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Make sure site is secure ideally with gated entrance and cameras

and tell your insurance company it's there.

Obviously put as much security on the van as possible clamp/hitchlock/corner steady locks/chain through wheels/alarm anything else you can think of. You may also want to take your jockey wheel off.

ours was sited this year without a problem.

I cannot see why you shouldn't remove jockey wheel & I do to stop people nicking it. It also makes the van a little bit harder to nick.

If you cannot remove it someone will be along shortly to explain why!

Leaving the vans on jacks is better. mine is at present but its a bit more fiddly

   quote "Seems a pointless excercise removing the jockey wheel "

But no one will nick the jockey wheel will they!

Quote "what flooring you would put down in the awning for a lengthy period? "

We don't use any flooring and its ok. Just borrow the lawn mower occasionally

Shouldn't the jockey wheel be taking most of the weight of the caravan along with the wheels ? The steadies just steady don't they ?

Shirley

Quote: Originally posted by Two Tense on 28/10/2009

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Just a note to add to this, we are also seasonally pitching up next season and wondered what flooring you would put down in the awning for a lengthy period? A very good point on the insurance though and we have taken that on board.

Thanks

Dave & Chel

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Hi. first of all. Make sure your wheels are off the ground or take them off, I use 4 axle stands under the van, just behind the wheels T/A just to make it more stable and not just relaying on the legs, I have put breeze block down for the legs to sit on so the van dosent settle in the ground all the time, If you are going to leave your awning up, Use long pegs, i have 12" rebar ( renforceing bar) on each corner and centre of the awning as we`ll as normal pegs,make sure the awning flaps are well pegged too. I have put 4 extra poles in the roof of the awning and 2 horizontal poles in the centre across the windows with pipe insolation over the centre poles to stop the windows getting marked, I put the storm straps though the eyelets were the small stubs poles come through the front not over the awning. useing 2 foot steaks in the ground, the awning is up all season.So i make sure the awning is tight not flapping in anyway, I use a tensioner to tighten it up as for the floor, vis queen? the blue stuff down,I managed to get the swimming pool cover from the site, the solar stuff cos it got damaged, so myself and a mate as it down in the awning, its really comfy then the ground sheets i use 4, only cos i have 4 and use them, then i put down the industrail carpet mats down, the mats offices use rubber backed. (My van is on 5"of gravel ) so this lot makes it feel better under the feet. Make sure your awning  draft skirt on the van is well pegged down, if the wind blows it out the awning can just blow outwards. I have 2 electric fan heaters in the awning if it goes nippy at night, plus a 3 foot floresent light. then i have all the chairs and tables in there,and i have the annex up as wellwere i have the freezer cooking stuff (hot plate, toaster,grill, etc and a wardrobe, like home from home. For storage i have bought one of those green boxes from homebase,use it for the lawnmower, strimmer, spade,waterhose,groundsheets in winter etc.

As wots been said make sure its covered with the insurance comp.

hope you enjoy being on a seasonal pitch.

Thanks everyone..........The wheels were my main concern as we won't be allowed to remove them.....do people turn them occaisionally so that the weight isnt in one place on the tyre all the time.

 Also I'm assuming that you have to drain all the water everytime you leave....especially in winter.

Quote: Originally posted by Surfer01 on 28/10/2009

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First of all go to your local hardware store and purchase some thick plastic  according to the length of your outfit and the width of the awning.  Next put a groundsheet down and then put the plastic on top of it.  Buy some lino and put that on top of the plastic.  Groundsheet prevents plastic being pierced by small stones.  Plastic prevents water from seeping in as you curl it up at the edges.  lino makes the awning area look very nice.  We chose one that looked as if was wooden flooring.  Also having the groundsheet and plastic helps keep the lino warmer.  A gas fire for the cooler nights also comes in handy but make sure that the area is ventilated to prevent mould on the roof.  There are also a few other tricks to make yourself very comfy.  Worked for us and we lived in ours permanently for 2 1/2 years.

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Doesn't do much for the grass (if you are on it) though does it

Quote: Originally posted by alipalm on 28/10/2009

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Thanks everyone..........The wheels were my main concern as we won't be allowed to remove them.....do people turn them occaisionally so that the weight isnt in one place on the tyre all the time.

 Also I'm assuming that you have to drain all the water everytime you leave....especially in winter.

 

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We never bothered with rotating our wheels for 11 months of the year but make sure that the tyres are always in the shade to prevent cracking.  In winter insulate the water barrels and put blue in waste container to prevent freezing.  Don't take a pitch near trees or where birdds can roost and make sure the pitch is hard standing.

The pool cover is a good tip, its called a solar cover and we have one on our pool for the summer months, it draws and traps sun in the pool making cheaper to heat. Anyway, they need replacing every 4 or so years depending on wear or tear. If you approach your local pool company they will no doubt have some ‘used covers’ which they may well give you free of charge.

Its effectively just big heavy duty bubble wrap and hence why it would make a great flooring solution, very comfortable underfoot!

Good tip!