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.
In previous editions of the Cartwright Chronicle, I’ve shared plenty of advice for caravanners and motorhomers. Now, it’s time to ask our wonderful audience for a favour.
I’m planning a week-long family holiday this summer, either in the UK or in Europe, and I’m looking for the campsite with the biggest, wildest waterpark. The kind that I know exist, but are rather difficult to find. Think multiple slides, wet and wild, with a T25 in the car park.
When I was a child, I loved camping with a pool because it offered something to do every day. Now, I want my five and seven-year-olds to experience that too. They are a little spoiled though, so the bigger the better!
Anybody can send an email to let me know their thoughts on campsites, water parks and any other kid-friendly activities they might have come across elsewhere. We’ll be travelling in June, so the weather should be great for all kinds of outdoor adventures.
Next week, I’ll share some of the best responses, in case anybody else is in a similar situation and looking for an ambitious and spectacular campsite for the little ones.
What’s going on with sweet Vanny Adams?
Old Volkswagens have a huge following. The interior can be changed, swapped, worked on and adapted, but maintaining the engine is crucial. Since purchasing Vanny Adams, we’ve replaced the timing belt and water pump, as well as given her new fluids and filters.
However, anyone who’s owned or worked on an old VW might be aware of the issues that arise when topping up the coolant. It’s quite a tricky process compared to most other vehicles, as the reserve tank is located below the top height of the radiator, which has a bleed valve on the top.
The idea behind the design is that you fill from the reserve tank at the rear, run the engine to pump it, then stop and repeat. The problem is that you can never quite be sure if you’ve gotten the air out and filled the system.
So, having the correct engine coolant and volume is essential. Luckily, I’m pleased to say that I’ve found the best tool for the job and I’d like to share it with you.
A two-way vacuum filler, which is an air compressor attachment that costs between £50 to £100, will save you a lot of trouble. Using this handy gadget, you just need to have a bucket (or several) with pre-mixed coolant to hand.
Attach the two-way pump to your water system after draining to suck all the air out. This also checks your pipes – if you can’t get good pressure, there must be a crack. Once it reaches 1.5 bar (just under 22 psi), flip the switch while the other suction end is in the coolant, and it will drag your new fluid directly in.
I’ve tried and tested this method and I can guarantee that it’s a certified faff-saver, giving peace of mind for sufficient cooling and even providing a health check on your pipes as a bonus.
A van conversion tip to save time and money
Van conversions are incredibly popular. It’s probably fair to say that almost all of these are motorhomes, as not many people would be able to build their own caravan. But the idea of taking an existing vehicle, like a panel or camper van, and installing your own furniture, gives you a unique ability to style it however you see fit.
Some people believe it can save you money whilst others would disagree, but converting a van does have its pitfalls. Insulation, electric wiring and switches can be problematic, as well as buying everything you need to make it safe, such as 12-volt adapters, inverters, water pumps and more. The whole process can start to become very pricey.
Recently, I was talking to someone currently converting a minibus and he had a brilliant idea. He bought the cheapest caravan he could find, which was leaky and worth very little. This became a donor for his conversion.
The list of items he managed to transfer from the caravan to his conversion is extensive. It includes almost everything from the fridge and cooker to the gas, fittings, adaptors and pipes. He even took the water pump, drainage system and most of the lighting and cabling.
Then, he took the switch gears. This made me think about how time-consuming it is to find everything you’d need for a van conversion. If this person had bought all of his switch gears on the second-hand market, it would have taken him a very, very long time and he might even have run into compatibility issues.
So, buying a donor caravan is an excellent idea and, ironically, once he stripped the caravan, it was then wanted by someone else who intended to turn it into a playhouse for their children.
This feels like a really great way to recycle and a fantastic method to ensure the components in your self-conversion are appropriate, safe and tested when installed originally, in the same way, in your leisure vehicle.
One note from me, though. Getting the cooker out? Not fun. Generally, these are installed before the walls and roof, so if you’re thinking about trying this for yourself, look for a really old caravan with a large front window.
If anyone else has any tips or ideas for converters, do share them and please let me know about the most exciting kids campsite you’ve been to. Stay tuned for the follow-up next week.
Photo credit: Juan Salamanca / Pexels
