Touring Caravan

Pitching up

Have your step ready by the entrance door so you can get into the caravan.

Setting up is another step to completing your pitching up. Connect the battery – the terminals are plainly marked like a car battery and in most cases this is where the mains inlet socket is for the connection to mains electrics.

Plug and push home – otherwise you won’t get the power through.

Take the other end of the lead and plug into the mains socket on the site’s electric post for your pitch. On some sites a push, then a click turn, means you’re connected. You should now have full mains connection.

First thing is to select the fridge power settings. The fridge runs on 12-volt for travelling, and gas too if no mains is available. Select by the switch which you’re using, from the battery sign (when connected to the car) turn to the plug logo, your fridge is now working on mains electrics.

Then to set the coldness use the knob on the opposite side to the setting you need. While on the road, I turn it up but once on site, about halfway is right, depending on the weather.

Connecting water

Now connect the water. First, you will need to put a waste container under the waste water outlets – don’t get these mixed up with the fresh water one (different colours and writing on the containers make this easier)

You will need to connect the pump/filter. The water outlet on the caravan is clearly marked, push firmly in the connector, you’re now ready to add the drinking water supply.

If you have a cylinder water container – these are the best – then you will need to clip the handles on which is a fiddly job for in-experienced hands.

Once the handle is attached, it’s off to the water point to fill up the container.

Water points on sites are clearly marked and the appropriate tap should be used, waste water is also disposed of here.

A five minute wait for the water to fill, use the filler pipe provided if you can’t get the container directly beneath.

Back at the caravan the water container is kept upright and the water pump/filter connection should be pushed again to make sure that there is a tight seal.

Put the other end of the connector in the water container and slide the small outlet cover down to stop bits dropping in to your drinking water.

Set the master 12-volt system switch on and then the water pump – this will then top up the hot water tank – this may take several minutes. Always keep a check on your water supply in the container, keep topping up rather than letting it run dry.

Picture and words © Andrew Jenkinson 2009