Just a top tip don’t store battery on cold garage floor over winter keep it up off floor and in a warm plastic box on bench and plug in to auto charger every so often great vid came to see how to best protect outside over winter
Thanks Mark valuable information for us newbies. Just been out and took the handbrake off, opened the cupboards and blew down the shower pipe . There was water in the pipe as you said. All adds to our caravan wisdom and keeps our investments in good order. Glad your better and back entertaining and informing us 😀
Hi Mark. Regarding floe drain down kit can be quite expensive. Take a look at care free caravan channel. You can do the same job for next to nothing using a car tyre valve and a couple of cir clips. Tried it last winter done a brilliant job. Thanks for the tips
Hi mark Is it ok to leave the front of the caravan supported on the corner steady and lift up the jockey wheel because I thought the steady legs weren’t for fully supporting the van and it could cause damage to the floor of the van Thanks 🙏
Hi Shaun, yes it won't cause any issues, unless the floor is rotten then it may cause a problem. If you have a normal Jockey wheel you can keep it down if you are worried, but if you have a pneumatic wheel, you will definitely need to take the weight off it.
@@thecaravanplace it’s pneumatic mate and just discovered it’s got an egg on the side wall so I will be changing it for a kart one soon. Just as a matter if interest if i was to lift the wheel up can you still go inside the van as I keep it in storage but often go down and check on things
@@shaungrinsted9419 yes it will be secure, once the legs are down the pneumatic jockey wheel won't really support the caravan, the legs will have all the weight. As long as the rear legs are down also it won't go anywhere.
Morning good to see you back and well. On the subject of caravan covers would be good to know your honest opinion on them from someone in the trade so to speak as there are many conflicting views on the use of these. 👍
Hi Jason, It’s down to the type of cover and then also the ventilation, I think the cheap covers cause more problems as they don't allow the caravan to breathe, a good breathable cover with the windows on the second catch to help ventilation can be ok. I personally think just a half cover, over the roof and just down the sides is the best, as it keeps the roof clean and protected but allows the caravan to breathe as normal. Hope this helps 👍
Great question and one that seems to be impossible to get a definitive answer to. Some people say the cover protects from damp, others warn that it can encourage it. I watched an official demo video of a high end tailored full cover and even the pros made it look such a faff I ruled out a full cover. Gone for a cheapy top cover and hope that’ll offer some roof, front and back panel and roof light protection against the worst rain. We’ll see how it goes on next years damp check!
Hi Ann, the handbrake off will stop the brakes getting stuck on and possibly causing problems with the brakes. You can leave the taps and drain valve open, if any water is left it should allow a little room for expansion if the water freezes. Hope this helps. Thanks
Hi do we need to fully drain down water system as keeping the caravan at home plugged in to electricity and keeping the temp about 19 degrees any info due on storing van at home thanks
Hi, yes I would still drain the water down if not using it, it will stop the water stagnating in the pipes and causing any issues, and if any problems if electric tripped out and heating went off, it won't cause any problems.
1) check with insurance company if taking wheels off, it can invalidate your policy as there will be no chassis lock fitted 2) whilst there may be a problem with hygiene, there’s absolutely no point blowing water out, as long as there are taps open to allow for air expansion and contraction your pipes will not be damaged if the standing water freezes
Just a top tip don’t store battery on cold garage floor over winter keep it up off floor and in a warm plastic box on bench and plug in to auto charger every so often great vid came to see how to best protect outside over winter
Spot on, thanks Andrew
Thanks Mark valuable information for us newbies. Just been out and took the handbrake off, opened the cupboards and blew down the shower pipe . There was water in the pipe as you said. All adds to our caravan wisdom and keeps our investments in good order. Glad your better and back entertaining and informing us 😀
Thanks Ivan 👍
Only just watched this Mark. Great tip re the bleach on the flush water tank. Thank you. 👍
Wow! Great video for us new caravan owners. Lots of things to think about and remember. A bit daunting but I’m sure we’ll be fine.
👍 easy once you have done it the first time, you can't really do anything wrong.
Hi Mark. Regarding floe drain down kit can be quite expensive. Take a look at care free caravan channel. You can do the same job for next to nothing using a car tyre valve and a couple of cir clips. Tried it last winter done a brilliant job. Thanks for the tips
I have seen the home made version and it does the same job, so well worth trying to make one. 👍thanks for watching and commenting.
This weekend will be doing a lot of the jobs that you are advising
Hopefully this helps. 👍
Hi mark
Is it ok to leave the front of the caravan supported on the corner steady and lift up the jockey wheel because I thought the steady legs weren’t for fully supporting the van and it could cause damage to the floor of the van
Thanks 🙏
Hi Shaun, yes it won't cause any issues, unless the floor is rotten then it may cause a problem. If you have a normal Jockey wheel you can keep it down if you are worried, but if you have a pneumatic wheel, you will definitely need to take the weight off it.
@@thecaravanplace it’s pneumatic mate and just discovered it’s got an egg on the side wall so I will be changing it for a kart one soon.
Just as a matter if interest if i was to lift the wheel up can you still go inside the van as I keep it in storage but often go down and check on things
@@shaungrinsted9419 yes it will be secure, once the legs are down the pneumatic jockey wheel won't really support the caravan, the legs will have all the weight. As long as the rear legs are down also it won't go anywhere.
Morning good to see you back and well. On the subject of caravan covers would be good to know your honest opinion on them from someone in the trade so to speak as there are many conflicting views on the use of these. 👍
Hi Jason, It’s down to the type of cover and then also the ventilation, I think the cheap covers cause more problems as they don't allow the caravan to breathe, a good breathable cover with the windows on the second catch to help ventilation can be ok. I personally think just a half cover, over the roof and just down the sides is the best, as it keeps the roof clean and protected but allows the caravan to breathe as normal. Hope this helps 👍
Great question and one that seems to be impossible to get a definitive answer to. Some people say the cover protects from damp, others warn that it can encourage it.
I watched an official demo video of a high end tailored full cover and even the pros made it look such a faff I ruled out a full cover.
Gone for a cheapy top cover and hope that’ll offer some roof, front and back panel and roof light protection against the worst rain.
We’ll see how it goes on next years damp check!
Can you still use the Truma heating on gas with no water in the tank🤔
Yes thats fine.
hI Mark, why do you leave the hand brake off and once the water is drained down do you close or leave open the taps and drain down valve. 😊
Hi Ann, the handbrake off will stop the brakes getting stuck on and possibly causing problems with the brakes. You can leave the taps and drain valve open, if any water is left it should allow a little room for expansion if the water freezes. Hope this helps. Thanks
Hi do we need to fully drain down water system as keeping the caravan at home plugged in to electricity and keeping the temp about 19 degrees any info due on storing van at home thanks
Hi, yes I would still drain the water down if not using it, it will stop the water stagnating in the pipes and causing any issues, and if any problems if electric tripped out and heating went off, it won't cause any problems.
1) check with insurance company if taking wheels off, it can invalidate your policy as there will be no chassis lock fitted
2) whilst there may be a problem with hygiene, there’s absolutely no point blowing water out, as long as there are taps open to allow for air expansion and contraction your pipes will not be damaged if the standing water freezes
Thanks for your comments 👍