Not sure what the difference between a caravan and a motorhome would be . Step 1 stop
Step 2 put kettle on
Step 3 make sandwich
Step 4 make tea when kettle boils ....
SIMPLES .
Yep, stop, open van and prepare whatever. I have been towing my caravan for a about 10 years now and now that I am a single lady travelling often with our beautiful group of ladies to many places, I do find the benefit of a van opposed to a motorhome is when we are stopped for 5 days upward we all pile into the tow vehicles instead of packing up the motorhomes to sightsee.
Wot! Do some (on other forums) now want to prescribe the steps they deem to be followed in order to live our lives as we travel???????
Love to see the list of procedures put forward!
This what I love about this forum, every body has an opinion (or 2 or 3) and it seem that we are all individuals and we just enjoy sharing.
We have done the rounds of 3-4 caravan clubs and 3 or 4 4WD clubs since the mid 1990's and been so dismayed with the overt micro management of all and have thus quietly slid away.
My wife and I now wish we could find a "Loners Club" where we simply go and travel with the others of similar mind and cut in and out of the route we take and meet up else where when our paths cross.
Seems to us that this forum is the nearest to that and we thoroughly enjoy all, even the fantastic repartee which breaks out along the way.
Have I ranted enough yet. If so throw all those eggs and stuff so we can collect them for the pantry.
Oh! Drat! Just how do I get to use those emoticons to show????
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Cheers - Ian
I slowly realise as I get older that I am definitely NOT the fastest rat in the race.
Also the older I get the more I realise I do not know.
As with you Steve, we always stop and have a break in the van for morning tea and lunch.
Perhaps a bit more of a walk to do that (going out and around, rather than step through) but not onerous.
This is exactly what we do. Stop for morning tea and lunch, gives us a break as well and the tug can have a spell cool down plus each time we stop whilst the wife puts the billy on etc I do a walk around and give the whole rig a check over visually. Then sit in the sun and enjoy.
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I was tired yesterday and I'm tired today betcha I'm retired tomorrow. he he.
I dont think MSG was referring to rules per se Tony.
I think MSG was referring to a thread that had started concerning the sort of checklist people use when packing up, not actual rules for leaving a site.
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Regards Ian
Chaos, mayhem, confusion. Good my job here is done
Welllll, despite my pseudo "rant" this post has made me think real hard about the way we go about such stuff as we travel.
'Specially after our last 1 weeker to Point Lowly and Whyalla.
Seeing it was nearly a year since our last jaunt, I was a bit out of practice (read Brain Dead) with a couple of items of clothing, fishing tackle and so on. Mind you there was some adaptation of other items to make do!
So when we got home I started a check list to type out, laminate and stow in the van, coz my dear old brain must need some help.
We now have a check sheet of our own procedure for 'Arrival" at a spot and for when we leave a spot.
I wont bore you with it detail though! That would make me like those that I was complaining about wouldn't it!
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Cheers - Ian
I slowly realise as I get older that I am definitely NOT the fastest rat in the race.
Also the older I get the more I realise I do not know.
Since you still have to stop to get a cup of tea and sandwich with a motorhome (unless you like breaking the law and risking your life) then I can't really see the difference except that maybe we walk a few extras steps with the caravan.
Stabilisers up, TV areal down, Sat disc down , awning folded away, chair & tables stored, all doors, cupboards shut and locked , door step folded away , elect cable, water hoses folded away , All shoes, clothing, including smalls bought inside . Pay any extra on way out ? I left a $1.50 in showers once at Cooper Pedi. Didnt realise till I got to next town !!! Lol
Procedure for leaving camp ground. Hook up, begin to pull away, stop after hearing noises. Pick up and put in the rubbish bin the flattened chocks, try to fold up the bent stays. Carry on down the road, stop and ask other GPS, where we are going. You note the step is still down, so slide it in, might as well put the TV aerial down at the same time. Oh dear is that what's left of our water hose. Ah well this is one of our better starts.
