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A Typical friday for us arrive at site fill water tank,connect electric hook up,open bottle of wine,relax.With regards to  the gas bottles you have it might be worth  changing one of the for an orange propane bottle if you intend to use the van over the winter as the butane gas can freeze, we found this out in january the first time we used our new van, you will also need the correct adaptor.Have you got a fridge in the van if so this should run on 12volt while traveling.

We have been camping in motorhomes for over 18 months now and still mange to forget to take something, also we learn something new each time we camp but thats all part of the fun.

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR FIRST TRIP

TONY

Hi Welshlady

We use our own hose pipe to fill up, also have aqua roll and pump, there should be a point on  the outside of your motorhome to take the aqua roll pump, there are a few different types of these so its best to take your van to a dealer who sell these pumps.You should switch the gas supply off whilst traveling.Still a bit green myself but if you need to know anything else will be pleased to help if I can,if  I can`t I am sure someone else on this site will have the answer.

Do NOT use any gas appliances when driving Welsh Lady,... In the interest of safety, the valves on your gas bottles should always be turned off whenever you are going to drive the vehicle.

You will probably need your own "Food-grade" hosepipe if you intend to fill up on site,... personally I fill my water tank at home, it is situated on the opposite side of the vehicle to the fuel tank so possibly offers a little stability ?... I find our van very good in a high wind when loaded.... Also while discussing water, we,... as have a number of friends with onboard tanks,... can taste a slight taint if using the water from the tank for drinking,... tea, coffee ect,... ours is a plastic water tank, and I have cleaned and purified it to no avail, so now carry water for coffee in a seperate container, and just use the onboard tank for washing, shower ect... you shouldn't have this problem if your tank is stainless steel,... but I would suggest you leave some water in your tank for a couple of days, then make a cuppa with it just to check it is OK.

I would suggest a couple of dry runs on your driveway,... spend a few hours in the van... cook a couple of meals, then a night in the van, at least you wont have so far to go for stuff you may forget.... and always renew the gas bottle as soon as poss after one runs out, so you always have a full spare,... they always run out halfway through cooking a meal !

Alan

I'm a great one for lists and make one at every available opportunity.  List everything to take, however silly it seems, because you will forget something.  We went away a few weeks ago and I didn't make a list until the last minute so it was a bit rushed - and we forgot the sleeping bags (hence the "for sale" in the free ads - it was an expensive thing to forget!).  I make a list of things for the dog, too, otherwise we could end up without a lead or a towel or something and, much as I love my dog, I don't want to share my towel with him!

I know a lot of people say there's a funny taste to the water but we've got a big polythene container and I must admit I have never noticed a funny taste - but then maybe the whisky masks it .

I'm trying to persuade OH to go to the Much Wenlock meet so hopefully we might meet you there.  It would be a good place for you to take the plunge.

Nora

Pleased to hear you've found a van Welshlady.

After the first few times when I managed to set up on site and then remember we needed water, I took to filling the tank at home before leaving. Some say you should use food grade hose because there are chemicals in the plastic of a garden hose which could seep in to the water, but I used a garden hose which I inherited from my Father who had cut it to the right length to reach from the tap in the kitchen to the van on the driveway. For the very short time that the water is in contact with the plastic of the hose, I don't think it poses much threat.

The fridge will only run on 12v when the engine is running, it is powered direct from the engine's electrical system. When you turn the ignition off the power stops going to it so you don't flatten the battery from it. On site you need to switch it to 240 volt or gas. The leisure battery will only be connected to it to provide the spark to light it on gas.

Have you got a hook up lead which plugs into a socket on the side of the van and is then connected to the site supply? (Always in that order for safety, then unplug site end first when disconnecting)

Re aj007's comments about aquarolls, I think you have an onboard water tank so you will not have a connection for a pump for an aquaroll. This is more usual for a caravan.

Hope you can join us at the Much Wenlock meet - the details are here

Hi Welshlady

Bordercaz maybe right about not having a pump connection on your van, but our old van which was an old talbot had both tank and pump connection it may be worth having a look as we have been to a few sites that have the water taps away from the pitches and are too far away to run a hose.Less weight less fuel used is my idea.By the way we never use tank water for drinking.

Hi,

No I don't either. Despite all the things you can do to purify it, I think the best thing is bottled water or boiled.

Bill

There will be a pump inside to pump the water from your tank to the taps.

The water taps on site are often not close enough for you to fill from your pitch, that is why I always filled up at home before leaving. The other alternative is to remember to fill up on the way on to the site before you pitch. I always forgot and had to wind up the awning, disconnect the leccy etc to drive to the tap.

Someone on the Motorhome Facts website calculated that the extra fuel used by driving with a full tank of water was something like 20p per 100 miles (can't remember exactly, but I know I thought well blow that then it isn't worth the hassle).

I always put the hose in the van after filling up so we could re-fill on site if necessary. With both the vans I had, I used Puriclean to clean the tanks and used the water for coffee and tea, but carried a bottle of water for kids squash etc.

If I remember I fill the water tank at home, but carry a funnel & water container in case I forget.  I always drain the water out before I leave a site, don't fancy the idea of stale water stopping in the tank for a few weeks.  I don't like the taste of the water from the tank so I use the water container for drinking water & squash. I'd also flush out the tank a couple of times before you use it to clear it out.

Make a list, tick things off as you load the van. Once you've loaded the van, you can leave most things in it, except for clothes & food, although I leave tins, jars & packets, tea & coffee & dried milk in the van.  Also toiletries stay in the van, and sleeping bags. 

Check the gas bottles to make sure they are full, if you have an empty one exchange it for a full one then you can be sure you've got enough. It's also a good idea to check the gas pipes for leaks, do you know how long the van had been standing without being used?

Hope this helps a bit,

Debbym