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Just wondered what daft mistakes we all make and what luck escapes we've had.

For instance, when we first got our caravan I checked this that and the other out (as you do) including taking off the fridge vent covers to check the fridge insulation (why?). Anyway I didn't put them back on properly and on our first trip OH saw something fly off whilst doing 60mph down the A5 not far from where we live ! We stopped in a layby further along and walked down to see if we could find it. No sign. Anyway continued on to the site and stretched some gaffer tape strips over the gaping hole. The following week I just thought I'd have another look on the A5 before buying a new one - and low and behold just a few feet further on there it was - a bit battered but fine and dandy after a scrub with Jif (sorry Cif !) ! Saved us a £20+ !

Not much of story but there must be loads of better ones out there !

Shirley

Forgot to put the fridge onto battery setting when we set off. 14 hours later in 30 degrees in the Vendee - NO ICE for the G&T's !! Disaster !

Quote: Originally posted by D S B on 10/10/2009

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We lost a tv arial from off the top of our caravan many years ago.  Someone alerted us abiut 3 miles down the road.  We went back to have a look, but with no avail.  Now years later, and three caravans down the road, whenever we go on this particular stretch of road, we always look to see if we can spot the arial.  No-one ever mentions it anymore, but you can just see it in everyone's eyes - what a coo it would be if we found it!!!

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lol .

Arrived favourite site in France, late night, car park, leave hitched, back legs down, in bar, good night had by all.

Following morning,  sun shining , very relaxed, move on to pitch, van feels heavy, more throttle. Two big furrows down car park from back steadies

German built van, steadies OK, French car park not so good.

AJ

LOL and LOL  In fact I'm crying cos I'm laughing so hard ! No more please ! Oh go on then ....

Probably not the only ones......

When we used our motor mover for the 1st time, we couldn't understand why the caravan wouldn't move, checked everything, battery, switched it on and off a few times, scratched heads, then noticed the hand brake was still on ... Doh !

Quote: Originally posted by shirl250 on 10/10/2009

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When we used our motor mover for the 1st time, we couldn't understand why the caravan wouldn't move, checked everything, battery, switched it on and off a few times, scratched heads, then noticed the hand brake was still on ... Doh !

 

Post last edited on 10/10/2009 10:44:44

Post last edited on 10/10/2009 10:45:12

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I nearly always do exactly the same.

The days we used to have a 'spring type stabalizer'!

Went to Wales for one holiday.  Decided we were going to make an early morning start.  Arrived at Builth Wells at about 8am, just in time for the Little Chef to open (in the good old days when you could find a Litlle Chef!).  Came out from breakfast and noticed something was missing - the stabalizer.  There were a number of possibilities.  Had I left it on the drive at home (later it was confirmed that I hadn't)?  Had it been stolen from off the van on the Little Chef car park?  We thought this was unlikely.  Had it fallen off somewhere between Tamworth and Builth Wells??..........  the thought of some vehicle accidentally driving over it on the road was just too much.  We turned around and drove all the way back home in hot pursuit of the missing stabalizer, looking in every lay-by, on the curbs, on central reservations........ everywhere.  What happened to that stabilizer remains a mystery to the present day.

Oh I've got several of these - this thread has lots of potential!!

I remember driving  on a French motorway, wanting to make headway, decided not to stop for lunch but to 'have a sandwich on the move'.  All was going well until the clearing up.  Well being a particularly fussy so-and-so at times, I insisted that all crumbs went out through the window.  I didn't expect my young daughter to cause such a potential problem.  On empying the crumbs from her plastic plate she accidentally let go.  For a brief moment the plasic plate assumed the guise of a frisbie and must have glided through the air for about 100 yards, over the bushes of the hard shoulder and into the farmers field beyond.  We just couldn't stop laughing, and what made it all that more funny is that the people in the other cars around us just couldn't understand what we were laughing about.

I wonder how many folk have got one of those Alko hitch locks with the ball that fits underneath in the hitch.  If you have, I reckon you have a good chance of knowing what might be coming next. 

How many have tried to hitch up the caravan to the car and have left th little red ball inside the hitch.

The best must have been on a campsite in Wales when we were just hitching up ready to leave to come home.  Hitched up - checked to make sure the green button on the stabalizer came up.  Conneced the electrics and the override break cable, lifted the jockey wheel.  All got in the car and drove off......... without the caravan!   Clump! the hitch of the van ended up in the mud.  We'd left the red ball in the hitch and when we pulled away the hitch just ended up on the ground.  After a lot of fiddling around and with help from others, we eventually managed to lift the front of the van and hitch up properly.  No damage, fortunately, but there could have been.

When the thieves stole the van last May.  Guess what was the only thing they left behind.  The bl**dy red ball from the hitch lock.  We've got a new van now and a new alko hitch lock and a new little red ball to stick up my hitch!

Going down the M5, noticed the nearside window was open-in fact it was horizontal! Stopped and closed window!

Taking van to dealer for service, hooked it to old Land Rover, set off at sedate pace (25 year old LR does'nt do fast!). Looked in mirror, smoke pouring off van wheels- oops! Guess who had left handbrake on one click!  No harm done.

On site in France, van got stuck moving on to a pitch -it was in the alps and rather sloping! No problem, having 4 x 4!

Engage 4 low carry on-pas de problem!

Van chassis dug into ground and bent!!!! OOPS!

Only bent the underside a bit so it towed OK, £1000+ insurance claim!

Not to bad since 1981 I guess!!

Quote: Originally posted by LegsDownKettleOn on 11/10/2009

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Someone else has to admit to forgetting to disconnect the break away cable.

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