Message Forums

Hi everyone!

D'oh. I feel such a thicky. But after out recent and very first trip in our caravan (1990 Swift Diamond Alouette) we have a few things that we're not sure about. I wonder if you lovely folk might be able to help please? Sorry to list them, but I know I'll waffle if I don't, lol

1. Our blue water pipe into the fresh water tank doesn't have an end cap on it, and so when we put the pipe in the aqua roll, it doesn't completely over the opening. So flies or anything could get in. Is there something we can buy to remedy this? We used tin foil but a permanent solution would be more peace of mind I guess. Esp as we have toddlers who fiddle!

2.We have a cascade heater and a whale water system. The water kept going off, and one the one time I attempted a shower it started to make clunking noises and went off completely. My husband went out and jiggled pipes, etc, switched the water on and off again and it did start eventually but was on and off a lot. Is this normal??

3. We left the caravan on site with the awning and instructions. I've managed to get hold of a spec manual from Swift which gives me the dimensions as we need a groundsheet for our awning. But can I hellas find the dimensions I need to find out the size of our awning, and so figure the size needed for the groundsheet. D'oh. Any ideas which size I use please?

4. Is there something we can get to fix the groundsheet to the awning so that it is more draught proof? We're looking at getting a carpet stylie breathable groundsheet as I've seen a few folk on here have them, and it would be nice to be able to sit out even when it's really windy and feel a bit less exposed.

5. Can anyone recommend a good 2 seater settee stylie thing which is take awayable for our awning? Are the fold up ones any good?

Sorry for going on and on...I really am a newbie and I think if we could suss out the above our next trip will be even more relaxing, lol. I seem to have waffled on anyway so I'll go now (and I have a child on the naughty step to deal with...!)

Thanks so much again everyone for your loveliness.

Best wishes

Lucy xx.

1. water container cap

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/redirect.asp?redir=http://www.towsure.com/product/880-Water_Container_P.V.C._Dust_Cap

Sorry unable to help with the other questions.

Hello, you have a very similar van to ours (we are an Alouette Diamond 93).

1. This cover should have been with the blue pump when it was new. I think you can buy replacements online or at a good spares place.

2. Sounds like a microswitch problem.  Never use the shower unit personally - its much easier to use on site facilities - take the bodies to the water rather than the other way round. (4 of us so lots of water/waste to lug about)

3. If necessary, buy the next size up - its easy to trim to size and anyway, better to be too big than too small.  You can always fold under any excess if you need to.

4. Don't see why you want to fix groundsheet to awning. All you need to do is make sure the awning is pegged down properly and if you want, peg down the groundsheet as well (and the caravan skirt) to stop draughts coming in underneath.  We use the flat topped pegs for this purpose - made of plastic and very cheap.

5. Never seen one. We just use folding chairs and they are very comfy.  Worth investing in good quality ones as the cheaper ones tend to fall apart.

Is the child still on the naughty step? 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CARVER-WATER-CONTAINER-COVER-FOR-AQUAROLL-AND-WATERHOG_W0QQitemZ230370356349QQcmdZViewItem

This one is the one we have, and they are usually available at most caravan accessory shops. I would go for this one instead of the Towsure one

Most of the dust covers are designed for 80mm caps (Pyramid Waterhog etc).  The Aquaroll aperture is a little smaller than this (or a lot smaller if it is the old model)

Mike

Crikey, I'm so overwhelmed at the lovely responses  You caravanning lot really are restoring my faith in human nature. It was the same on the site we stayed at in Malton too, everyone was so lovely and helpful, offering help without us even asking! (When the awning almost blew away when we put it up for the first time ever, lol...)

I'm so pleased we can get a replacement cap for the water container. I'll get Si to have a look at the shower connections - the van had been stood 10 months before we used it so I guess the connections could be dirty?

I'm such a wuss...I do prefer having a shower in the van rather than using the on site one. Same with the loos. Usually I get my husband to go downstairs if I need a poo and so using the caravan's facilities was quite a hurdle, I'd feel like I had 'I need a big stinky poo and I'm not using my caravan so I'll go to the camp ones' tattooed on my forehead if I used the on site facilites, lol. I know, I know, it's something I have to overcome eventually. One step at a time...lol.

