Preparation for your first trip

Not sure I’d ever be happy with a bonded solar panel. Nothing quite like a mechanical fitting, ideally the type made for the marine market.

I had a near miss several years back. Used to own a Triumph TR4A with what’s called a ‘surrey top’. It’s like a targa top with a removable folding metal frame that supports the vinyl top in the central section of the roof. Mine wasn’t secured properly at the front and flew off at speed, luckily nobody on the road behind me, otherwise would have been very nasty. 

Modern polyurethane glues stick better than then proverbial to a blanket ..... a lot of cars have various panels glued in place now 😉 

Evening

I've been preparing my van for sale so have been doing lots of extra jobs to show it's potential. It's been used all this winter and has been fully serviced cab and hab. Talk of solar mountings, when I installed my 100 watt panel I added a self tapping screw to each corner bracket for peace of mind. Sikaflex is your best friend when doing any installs on the roof. 

Also been spring cleaning the caravan ready to live in for this season. Hab service showed no damp (10 years on) but truma gas fire and blown air need attention. A window at the front was also delaminated but that was an straightforward fix using the bonding agent from the excellent www.bondrite.co.uk company. Really helpful and knowledgeable.

So, I'm prepared ok but a bit anxious where it comes to a new van. I've bought 4 vans and 2 RV's in my time but had one truly horrible experience which I don't want to repeat. But as the market is sparse I'm not in a hurry.

JK

 

 

Our MH has had a good wash today. Everything else works fine, except the fridge on gas. OH is currently investigating, don’t think it’s anything major, but we shall need it on gas in Summer. Swopped Fiamma Box off back, bike rack now ready for bikes. We don’t fret about things to be honest, just get on with it. Inside will get a good clean, bedding freshened, food stocked and then she’s ready to roll🥰

 

Caravan cleaned on the outside.  Car cleaned outside and in.. 12 stes booked.  Caravan service booked.  Just need to spruce up the inside of the caravan and make the bed and to put stuff in the caravan and car.  First site: Grafham Water CAMC site.

David

The old girl was serviced in December and no problems, all the outside washed with Fenwicks and then given a rinse off with Bobby Dazzler, thought we had a problem with fridge on electric but all seems ok now , do have a dink off side rear thanks to a sleeping policeman at camping Oyambre in Spain a few years ago, was going to get fixed, but gave it a belt with a club hammer and looks not bad so, so will leave well alone

I use the caravan at lot at home, just like to sit in and read the newspaper listen to the radio and dream of being away, so apart from returning the bedding and provisions she is ready to go. OH has 2nd jab 1st May so we are off on the 4th to a nice site we have used before in Dorset , then on to Cornwall in June, then Devon in September. 

Husband did the outside of ours 2 weeks ago, I cleaned inside last week and there’s just the tea and coffee etc to replace/refill and we are ready. Have been trickle charging the battery over winter and it’s been for a couple of local runs.

We are booked for 2 nights at the Wirral next Monday and have our fingers crossed for that. Don’t want to tempt fate but my Mother in Law is due to come out of hospital after a week in there so hope we can get her settled again with her carers before we go. It’s only an hour and a bit away from home but a good break after a stressful winter.

I have been eyeing up the Wirral Site Ann, never been, but looks good cycling territory.😁

Cleaned inside and out and serviced (no problems) on Friday so all ready to go when it gets a bit warmer!  A number of UK trips booked but it looks as though our twice postponed Eurotunnel crossing at the end of May will have to be postponed yet again!  We will look at end of Aug/Sep in a few weeks when we may know how how things are developing over there.

The user and all related content has been Deleted User