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Hi all,

I bought my first caravan a few months ago and have had about 3 trips out in it so far, my next is this weekend (I've been lucky as a friend has been with me the 1st few times who's been caravanning for a few years so I didn't have to go it alone.)

I wonder if anyone can give me any pointers on the following please.

The cold water system on my caravan has both a foot pump and an electric pump, the electric pump doesn't always push the water though the system (it just whirrs) unless I prime it first with the footpump, which defeats the object of having a electric pump, is there a solution to this?

Secondly, does anyone know of a 240v to 12v transformer available that will run the lights and water pump when hooked up so I'm not draining the battery all the time.

Finally is it ok to load up the caravan with any heavy items over the axle (I know they shouldn't be at the ends) and am I restricted as to how much, or would I be better cramming as much as I can in the car.

Thanks for any replies,

Wayne (brand new member)

Hi Hez / Wayne... welcome,

Assuming your van is the same as ours, all it needs is the footpump to prime the system when you arrive on site and each time that you refill the barrel, then the pump will do the rest. Newer vans have the pump in the barrel so don't need the system priming like our older systems do.

Does your van have a mains hookup or just a 12v battery? as the mains supply should keep the battery topped up.

HTH, SteveB

Most new vans now come with a charger which runs of the 240v. This keeps the battery charged while it runs the 12v system. You can fit these to older vans.

Yes, you can load heavier items over the axle, as long as you don't overload the van.

Thanks for the replies folks.

Yes It does have mains hookup Steve.

I have tried to prime it with the foot pump, but the next time I come to use it, it needs priming again and will sometimes stop pumping even when the electric pump is pumping......... err is that too many pumps?

Hezz,

It sounds as if you have an airleak somewhere letting in air so that it becomes "un-primed", It may be that a non-return valve is needed / is not working on the supply to the electric pump, as once primed our system - on an '84 van - stays primed until we remove the supply pipe out of the aquaroll or it's empty - hence letting air into the pump supply.

If you have 240v does the control panal allow you to charge the caravan battery?

Aha, an air leak, just as I suspected, I tried to buy a one way valve from towsure but they only do them mail order, I'll have to keep hunting.

Thanks for all the tips folks, I'll stick with the battery charger, running off the hook up!