Two-way-spirit
level
For ensuring the van is level. Place it just inside the door, on
the worktop or the floor while you level - or place it on the front
chest so you can see it from outside the front window.
Bottle of White Spirit, sanding block and
clean cloth
If your caravan has an AL-KO stabiliser, you will need these to
clean off the towball before every journey, to ensure the stabiliser's
friction pads do not get contaminated by road dirt.
Small pocket torch
Useful not only at night but by day when viewing darker recesses
of the caravan. Better still, a head torch will let you make
repairs with both hands.
Neon 12v electric screwdriver
A small neon screwdriver with an earth lead connected to a crocodile
clip: the neon lights up when power is present at the point of
contact. The clip must be attached to another part of the car
or caravan - to create an earth - before it can be operated.
This tester is very useful for checking your car's towing electrics.
Neon 240V electric screwdriver
This is like the 12V version above, except this one is for testing
the supply of 240V power to the mains. The neon lights up if
there is a current.
240V socket tester
An absolute must. Just plug it into any 13A socket in the van and
a combination of three lights will tell you if all is well or
if there is a negative, positive or earth fault. This is particularly
important for caravanners who want to check for reversed polarity,
such as on the Continent (although some caravans' consumer units
also show with a red warning light). This is the ideal protection
for polarity-sensitive equipment, such as laptops and some DVD
players.
Assorted screws
Keep a variety of small wood screws, along with a few self-tapping
screws for good measure.
Set of screwdrivers
Be sure to have small and medium sizes with both flat-head blades
and cross-heads.
Small adjustable spanner
You'll need it to turn the range of small nuts found throughout
the caravan.
Large adjustable spanner
This is a must if you use 4.5kg gas bottles, which have a bigger
nut than other sizes. However, to keep the overall weight down,
use a dedicated gas spanner, which is made of thin aluminium.
Ratchet spanner
For lowering or raising corner steadies in confined spaces.
Mole grips
These can be used as a vice to get a firm hold on small items.
Scissors
Pliers
Side cutters
Used for cutting and stripping electric cables. However, if you
have space and enough payload allowance, you may wish to take
separate wire strippers for easier removal of insulation.
Stanley knife
Multi-tool
An example of what you'll find inside these versatile, all-in-one
tools is a hefty pair of pliers with a small saw, two heavy-duty
screwdrivers and a serrated knife blade. All the attachments
fold down neatly to fit in a pouch.
Junior hacksaw
This will let you make important adjustments or repairs to the
awning poles.
Small metal file
After you've done the sawing, a file will let you remove the rough
edges from the end of awning poles that come into contact with
the fabric.
Tape measure
Whether you're doing a repair or buying a replacement part, you'll
need this to make sure you get the measurements right.
Soft pencil or Conté crayon
Use these as a removable marker for any places to screw or saw.
(Conté is a hard crayon made of graphite and coloured
clay.
WD-40
Use this on electric connections to dispel moisture, and to lubricate
and protect squeaky hinges and other metal joints.
Silicon spray
This is a handy alternative to general purpose grease for towballs
used without a stabiliser. Also use it for corroded corner steadies,
and jammed wheelclamps or handbrake linkages.
Superglue
Ideal for repairing a wide variety of breakages.
Double-sided sticky tape or Velcro
Either will be handy for quick awning fixes.
Small G-clamp
Use it to hold items to be screwed or glued together.
Duck tape
This heavy-duty adhesive is ideal for repairing awning fabrics
and waterproof coats.
Insulating tape
For covering exposed electric wires and connection blocks. Take
two colours: red for live connections and black for negative
ones.
Assortment of jubilee clips
These are for older caravans which use them on the gas tube and
on water pipes. (Vans built after 2004 use a high-pressure gas
system that doesn't need them.)
Tie-down strap for awning
This is an adjustable webbing strap that fits over the front edge
of the awning roof and is held on either side by two very large
steel pegs. Padding is required where the strap goes over the
sides of the awning to stop the chafing of the roof material.
This is essential for clifftop sites and useful for open sites
generally.
Claw hammer
Use this at either end of your stay: hammer in metal awning pegs
and use the claw to remove them from difficult ground.
Rubber mallet
For knocking in wooden or plastic awning pegs.
Spare guy lines
A guy line can break or get chewed by an animal, so take two extra
including fasteners. It also is a good idea to use extra guy
lines in windy weather.
240v Continental adaptor plug
For Continental travel, this will convert your UK 13A three-pin
plug to fit a French/German two- or three-pin socket. It's mainly
for use on sites which supply sockets for hairdryers, battery
chargers or razor connections.
Piece of coloured ribbon aTie
this to your steering wheel when entering the Continent
to remind yourself that you should be driving on
the right-hand side of the road. The brighter the
colour, the better. Believe us, this works.
Spare internal light bulbs
Have some for both 12V and 240V fixtures.
Awning puller
A long rod with a hook on one end lets you pull the awning along
the channel. You may find that your awning responds better to
being pushed rather than being pulled, in which case, you can
use the padded end of an awning pole to help it along.
Small electric drill
For use on battery or mains, it can be used for winding corner
steadies, using a special attachment.
Electric multimeter a Very useful if you know
how to use it. It will tell you the exact voltage passing through
a point, as well as continuity, which will indicate whether a fuse
is OK, or for tracing the route of a cable.
reverse polarity adaptor
For this you will need to make up an adaptor by wiring up a male-to-female
external plug connected by a short length of cable, but wired
in reverse (black to red, and red to black). This must be clearly
marked on the adaptor, and only used when the polarity is reversed
on the site.
waterproof tape
Stop small leaks in water hoses etc.
Small tube of General Purpose Grease
Box of moist wipes ...
last thing you want is greasy and oily fingermarks
all over the cara and caravan! |
