check that all the doors open and shut properly, including the main door and the lockers. Do they fit snugly or can you see daylight through the seals? Check the hinges are secure and that the locks work and turn freely. Spare cupboard doors on a caravan more than 10 years old would be hard to find, Modern equivalents can be purchased through the dealer from £60. Hinges and screws are available from your local DIY store.
Possible cost £60 per door
Windows
Check around for cracks in the windows and seals.
A common problem is that the plastic trim around the inside of the windows cracks as it gets older. Check the window locks. Make sure they work and watch out for signs of rust round the screws. If the windows are double-glazed, look for signs of condensation between the layers. Replacement windows aren’t cheap and start from round about £180 for the smallest window.
Possible cost £180
Floors
Take a walk round the caravan to see if the floors are weak or sagging. Pay particular attention around the door, kitchen and seating areas, as these are the main areas of use. These signs would indicate the floor is starting to de-laminate. This is expensive and not easy to repair. The usual method is to inject an expanding foam material every 4in throughout the floor. This is a very labour intensive and costly business, best carried out by a caravan repair centre. Prices start at £150 for a small section, up to £600 for the whole caravan. My advice is to stay aware unless the price reflects it and you have the budget to get it fixed.
Possible cost £150-£600
Electrics/gas
Get the dealer to check that the gas and electrics comply with safety standards. Get him to show you how the appliances work. Spares for old water heaters are scare and a replacement including taps and fitting would cost £600.
Check that all the gas appliances operate and burn with a blue flame. This indicates that the gas is being burnt efficiently and is free of carbon monoxide. Also check that all the gas flues are in good condition on appliances such as the fridge and heater.
Possible cost £600
Hitch and chassis
Although the hitch and chassis should have been serviced by the used dealer, it doesn’t hurt to check that the mechanism moves freely, the push bar moves correctly and that they are both well-lubricated. Check the condition of the rubber gaiter that covers the push bar between the hitch and A-frame. If the caravan has an AL-KO hitch stabiliser, this should not be greased or lubricated or else it will be rendered ineffective. A replacement hitch would eat £200 from your budget, including dampers and fitting. As for the chassis,
Check the steadies wind up and down freely and that the A-frame isn’t bent. Modern chassis are designed not to be drilled – check that there is a stabiliser bracket.
Possible cost £60
Stabiliser
Replacement pads are available on some models but they need to be set at the right torque to be effective.
Possible cost £60
Jockey wheel
Check first that the winding mechanism is functioning correctly and is well-greased. Check that the wheel is not worn or punctured if it’s an inflatable, and check that the securing pin or bolt that attaches the wheel is intact and allows the wheel to rotate freely.
Possible cost £30-£70
Tyres
When checking tyres you need to be concentrating less on the tread and more on the condition of the tyre walls. Severe cracking of the tyres’ walls means the side walls are damaged and could blow any time.
Possible cost £30-£70
Brakes
Does the handbrake move freely and is effective? Also check that the breakaway cable is in good condition and has secure connection to the base of the handbrake. Put it on and off and watch for signs of drooping or bucking when the handbrake is released. This could show that there may be a problem with the brakes such as binding. Your caravan would have been serviced before collecting, but expect to pay from £120 for a full service which will include the brakes.
Possible cost £120
Breakaway cables
These are often overlooked, but are a vital point of safety if the caravan comes detached from the car. Make sure they are secured and replace if rusty.
Possible cost £5
Posted by: Tenaki at 18:24 |
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Campers now have the opportunity to turn to the ‘Flower’ logo of the EU Eco-label to find an environmentally friendly camp site. Companies providing campsite services in Europe can apply for the EU Eco-label to show that they meet strict environmental performance criteria. European consumers have long been able to rely on the Flower to help them find greener products and services. They have already given a very enthusiastic welcome to the Eco-label criteria for tourist accommodation services, which were adopted in 2003 to promote environment friendly holidays.
EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said: “Europe is the world’s most popular tourist destination, and environmental protection is crucial to the long-term viability of this major sector. The EU Eco-label for campsites encourages stronger environmental protection and is a unique marketing opportunity for campsites to show they are working in harmony with the environment. Campers can rely on the Flower to guarantee the campsite’s sound environmental performance – it makes it easy to choose ‘green’.”
Consumer demand for greener holidays
The trend towards more environmentally friendly tourism services has steadily increased in recent years, with consumers becoming more and more demanding in their quest for greener holidays. Satisfying this demand is increasingly seen by the tourism industry as a key to success. One recent study in Germany[1] showed that 51% of tourists opt for environmentally friendly resorts and accommodation, while 82% prefer an intact environment.
Considering the high number of campsites in Europe (over 24,000[2] in 2000) and the obvious importance of a clean environment in choosing this type of holiday, the need to provide consumers with reliable ecological criteria for camp site services is clear.
Eco-label criteria
Camping guests love nature. An unspoilt environment and the ability to prove that the environment is being respected give any campsite a clear advantage over its competitors.
