Hi all,fairly new to caravanning and never been in a park with the van before as all my trips have been to private land,so have a few questions.What happens with grey water,do all parks have places to connect the drain hose to or is ok to run the water on the ground or does it have to be collected.The van doesn't have a grey water tank yet but will have to get one I know.Can you collect the water in a 20 litre tin and put it in the dump point?Is it ok to fill the water tanks in a park?Is it ok to run air conditioning or diesel heaters at night?Anything else I should be aware of?Cheers Beej
Aus-Kiwi said
11:46 PM Dec 22, 2016
Some have drainage grates near water tap . Some let you drop grey water on the ground . Then some don't have any grates or let you drop water to the ground . Yes best to fit a grey water tank ..
Fringe Dweller said
07:21 AM Dec 23, 2016
Play it by ear beej.
As all parks are different , some have a grey water drain near tap , others will be away somewhere else.
Park up , set up & if unsure of your surroundings , go ask at the office , or ask your neighbour,
most of us are pretty friendly.
Hendo said
08:06 AM Dec 23, 2016
Hi Beej
As others have said all parks are different.
Most parks have a grated drain next to the water supply tap that you run your grey water hose into. Some parks allow you to just run your hose out onto the grass or near tree.
If it still concerns you ask the park when you are making the booking.
As for heaters, no dramas running them. Air con at night is ok. Most parks allow air cons to be run without extra charge but do expect that you turn them off before going out for the day. On my travels I've come across a couple of parks that charge extra for air cons, usually $2 or $3 a day.
As to filling water tanks, its best to ask the park before hand, some allow it others charge, some don't allow it at all. I always hook up the park water supply so I'm not using my tank water.
Beej, don't stress the little things, just get on the road and enjoy, you'll so learn on the way.
Hendo
PeterD said
08:52 AM Dec 23, 2016
Brian, you will need a length or three of sullage hose. Here is a selection. Whether you get the 25 or 32 mm hose depends on the waste plumbing on your van. You may have to add a fitting to your van to couple the hose. A 10 metre hose may be too long so you may like to cut it into lengths (6 metre max for me) and use joiners to provide the total length you need. Joiners can be the common barbed hose joiners found in the irrigation section of your local hardware store or irrigation shop. I use threaded joiners like thiswith the mating male fitting.
You could also wander down to the nearest caravan park at happy hour time. Introduce yourself to some of the locals that are sculling around, tell them you are a new vanner and explain your plight. Some of them would be very happy to explain what they do and show you.
Meredith said
09:43 AM Dec 23, 2016
If you are staying in a paid caravan park there won't be any need for a grey water tank, they will either have a drain for waste or you will able to just put your sullage hose out on the ground. In almost all parks it isn't necessary to ask a park before filling water tanks, if they have a good potable water supply to your site then fill them. There are occasionally parks, particularly in remote areas that have water that I wouldn't put in tanks, or that don't have a water connection for vans due to shortage of good drinking water.
If you are free camping then a grey water tank would be a good idea, but there aren't many spots yet where it is absolutely essential.
Ozzie_Traveller said
01:17 PM Dec 23, 2016
beej wrote:
Hi all,fairly new to caravanning and never been in a park with the van before as all my trips have been to private land,so have a few questions.
1) What happens with grey water,do all parks have places to connect the drain hose to or
2) is it ok to run the water on the ground or does it have to be collected.
3) The van doesn't have a grey water tank yet but will have to get one I know.
4) Can you collect the water in a 20 litre tin and put it in the dump point?
5) Is it ok to fill the water tanks in a park?
6) Is it ok to run air conditioning or diesel heaters at night?
7) Anything else I should be aware of?
Cheers Beej
G'day Brian
1) - 2) - 3) - 4) ... as others above have mentioned, most parks have a sullage point near to the fresh water tap, so all you need is a hose to empty your grey water down the gurgler
Alternatively, you might be asked by the CP people to run your grey water onto the bushes to help water them. If this is the case, put an old sock over the exit to the hose to catch the food scraps and stop unnecessary ant issues
5) you are expected to refill your fresh water tank in the park before you leave ~ it is part of the tariff you are paying for
6) yes - provided they are quiet and unlikely to bother your neighbours
7) excitable children running thru your site in the day and into the evening. Many people put 'safety flags' around the tent pegs holding the annex down
Enjoy your travels and let us know how you get on :)
Phil
Cupie said
02:33 PM Dec 23, 2016
My experience over the last two decades co-incides with that of the previous two replies.
vis. All CPs that I have visited have drains for grey water or ask ypu to discharge onto nearby gardens, I too use a sock over the end of the pipes to catch food particles.
