Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Knowsley]

Well it’s just a week to go before the cover comes off the van ready for the first trip of 2012. It's only a local jaunt 8 miles away from home for a few days, but who cares, four nights in a van rather than the same four walls I've been looking at all winter!

Past two weekends I’ve been in the caravan doing a few odd jobs here and there.

It’s all been cleaned inside, hovered carpets, in the cupboards lockers. Cups and plates, knives, forks etc. had rinse in the dish washer indoors. Whilst cleaning out the van I also took everything out of the drawers and lockers which has been collected over four years which I no longer use.

Having three different awnings didn’t necessarily mean I had to have 3 different bags of pegs, screws, tools, mastic tubes, paint for the chassis, old trainers and a 6ft solid piece of wood that was used for the bunk bed that has never even been put up. Heaven knows why I needed 16 tea spoons, 10 knives, 13 forks, two kettles and three jack handles?

After all their is only the two of us in the van!

Me thinks I must of saved myself a good few kilos towing access weight around on my back. It wouldn’t surprise me if I had taken at least 50kg of surplus stuff out of the van today, that’s nearly the same weight as a small person!

Replaced the broken rear light lens when I last reserved up the drive in October hitting a flower pot having sourced an old replacement on eBay a few months back. New brake away cable fitted and took off the front interior panel below the front windows and put some insulation in the wall cavity as it proved to be a bit of a cold spot, but then this was something I hadn’t done when I repaired the van four years ago despite having the insulation foil sitting in the cellar for three years, was just one of those jobs I hadn’t got around to!

Just need to flush the water pipes out, give the battery another booster charge and start loading her up for the fast approaching season.

Managed 13 trips away last year.....maybe that last trip when we had that mini heat wave beginning of October was the unlucky one for me braking that rear light lens.

With a Royale Caravan Rally planned as Marshals in April in Somerset lets hope 2012 is a happy and safe one for you all

What else has every body been doing with their vans over these winter months and what other ‘little’ jobs have people to do before their touring season starts that they would like to share?


David

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Remember - Practice makes perfect!

[Uncle Alec]

I have bought a motor mover to graft onto my Tourstar. I can hardly lift the box; I am sure it would be easier just to push the van around.
Thank God I didn't buy a 14'6" model!

[Scarlet Snail]

That all sounds very familiar! We had a trip out to a bygones rally a few weeks ago. Also decided to re-do the Sprite 400 after reading the new book. Putting it back to normal after years of 'modernising' it!

[emmerson]

Alec, a couple of our members have fitted movers to their vans. I believe you'll need a pair of adaptor plates to deepen the chassis. A member has had a few pairs made. Ring me if you need some.