So we finally came away in our new (old) Sprite alpine C bit we've hit a snag.
1. How do we run the water heater off mains power? There's a fused switch next to a plug socket by the heater unit but I can't see what that's for. I'm guessing the switch in the cupboard is for gas according to the manual. AnY idea?
2. There is water running into the van. It appears to be coming from tnt toilet unit then under the shower base and onto the lino of the main van. It's only started since we connected up the loo. Again, any ideas?
3. When we arrived at the campsite it took nearly an hour to get the van unhitched. Turning the jockey wheel just lifted the car too. I think it may be that our towball is am an odd shape (or has a flat cutout section at the base of the ball. Could this cause the problem? If so I'll need to get another ball. But don't want to waste time and money if it was probably caused by something else.
Nothing wrong with your towball, thats how its mean't to be. Assuming hitch is ok then technique when unhitching if you cant separate them is to apply caravan handbrake, release car handbrake & rock car a bit, car handbrake back on & it should separate.
Discounted Insurance Quotes for UKCampsite.co.uk visitors! Up to 12.5% off!
Yes. That's exactly it. No idea what the switch does though.
As for the towbar, I did exactly that, pulled on the caravan brake, let the car roll back slightly etc, but no joy.
A guy in the caravan next door said it may be the spring in the release handle, but I'm not sure that's supposed to be spring loaded.
Also, when I first came to release the towball, the red anti sway mechanism was locked on hard and I had to undo it with grips. The caravan was pulled quite high on a ramp to level it. Would that make a difference?
sometimes caravans can be very hard to get off the ball, the way to help make it easier is to put the caravan hand brake on and then drive the car forwards a bit, just a couple of inches if that, and then just kinda let it rest there, try getting it off, then if it still wont just every so slightly reverse back it usually comes off then
as for your hot water, I presume you bought the caravan privately? well phone the people you got it from and ask them which switch is for the hot water as you cant remember, I presume they shown you it fully working before parting with your cash?
Question 2 have you put drain plug or tube back in position on toilet flush tank inside locker where you remove soil tank for empting.
All tow hitches have some sort of handle above the actual hitch also on this handle there is a lever.
Press lever or button and lift handle upwards towards car this releases catch that hooks under flat on towball this is to stop hitch jumping off ball at first bump you go over. If just a galvanised pressed metal hitch most prob needs greasing.
If Alko or Winteroff hitch with some plastic coloured parts never use grease as these type of hitches are fitted with shaped Ferodo type parts like brake linings to stop van from snaking while towing.
My last van had a Grey rotating switch with knob inside with numbers on to set water temp on gas also ignited gas
next to this was a black rocker switch for heating water using mains switch had red led lit when power on.
both these controls were mounted on upright support for seating and single bed with HW tank fitted underneath.