Dan Cartwright has over 12 years of experience in the caravan and motorhome industry. He is a judge for a number of prestigious leisure vehicle awards and regularly heads off in his motorhome with his family. Every week, Dan shares his insights with the community. Here’s what he has to say this week.
I’ve recently been thinking about some of the small purchases I’ve made that have transformed my experience with caravans, so why not share them? These are tiny little things that can make touring easier and can be used over and over again.
This is not an endorsement of any product mentioned, but I will say roughly how much you can buy them for. If things are good value for money, it’s almost silly not to have them.
Most items on this list are specific to caravans, although some apply to motorhomes too. Those who have been touring for a long time may already have a few.
13-pin cap – £5
When you’re towing, an electric cable runs between your towcar and caravan to power the lights, indicators and so on. Well, you can get a cap for the end of it which, primarily, is used to protect the cord.
However, I use it because bending down and inserting a 13-point twist into the car, under the towbar, whilst lifting the flap which protects the socket, is a nightmare.
Sometimes, it doesn’t go on because the mechanism inside has moved slightly and needs realigning. With the cap, you can test and realign whilst standing up, where you can see perfectly and use both hands.
If it doesn’t attach easily, it will realign as you twist the cap into position. Considering the number of times I’ve scuffed my knees and gotten wet, dirty and muddy trying to attach the electric cable to the car, this is a well-spent £5.
Digital tyre pressure gauge – £8
Everybody says they check their tyres all the time. With caravans, the frequency at which tyres go down is much higher than with cars, so you should really check them before every journey. Often, this isn’t the case.
Swapping wheels at the side of the road is not a fun experience and sometimes catastrophic things happen when you don’t notice a tyre is blown, or partially deflated. An electronic gauge takes two seconds to tell you the pressure before you set off each time. Personally, this has saved me a lot of money in replacement tyres and, of course, potential accidents.
Extra-long jump leads – £15
Almost every driver will have a set of jump leads, but you can pick up extra-long ones that are three to four metres long. Caravans are notorious for having leaky electrics and they’re commonly left for long periods, where the battery is liable to drain.
There’s a reason why every supply shop has a huge stack of leisure batteries. When fully discharged, they are no longer able to be charged back up. So, if you think your battery is broken, simply pull your car up to anywhere within the length of your jump leads and turn the engine off.
Connect your leads, leave it for ten minutes and in most cases this will give your battery enough juice for the charger to recognise it, recovering your battery and saving you hundreds of pounds, as well as a bad back.
Awning rail hooks – £2
Most caravans have awning rails around both sides. You can buy little hooks that feed into these rails, which can be exceptionally useful. I’ve used these for running fairy lights, hanging clothes to dry, securing flexible waste pipes under the caravan and, even my most inventive use, transporting surfboards.
Tow ball bumper guard – £8
This is essentially a piece of metal in between your tow ball and the bumper of your towcar. Perhaps somewhat unsightly, this is an incredibly helpful tool.
If, like myself, you take great pride when hitching up by getting as close as you can in the car, but through fear of dents and scratches you invariably park one centimetre away from where it could be easily hooked on – this is for you.
Instead of manhandling the last centimetre backwards and forwards with the handles, which manufacturers strongly urge you not to do, a tow ball guard allows you to get a little bit closer without scratching your bumper.
Over-hook joist hangers – £8 a pair
When towing a caravan, the weight of its contents can vastly affect your experience. When properly weighted, they’re simple to tow, as long as you always carry your heaviest items above the axle.
However, despite loading your items there, they may still move all over when you accelerate, brake, or hit bumps and corners. You can buy cargo bars for £50 to £100, but if it’s your own caravan, some over-hook joist hangers and a well-cut piece of 3×3 achieve the same desired outcome.
Hook your hangers over the edge of your seats and simply drop the bar into place. They might need a little adjustment to fit perfectly, which can be done easily with a pair of mole grips. Simply detach, throw your 3×3 underneath the seats and off you go.
Damp tester – £15
Very much a mental battle for me, as caravans 15 years ago were much more leaky. Modern ones, though, are exceptionally watertight. However, it’s good for your own peace of mind to regularly test prone areas for damp – every six months is recommended.
I give a damp tester to my children and they win a prize if they manage to find any damp with it. Early detection will mean a much easier fix than if you let it sneak up on you.
Some readers might have one or more of these items, whilst others could have them lying around the house. Either way, they’re some little things that I’ve found to improve my overall experience.
Photo credit: Matheus Bertelli / Pexels
