Advertisement
Message Forums |
|
 Topic: Caravan layouts
|
Page: 1 2
  |
| Discounted Insurance Quotes for UKCampsite.co.uk visitors! Up to 12.5% off! |
|
|
|
01/3/2021 at 1:28pm
Location: London
Outfit: Lunar Cosmos 524
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 17/9/2015 Diamond Member 
Forum Posts: 2328
| Site Reviews Total: | 1 |
|
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0  |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 1  |
| Site Reviews 2018: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 6 |
| Site Nights 2018: | 0 |
|
Couple of points you need to be aware of with caravan fridges, the vast majority are 3-way (12v/240v/LPG gas) 'absorption' types as opposed to normal domestic 'compressor' types. There are a few 12v/240v compressor type fridges beginning to appear in upmarket and probably continental caravans, but they are rare.
Absorption fridges work perfectly well so long as you use them correctly (read the manual!) and within their ambient temp range (typically plus 10C to plus 32C), but are VERY slow to respond, the Dometic model fitted in my modern van advises waiting 12 hours from switch on before putting food into it to allow it to chill to appropriate temp. Equally, if you stuff a properly chilled fridge full of recently purchased food that is not sufficiently chilled, it will take many hours before it reaches the 'safe' storage temp of 4C or below for perishable food. Probably one of the greatest abuses many people unthinkingly indulge in is continually putting large quantities of warm beer, wine or soft drinks in to chill when they have a bit of a 'session', that'll put your perishable foods at risk!
When being towed, it will be powered by 12v supply from the towing vehicle, but more and more modern vehicles have 'smart alternators' that don't always seem to provide the full power continuously, therefore, coupled with the fact that absorption fridges are highly sensitive to operating angles (only about 4 degrees from level tolerance) and the vehicle movement degrades their performance anyway, it will not perform to it's max capabilities whilst under tow! It's a good way of starting the chill down so that once on site and hooked up to EHU or LPG (it'll only run on 12v when being towed) it will get down to temp a lot quicker, but may not get or stay at appropriate (4C or below) in transit. Not that anyone has ever likely experienced it due to the compromised performance in transit, but theoretically at least, due to no thermostatic control when running on 12v, the whole fridge could drop to sub zero temperatures and freeze contents!
My fridge, as do many, has a removable 'ice box', that works perfectly well as a mini freezer, but can be removed to give a increased capacity to the fridge (103/110 litres in my case).
If packing the fridge before starting journey, you'd probably be horrified at how much stuff jumps and jiggles around in transit, don't be surprised by damage and spills of contents by time you reach destination unless packed with great care! If you put heavy bottles/jars in door shelves, you risk breaking the rather flimsy shelves too.
As to taking an extra 'coolbox', I do indeed. I take a 3-way (higher performance version) camping fridge that I use as a freezer in transit (in the car and powered from 12v socket), transferring contents to caravan fridge (icebox) once on site and suitably chilled. I then use the camping fridge as an overflow fridge/beer fridge. I chill the camping fridge at home on 240v, transfer frozen food to it at last minute and pack a load of freezer blocks into it as well. It'll stay suitable frozen for a good 14 hours.
I generally only have myself and the dog to cater for, but tend to take a week or more worth of food with me to save going shopping at destination. I adapt my diet/menu to use a lot more easily stored tinned and dried food than I would normally use at home, it reduces the dependency on the limited capacity of the fridge/freezer, but still lets me be entirely self sufficient for my stay. It's only a week or so, a slightly alternative diet isn't a huge hardship. Catering for 4 is another matter, be acutely aware of how much weight you are carrying, you will eat into your caravan safe (legal) load capacity significantly if packing it into the van! Even my single person plus dog supplies go in the car as rather weighty!
|
01/3/2021 at 3:42pm
Location: Devizes Wiltshire
Outfit: MWB VW Crafter PVC
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 19/6/2009 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 9596
Tent Reviews: 6
| Site Reviews Total: | 56 |
|
| Site Reviews 2024: | 9 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 9 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 8 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 9 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2018: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2024: | 45 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 47 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 46 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 34 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2018: | 0 |
|
Quote: Originally posted by George76 on 01/3/2021
Thank you for the information. I have decided to suspend my search for a caravan. It’s all become rather overwhelming. However the information is useful for future reference and I definitely think the cool box tips are very useful.
May I enquire if you have camped before in any units?
I would advise the "try before you buy" approach, probably not with a caravan if you have never towed one before, but to hire a motorhome perhaps, to see if you like it.
Personally, I have never camped in a tin tent before before I dived into the deep end to get one - it is either a tin tent or I don't go camping at all.
When life gets back to some form of normality, I would strongly advise you to attend shows in person, to have a look and feel of different layouts in order to find out what may suit.
It helps to have some ideas on your priorities in your needs and wants.
So if you need as big a fridge freezer as you need for say a family for 4, then so be it! Don't forget to take into consideration for the ratio and volume of the fridge and freezer, as each household's requirement is different!
DK 
-------------
* Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest And Play! *
- 2025 - inc. FR & DE
- 2024 - 10/56 inc. FR & NL
- 2023 - 48 inc. FR
- 2022 - 49
- 2021 - 34
* Ex-tenter & solo female camper *
* Treat life events like a dog: If you can't eat it, play with it, or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away! *
|
01/3/2021 at 7:41pm
Location: Devizes Wiltshire
Outfit: MWB VW Crafter PVC
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 19/6/2009 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 9596
Tent Reviews: 6
| Site Reviews Total: | 56 |
|
| Site Reviews 2024: | 9 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 9 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 8 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 9 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2018: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2024: | 45 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 47 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 46 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 34 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2018: | 0 |
|
Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 01/3/2021
It is all a bit overwhelming, especially if starting from scratch! It's bad enough if you start with some insight!
For my step up from tent to caravan, I spent over a year looking at different models and specs, visiting shows and dealers etc. to gain knowledge and explore options. I changed my view and expectations considerably over the period, but made a choice on the van I purchased with a good deal of accumulated knowledge behind me, and unlike quite a few people on their first caravan purchase, it was definitely the right van for me and I have no intention of replacing it any time soon.
Likewise with me, in that I knew I would be changing unit in 2020 five years prior, and spent time visiting shows, checking out different caravans and MHs, reading up on each layout's pros and cons, and came to the conclusion that I needed to go down the custom-conversion route.
Hopefully, I got it right first time. Only time will tell, and roll on 13 March 2021 which is the current ETA of my van.
DK
-------------
* Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest And Play! *
- 2025 - inc. FR & DE
- 2024 - 10/56 inc. FR & NL
- 2023 - 48 inc. FR
- 2022 - 49
- 2021 - 34
* Ex-tenter & solo female camper *
* Treat life events like a dog: If you can't eat it, play with it, or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away! *
|
|
|
5767 Visitors online !
Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker - Recommend to Friend - Add a Missing Campsite
[Message Forums]
[Caravan Sites & Camping]
[Company Listings]
[Features / Advice]
[Virtual Brochure]
[Shop!]
[Reception]
[Competitions]
[Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]
[Event Diary]
[Contact Us]
[Tent Reviews]
Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024 |
Advertisement
|
|
|
via mobile 26/2/2021 at 6:01pm
