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Subject Topic: Onboard facilites - en route
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05/9/2013 at 2:34pm
 Location: West Mids
 Outfit: Swift [Challenger Sport] Fairway 514
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My four year old noticed an outfit pulling into the services when we stopped on the motorway last week and as we have been viewing caravans lately they are fresh in her mind. She said, "Whey are they stopping at the services if they have their own toilet?"

So, how many people use their own facilities when travelling and what do you have to do? Do you always put the steadies down? Presumably you have to restrict the amount of the fluids already in there etc. Also would you stop to make a cup of tea or take a sit down break etc? I suppose I'm asking how usable it all is while it's hitched. Thanks.

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Cheers! Debs


05/9/2013 at 2:48pm
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We don't put the steadies down and yes it does shoogle a bit, but don't want to waste time putting steadies up/down.

Don't use the loo, but would do in dire circumstances.

Don't make tea but do have a sit down break.



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XVI yes?

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05/9/2013 at 2:59pm
 Location: sunny south east!
 Outfit: Coachman
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You would still pull into services as wouldn't fancy stopping for a pee on hard shoulder.... Would only use onboard ones in emergency though

We do use fridge and make a drink if necessary although be careful if at motorway services as you can't use the gas

Yes do put rear steadies down as our door is at rear and longish van. Too much weight moving round would put stress on the chassis if steadies aren't down



05/9/2013 at 3:00pm
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If you want to stop at the services, put the legs down(takes a minute, you only have to drop back legs & jockey wheel), use your toilet & make tea/cook a meal then do that. Motorway services warn against using cooker due to 'fire risk' but its just a ruse to make you buy their overpriced food while you leave you caravan unattended to be stolen.

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Regards, Jack+Jon.


05/9/2013 at 3:17pm
 Location: Devon
 Outfit: Cabanon Malawi 2.0
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Without the Aquaroll connected there's no running water (unless you have an onboard tank), so you'd need to carry a bottle of water to make tea. As for the toilet, it can be used en route if you have some chemical in the holding tank, but we usually transport our empty water carriers in the toilet compartment so the hassle of shifting everything around means we'd only use it in an emergency (or if we stop somewhere without toilets). Our van is quite small, and we usually carry the awning and camping chairs on the floor, so it's a tight squeeze if we want to sit down in the van en route. Easier to find a picnic table somewhere!


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05/9/2013 at 3:18pm
 Location: south cheshire
 Outfit: VW Caddy Maxi
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I don't use mine en-route, I simply use the services and take flask and sandwiches. Most of the time I want to have a stand up and walk around after I've been driving for a while - not have a sit down or cook a meal.

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05/9/2013 at 3:27pm
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram
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We use the services toilets as it saves weight :)

But also to stretch our legs. Never leave the van unattended though. At least one of us stay with the van.



05/9/2013 at 3:56pm
 Location: Derbyshire
 Outfit: Adria Altea 542DT
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We use ours - Can't see the point of towing a toilet around and then spending time looking for a toilet !




05/9/2013 at 5:10pm
 Location: N Wales
 Outfit: Hymer Nova 590GL
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We didn't use our enroute until we visited the toilets on the shuttle which were pretty grim. Now we use the one in the van. Obviously we would dream of using the van for a drink because of the safety risk. We much prefer to pay £3 a cup


05/9/2013 at 5:20pm
 Location: Essex
 Outfit: 1996 Bailey Senator 5000
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Having a caravan behind us is a god send when traveling with kids. Have stopped in laybys so many times for the kids to have a wee!


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05/9/2013 at 5:27pm
 Location: West Mids
 Outfit: Swift [Challenger Sport] Fairway 514
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All great answers, thanks. Seems a mixed response.

I can't see us touring for hours at a time so it may only be for emergencies, though I would like to feel like we are enjoying the journey rather than at haste to get the thing off etc.

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Cheers! Debs


05/9/2013 at 5:43pm
 Location: Derbyshire
 Outfit: Adria Altea 542DT
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Many of our journeys don't involve Motorways, so sometimes it can be a very long time before we find a toilet.

You are towing a toilet and a kitchen, so why not pull over into a lay-by and use the facilities you have its better than getting stressed.

We did however once stop in a layby on the A148 somewhere near Kings Lynn and after 5 mins a car pulled up and asked if we were serving !

Really didn't think my van looked that much like a burger van !!!



05/9/2013 at 6:07pm
 Location: Essex
 Outfit: Eldiss Odyssey 534 & VW Touareg V10
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We have a small amount of toilet flush ready when travelling essential loo breaks are great Yes we have to shuffle aquaroll around when using the loo but we always use laybys never used the hard shoulder or service station on the way home pull into a layby 10 mins from home then when we arrive home can concentrate on moving cars around and getting van back on the drive without hopping up and down because I need the loo if a long journey we take a picnic and pull into a layby to eat but sit quietly as don't put the steadies down

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Live life to the full you are a long time dead


05/9/2013 at 6:52pm
 Location: W Midlands
 Outfit: Fleetwood Heritage 560-4 & Discovery 4
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We certainly don't drain down the toilet flush between trips, and the toilet cassette has always got chemical and a litre of water in it, so we use it when stopping in laybys.


05/9/2013 at 6:52pm
 Location: west country
 Outfit: None Entered
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When we had a van we did use it for a break at services but didn't use the toilet. Did put the rear steadies down to stop it "shoogling" but left the winder on the drivers seat in the car as a reminder to crank them up again. We usually carried a made up flask to avoid using gas/electric to boil a kettle.

To shoogle - great word blueexpo97.

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Steve




05/9/2013 at 7:22pm
 Location: Wirral
 Outfit: Swift Freestyle 520 on seasonal pitch
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If we are on the motorway we use the services. But off the motorway OH uses the vans facilities and I search out a convenient bush.



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