I'm still trying to figure out what this thread is about but here is my checklist before hooking up the van and moving - it's printed and taped to the inside of a cupboard door next to the van door and nothing moves until every item has been done and checked:
Caravan departure checklist - last update 28th January 2020 ------------------------------------------------------------
Shower head, secure & ensure pipe is not rubbing wall Shower, remove shampoo etc Shower door, lock with bolt Loo paper, place in cupboard Toilet water jug, empty En suite door, latch
TV, remove from wall Crockery cupboard, empty Kettle, relocate Microwave platter, remove Roof vents, close - bed, kitchen, toilet & shower Windows, close and check latches Blinds/screens, all open Fridge, set to auto or battery Fridge, secure contents Water pump, off Water heater, gas, off TV antenna down Items on benches/table, move to bed Night stick, secure
Awning, stow & secure Outside cupboards & table, lock Gas, turn off Water heater, electric, off Front window cover, down, secured & arms secured Retrieve weather station sensor Door step, raised
Stabilizers, up Safety chains, connect Break-away cable, connect 12 pin caravan to car lead, connect Jockey wheel, remove Towball coupling, lock Handbrake, off Caravan door, lock
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"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken"
Oliver Cromwell, 3rd August 1650 - in a letter to the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland
I'm still trying to figure out what this thread is about but here is my checklist before hooking up the van and moving - it's printed and taped to the inside of a cupboard door next to the van door and nothing moves until every item has been done and checked:
Caravan departure checklist - last update 28th January 2020 ------------------------------------------------------------
Shower head, secure & ensure pipe is not rubbing wall Shower, remove shampoo etc Shower door, lock with bolt Loo paper, place in cupboard Toilet water jug, empty En suite door, latch
TV, remove from wall Crockery cupboard, empty Kettle, relocate Microwave platter, remove Roof vents, close - bed, kitchen, toilet & shower Windows, close and check latches Blinds/screens, all open Fridge, set to auto or battery Fridge, secure contents Water pump, off Water heater, gas, off TV antenna down Items on benches/table, move to bed Night stick, secure
Awning, stow & secure Outside cupboards & table, lock Gas, turn off Water heater, electric, off Front window cover, down, secured & arms secured Retrieve weather station sensor Door step, raised
Stabilizers, up Safety chains, connect Break-away cable, connect 12 pin caravan to car lead, connect Jockey wheel, remove Towball coupling, lock Handbrake, off Caravan door, lock
Thanks Mike, I've been planning to do one of these for a long time.
Just what the Doctor ordered.
Cheers
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Kevin Kyle
On the road full time with Son and 21 year old cat and 3 year old Manx.
Toyota Landcruiser 100 series V8. Nextgen semi off-roader. 3 120 AH agm batteries, 1KW Solar
As I travel mostly by myself I find the procedure that works for me is to start inside and work towards the door of the van and lock, wind down, turn off put away everything as i move along. I then give it the last look and then go outside and after hooking up the van then start at one end and move towards the other. I then give it the walk around and take off. After about 100 metres I stop and give it one more look around.
Nothing dark and unknowable Mike. Just on the other caravan website there was a thread discussing the lists of things to do before leaving.
This just put a thought into my rather empty head of a thread we have had on a few occasions discussions about the pro's & cons of Motorhomes v Caravans.
One of the items listed on the things to do was about preparing thermos flask of coffee and cutting some sandwiches for lunch to take in the tug before they left.
My odd sense of humour thought about doing this when driving away in a motorhome and how unnecessary this would be. Therefore it had to be a pro.
The idea of having to pack up the M/H just to pop into town to get a carton of milk is always thrown up as a con. When really, for experienced M/Homers it never becomes an issue.
Incidentally, my list is
1. put everything away (you mostly do this as an ongoing thing anyway because there is only so much space. Everything in its place and a place for everything. Helps with not losing things too
2. shut all cupboards and lock by pushing in button
3. turn off water pump
4. turn off gas (inside and outside)
5. shut all doors & Windows.
6. check all 4 wheels are there and inflated (Flat tyres are a bugger and likely to delay departure for quite a while) and....Go