To be awarded the European Eco-label a campsite must meet strict minimum standards on environmental performance and health. These should include the use of renewable energy sources, an overall reduction in energy and water consumption, measures to reduce waste, environmental policy setting and the provision of ample environmental and safety information to guests.
Getting the Flower demands a little extra effort but, significantly, it also provides added value by helping campsite operators to focus on improving their ecological and economic performance. By reducing energy and water consumption they can be more profitable while at the same time protecting the environment.
Background
The EU Eco-label scheme was established in 1992 to promote products and services with a reduced environmental impact. Each EU Member State has a competent authority, which provides information on how to apply, checks compliance, and helps companies that want to earn the right to get the Eco-label Flower.
There are currently 23 different product groups, including textiles and footwear, detergents, household appliances, paper products, paints, tourist accommodation and many others. Work on other product groups, such as soaps and shampoos, printed paper, heat pumps and furniture, is ongoing.
More than 235 licences have been awarded so far, covering several hundred different products and services.
For more details, visit the dedicated websites at
http://www.eco-label-tourism.com
http://europa.eu.int/ecolabel
http://www.eco-label.com/
Europa
Posted by: Tenaki at 21:12 |
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Stability Characteristics of a Tow-Car and Caravan Combination.
In 2004 the German motoring organization ADAC did some testing to determine the effects of incorrect loading on the stability of a car and caravan combination. The ADAC investigated 6 factors known to have a significant effect on stability.
The combination used for the tests was a Mercedes C-Class 320T towing a Bürstner Ventana 455 TS. Maximum allowable weight (MPTLM) of the Bürstner was 1360 kg. Test runs were conducted at speeds between 80 and 100 kph (50 to 62.5 mph)
The test procedure was in accordance with the international standard for caravan stability ISO 9815. The standard uses defined steering impulses to induce snaking and recognizes a stable combination as one that, after inducement, the snaking quickly diminishes and stops by itself without the use of braking or other corrective measures. An unstable combination will continue to snake for a prolonged period with virtually no reduction.
During testing the data of snaking was accumulated and was used to calculate a damping, or stability factor. The higher the stability factor the more stable the combination.
As speed increases the stability factor reduces. At a stability factor of 0 a speed is reached at which the combination has a minimal or no stability, this is the critical speed of stability.
In the results below each test condition is compared to the best situation and the reduction in stability is given as a percentage
1. Distribution of load in the caravan.
An unfavourable load distribution reduces the stability factor by 7% when compared to an optimal loading. Prevent poor loading by stowing all heavy items on the floor and close to the main wheel axle.
2. Distribution of load between car and caravan.
A load of 100 kg in the caravan reduces the stability factor by 28% when compared to the same 100 kg placed in the tow car. Knowing the weight of heavy equipment like awnings and gas cylinders will aid optimal loading.
3. Tow bar or nose weight.
A nose weight of 15 kg reduces the stability factor by 38% compared to a nose weight, correct for this combination, of 75 kg. Exceeding the allowable nose weight by 20 kg can put an extra 200 kg on the tow bar when going over a speed bump.
4. Bicycles.
Bicycles on a rear carrier reduce stability by 23% when compared to the same bicycles on the car roof. Mounting on the tow bar is a good alternative but for optimal stability they should be put on the roof, or inside, the tow car.
5. Stabilizer coupling.
Not having a stabilizer reduces stability by 32%. A stabilizer increases the stability critical speed by 20 kph (12.5 mph).
6. Tyre pressure.
A tyre pressure of 2.2 (32 psi) bar reduces the stability factor by 1% compared to a correct pressure of 3.2 (46.5 psi) bar. A tyre pressure as low as 2.2 bar (32 psi) will have a serious effect on the tyre life and is asking for a blow out.
The worst situation.
Caravan laden to the maximum MPTLM, with the load distributed toward the ends , a tow ball weight 15 kg, no stabilizer, bicycles mounted on a rear carrier, tow car half full or less.
The best situation.
Caravan laden to 100 kg below the MPTLM, tow ball weight 75 kg, stabilizer fitted and engaged, tow car half full plus 100 kg, cycles on the roof.
In the worst situation, while traveling at 90 kph the combination felt unsafe even without any steering inputs. 100 kph was well above the critical speed for stability. The stability factor is reduced by 73%. In the best situation a snake induced while traveling at a constant speed quickly diminishes and ceases all together without driver input, showing the car and caravan to be a stable combination.
Source ADAC http://www.adac.de/
Posted by: Tenaki at 11:55 |
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THE CAMPING AND CARAVANNING CLUB
17 to
In the spirit of the show, The Camping and Caravanning Club will be running a 400-pitch camp site during the three-day event. The site will be overseen by experienced Holiday Site Managers.
For further information regarding The Camping and Caravanning Club and its sites and services, please call 024 7647 5442 or visit www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk
Posted by: Tenaki at 12:44 |
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