I guess our awning will be pretty standard as it's a Starcamp one, I have the shipping length (is this the one I need?) so I guess that'll do the trick. It was the first time our awning had been up and we did have some difficulties - the awning came away at the sides where the channel is slightly wider> Smoeone no site said it might be because it's an old van and a new awning, and the stitching is finer nowadays. Si is going to do his bit with his tools and try and make the channel narrower t stop it happening again.

The whole awning was quite draughty, I guess maybe we need more pegs? I wa sthinknig more of getting the groundsheet to come up the sides of the awning rather than attaching it permanently, to cover the gaps at floor level. So it would overlap on the inside. I wasn't sure if there was some sort of fixing for this, pegging the groundsheet down would be a good cure so thanks for that!

I had seen a slightly larger settee type folding thing in Go Outdoors in Wakefield, I may have to go back to investigate. We had to sit in the awning when the kids (2 & 4) eventually got to sleep as we ended up sleeping with one each and so we had nowhere to sit in the van as if we'd put them in the same bed they'd've been fighting and chatting away, lol. So we got them to sleep in separate beds, crept out when they were completely zonked and sat in our plastic chairs which seemed miles away from each other! With our beer and bombay mix. It was fab. Despite the draughts,... and the distance! LoL!

We're off back on the 5th for our 5th weddnig anniversary without the kids, and I had hoped to get Si a folding settee type thing as a pressie, but the folding chairs would probably be beter than the horirble plastic things we have. Who says romance is dead, lol.

Thanks again everyone. I really am getting quite giddy about this lark now!

Best wishes

Lucy xx

Nothing wrong with using the shower or using the toilet for a big job. We do all the time.

If you turn the taps on low, the pump will switch on and off repeatedly. Try turning the taps on fullish. If the pump runs continuously then fine. Then turn the tap down to a low flow. Does it switch on and off repeatedly with the water coming out in spurts. This is overcome on modern vans by using a pressure switch to turn the pump on and a surge damper to regulate the pressure. This switches the pump on and off with low flow but maintains a steady flow through the tap.

Get one here http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/redirect.asp?redir=http://www.towsure.com/product/2607-Surge_Damper

If you have one it will be fitted near to where the water pipe enters the van.

Most awnings will be 7ft, 8ft or 9ft wide by roughly the length of the van. Will usually be a ittle longer than the van as the front and back slope down to the ground.

If its drafty, there is usually a skirt that fits in the awning rail about 2ft above the ground. This stops the draft coming under the van.

Thanks for your replies!

We have bought a Bestway sofa for £39.99 from a link on here and it is fab! Not sure of the 180 seconds inflation...my husband had been for a shower annd back and I was still sat watching the thing inflate. But it's just what we were looking for!

As for the pump, we've been away this weekend and noticed that the water makes a knocking noise and then cuts out. I have tried running the taps on full and it still happens. We forgot to look for the pressure switch but noticed that the pump is a Whale 881 submersible pump, which works once wiggled and the water is switched on and off again. Very annoying though. Worth buying a new pump do you think? Although Si says it's 'on the list' as they're £25 ish and a bit beyond us at the mo.

As for the toilet thing...how someone is supposed to poo down a 2 inch gap without looking and manage to flush it without the aid of the jug and plenty of soapy water is a big question. Are more modern caravans more - ahem - equipped?? Lol! I may be persuaded that the on site facilities are the way to go after this weekend, it was quite traumatic from that point of view...

We got a Carver water container cover thanks to nanashirley, thank you so much for that! So no more worries about flies in our cuppas, lol.

We did discover that the caravan possibly has a leak at the front where it slopes, as the sill inside behind the settee is rotten in the corners and the panels have gaps in them which look rather suspect. This is quite scary to be honest as someone did mention that it's called 'caravn cancer'. eek. We can't afford much and can't afford to upgrade and wondered the best way to tackle it? My husband is really busy being self employed and so paying someone seems like the only option before 2010.

If anyone knows a reputable (good but cheap, lol, as everyone wants..) caravan damp repairer in the Wakefield/West Yorkshire area we'd love to hear about them!

Thanks again for making our first steps into caravan easier btw. I really appreciate it, so does Si. xx

Sounds like you could have quite a serious damp problem there.   Best to get it looked at ASAP - try looking up caravan workshops near you - the good ones are in the national association of some type...someone will be along soon to tell you which one.