Message Forums

Has anyone who does winter caravanning ever thought why caravan makers fit the water pump on the offside of the caravan?? Would it not be more easy to have it mounted on the nearside so that anyone doing winter caravanning  is able to have the aquaroll inside an awning and off the ground.

This is just a personal thought and I cannot see reasons against it but there must be otherwise this would have been done a long time ago?

Micky

I have often considered fitting a secondary water inlet, so I could switch to having the aquaroll in the awning during very cold weather.

Good point about the water heater.  Why can't they redesign it to fit into the wasted space behind the convector heater?

Bertie.

Quote: Originally posted by The 2 Tops on 10/2/2007

---

I have often considered fitting a secondary water inlet, so I could switch to having the aquaroll in the awning during very cold weather.

Good point about the water heater.  Why can't they redesign it to fit into the wasted space behind the convector heater?

Bertie.

---

having worked repairing vans for many years the biggest reason i can see that they dont do this is one of acces

 its ok saying stick it in that gap there behind heater but you try to get at it if you need to do any work to it and i dont mean operate the drain plug i mean stripping it down ect

also one of the reasons the heater is at the front is wieght when full of water it is quite heavy better to be supported between axle and a frame than behind axle where it would make your van bounce like mad even empty, you want as little wieght as posible behind your axle

On all the vans I have had, the convector heater has been over, or slightly forward of, the axle.  And the water heater should always be empty for travelling.

The rest comes back to good design parameters.   The convector heater is a self-contained module, and can be arranged for easy disconnection and removal.  The water heater then only needs to be designed for all service work to be carried out through the (large) opening left by the removal of the convector.  In the event of removal/replacement of the water heater being necessary, then this would be done via same opening.

If the appropriate departments are incapable of that excercise, it would explain why we hear of so many problems with new/nearly new caravans and their appliances.

Bertie.

our water heater is at the back under the fixed bed.its fairly close to both the kitchen sink and the shower/washbasin , certainly within 5 foot max of both sinks

cant say it causes any bother with the weight being behind the axle but i always empty it before leaving site anyway.

I am still mulling over the practicalities of shifting the aquaroll into the awning. Positioned in one corner, it would not be in the way, etc.  Not wishing to move the water heater (there's nowhere it would fit on awning side anyway), I would need quite a long run of pipe to the new connection.  I am considering fitting an onboard, self-priming pump (similar to those in motorhomes), which will probably be more powerful and therefore capable of coping with the additional pipe run.

Bertie.

No room for an on board water tank in our case.  I did consider a heater band, as used by home brewers for their fermenting barrel, run from the 240 volt exterior socket.  The aquaroll would then have an insulated jacket to retain warmth. Only problem is the risk of H&S rregulations being infringed.

Bertie.

still think a 12 V fish tank heater fitted and placed in the aqua roll would be cheaper,you would need to boil the water if its kept warm.

Sean P  Yes, definitely no room. Battery compartment, 12 v control units and charger, water heater, and mains mcb distribution board all under R/H bunk.  Most of L/H bunk taken up, lengthways, by outside locker.

Michael  We never drink any of the water from the aquaroll.  All drinking water, even for cooking or making hot drinks, is from a Britta filter jug, which is filled from the site's drinking water tap. 

Will consider the alternative 12 volt fish tank heater, though.

Bertie.