In the rare event that I want to fill up my water tanks I use the CP water supply unless directed otherwise & the water is of good quality.
A/Cs can be a nuisance if left on all night. We just use ours to cool the van down & then use fans overnight.
Just be considerate of others & you'll be OK.
beej said
09:14 PM Dec 23, 2016
Cheers guys for all the replies,seems most of the general ideas I had in mind are correct so that's good. Im very easy to get on with and love a good social chat so im going to be fine,just need to finalise which way to head 1st,decisions,decisions,decisions
PeterD said
12:27 AM Dec 24, 2016
beej wrote:
just need to finalise which way to head 1st,decisions,decisions,decisions
Unless it's school holidays, just flip a coin as you head off. The directions you don't head for can be covered in subsequent trips.
sandsmere said
07:25 AM Dec 24, 2016
beej wrote:
Cheers guys for all the replies,seems most of the general ideas I had in mind are correct so that's good. Im very easy to get on with and love a good social chat so im going to be fine,just need to finalise which way to head 1st,decisions,decisions,decisions
You wont have any problems with an attitude like yours beej.
I reckon one of the main things to remember is " when you come to a fork in the road, take it ".
Hi all,fairly new to caravanning and never been in a park with the van before as all my trips have been to private land,so have a few questions.What happens with grey water,do all parks have places to connect the drain hose to or is ok to run the water on the ground or does it have to be collected.The van doesn't have a grey water tank yet but will have to get one I know.Can you collect the water in a 20 litre tin and put it in the dump point?Is it ok to fill the water tanks in a park?Is it ok to run air conditioning or diesel heaters at night?Anything else I should be aware of?Cheers Beej
Play it by ear beej.
As all parks are different , some have a grey water drain near tap , others will be away somewhere else.
Park up , set up & if unsure of your surroundings , go ask at the office , or ask your neighbour,
most of us are pretty friendly.
As others have said all parks are different.
Most parks have a grated drain next to the water supply tap that you run your grey water hose into. Some parks allow you to just run your hose out onto the grass or near tree.
If it still concerns you ask the park when you are making the booking.
As for heaters, no dramas running them. Air con at night is ok. Most parks allow air cons to be run without extra charge but do expect that you turn them off before going out for the day. On my travels I've come across a couple of parks that charge extra for air cons, usually $2 or $3 a day.
As to filling water tanks, its best to ask the park before hand, some allow it others charge, some don't allow it at all. I always hook up the park water supply so I'm not using my tank water.
Beej, don't stress the little things, just get on the road and enjoy, you'll so learn on the way.
Hendo
Brian, you will need a length or three of sullage hose. Here is a selection. Whether you get the 25 or 32 mm hose depends on the waste plumbing on your van. You may have to add a fitting to your van to couple the hose. A 10 metre hose may be too long so you may like to cut it into lengths (6 metre max for me) and use joiners to provide the total length you need. Joiners can be the common barbed hose joiners found in the irrigation section of your local hardware store or irrigation shop. I use threaded joiners like this with the mating male fitting.
You could also wander down to the nearest caravan park at happy hour time. Introduce yourself to some of the locals that are sculling around, tell them you are a new vanner and explain your plight. Some of them would be very happy to explain what they do and show you.
If you are free camping then a grey water tank would be a good idea, but there aren't many spots yet where it is absolutely essential.
G'day Brian
1) - 2) - 3) - 4) ... as others above have mentioned, most parks have a sullage point near to the fresh water tap, so all you need is a hose to empty your grey water down the gurgler
Alternatively, you might be asked by the CP people to run your grey water onto the bushes to help water them. If this is the case, put an old sock over the exit to the hose to catch the food scraps and stop unnecessary ant issues
5) you are expected to refill your fresh water tank in the park before you leave ~ it is part of the tariff you are paying for
6) yes - provided they are quiet and unlikely to bother your neighbours
7) excitable children running thru your site in the day and into the evening. Many people put 'safety flags' around the tent pegs holding the annex down
Enjoy your travels and let us know how you get on :)
Phil
My experience over the last two decades co-incides with that of the previous two replies.
vis. All CPs that I have visited have drains for grey water or ask ypu to discharge onto nearby gardens, I too use a sock over the end of the pipes to catch food particles.
In the rare event that I want to fill up my water tanks I use the CP water supply unless directed otherwise & the water is of good quality.
A/Cs can be a nuisance if left on all night. We just use ours to cool the van down & then use fans overnight.
Just be considerate of others & you'll be OK.
Unless it's school holidays, just flip a coin as you head off. The directions you don't head for can be covered in subsequent trips.
You wont have any problems with an attitude like yours beej.
I reckon one of the main things to remember is " when you come to a fork in the road, take it ".