Fórum Caravan Talk Forum

I’m interested to know if anyone else has had a similar experience: Motor moving our new (to us) caravan down our steep drive (it’s worth noting that this is the second time I've done this (first went without a problem though my speed was slower) and probably less than the tenth time I've ever used a motor mover) using the ‘straight back’ and ‘turn right’ buttons overlapping to get smooth movement, the van seemed to continue to turn right when I had ‘rolled’ over to the straight button, so I let go of everything but the movers kept powering the van towards my car! My partner started shouting to me that the van was heading to the car and I started shouting too (best not say exactly what I was shouting), at this point the controller had no lights on it (maybe I accidentally pressed one of the power buttons), after about 3-4 seconds of me thinking the van's going to reverse into my car and there’s nothing I can do I remembered the handbrake and slammed it on in the hope that it was more powerful than the movers. It stopped the van (10 inches from my car) and at the same time the movers stopped and everything has worked fine since, I have tried replicating my actions with the movers disengaged but I can't get it to do it again whichever series of buttons I press. My assumption is that the steepness of the drive caused the motors to act as generators and supply voltage to the main board which upset it.

Hi everyone, we’ve just joined the forum because we have just bought a caravan again after 4 years with a motorhome (and many years of caravanning before that). We sold the M/H back in May thinking that our camping days were over, but… we have been missing the capability of just taking off when we want to. So we started looking around for a (cheap) ‘van and ended up with a 2001 Elddis Avante 482. The biggest shock has been the cost of re-equipping the ‘van as we sold the M/H fully equipped, everything went with it, cutlery, plates, cups, pots, pans etc. etc. Car (2013 Merc B180) goes in to get the towbar fitted this Wednesday so we have a “shakedown weekend” planned for next Saturday until Tuesday. (Only about 23 miles from home) We’ve been caravanning since the early ‘80s and boy, have I got a couple of stories to add to the “What’s The Daftest Thing You Have Done” topic. I won’t go into all of the reasons we got rid of the M/H here but the main one was my good lady wife and our dog both now suffer quite badly from Osteoarthritis and had difficulty getting in and out. We’re both in our mid 70s and things don’t get any easier, however I’ve fitted a handrail beside the door and bought a Milenco Giant double step, both have helped hugely. Anyway, enough for now I don’t want to tell my whole life story already. Cheers, Alan & Karen (and Luna too)

I hope this is the right place for this if not please move it. I have posted a couple of times here to introduce myself and ask some questions. I have now completed my move from California to the UK, sold my US 5th wheel caravan and truck and am now on the verge of starting my UK caravan journey. In May I ordered an appropiate tow vehicle and was looking on line at different caravan makers and floorplans. The one that stuck out to me was the Bailey Alicanto Grande Porto. Once we had moved here me and my son went to the nearest Bailey dealer to look at them. They had a 2026 on site for sale and it looked perfect so before my tow vehicle was even on the shores of England and I did not have a pick up date I purchased the caravan. Obviously I told the dealer the situation with the vehicle before I purchased. I am due to pick it up in 2 weeks once my tow vehicle (which I pick up this Monday) is properly broken in. Along with the Porto I got 4 wheel motor movers (it came with 2 wheel motor movers) with automatic engagement, 3 years of servicing and a weight plate upgrade. I have booked her in with Al-Ko in Gaydon to have the E&P (I think that is the right brand) auto leveling with remote control fitted. So far I have brought a CampTech Hampton DL awning, a towing cover for the front, some other bits and bobs for the caravan and most importantly a Al-Ko premium hitch lock, to compliment the Alarm, Tracker, and wheel locks that come with the caravan. I soon will plan a local weekend

Different Double slide out trailer tent

Hello - we have just bought a 2015 caravan with a MM. we got the van home and used the MM to get it onto the sloped drive. Having tried to move the van again the MM kept working for a few seconds and then we would have to turn the red switch in the battery housing and it would work again only for a short period. I hooked the battery up to a drip feeder but it showed as full.. HELP

Episode 1. Collecting the PHEV. So I have a hire car for a month. It's a Mercedes GLC 300e. Two litre engine and a 31kWh battery hybrid. Hire car people very good and helpful; quite happy to go round the car with me so we can spot the dings and scrapes together. Sad a car under a year old already has scraped alloys, but they lead a hard life. Indeed, the car I was supposed to have was being repaired so this was a substitute. They even provided a spare rear plate. As it happens, I have never driven a Merc of any description before, and this possibly wasn't the best to start on. Firstly, I couldn't get the thing to move. Hybrid, yes? So press the button and wait for it to light up [Ready] so I can drive off, silently, in that new weird way they do. Press accelerator. Nothing happens. Look around for 'gear' lever. There's nothing. Woman from car hire company comes out to ask if alright. I REALISE IT'S LIKE A 1960'S FORD WITH A COLUMN SHIFT - but on the right! Select drive. No, still won't move. Woman from hire place adamant the handbrake will release automatically. Engine starts (so battery completely flat) and I try a button where the parking brake is on every sane car. A drinks box opens on the central console. Hmm. Start looking around slightly hysterically and notice big shiny handle for the bonnet release by my right knee. Handle has a label. PARKING BRAKE. It is indeed the parking brake. Smile slightly maniacally at hire place woman, feeling like Mr Bean. I release same an

I have a swift base camp 2 that I tow with a Mazda Cx5 2015 and a Nissan primastar van .

Interesting video to watch and to read the replies. Obviously it doubed to English. To read replies hit the translate button under each comment. Basically they're having a conversation on the vehicles being overpriced, lower quality, manufacturers not supporting customers with a issues and high campsite prices ... Sounds familiar 🤔 P

It was always going to happen and with the cyber attack they just can't get out of the hole. I'm guessing they'll cut loads of jobs in development & powertrain manufacturing to buy in components.

The pop-up basin waste fitting in the bathroom of my Elddis caravan has stuck in the down position. It’s been doing it for a while, but a bit of fiddling would usually sort it … but not any more. Previously, I had tried unscrew it, but it either isn’t meant to unscrew or it was completely rusted up. But now it’s stuck in the down position. Is it worth attempting a repair, or just replace? Supplementary question - will a standard “household” one fit, or are they caravan- specific (and therefore expensive)? TIA, Jim

This isn't exactly tow cars. We're thinking of hanging up our steady winder, selling the van and dropping the car down from the 2 litre diesel Karoq 4X4 to a Hyundai Inster BEV. Whilst considering this I noted that the Inster can have V2L added for £500 and at first I couldn't see that we would have any use for it. Then I had a light bulb moment. We have a double garage in a block on the far side of our barn conversion farmyard mews. The garages have no connection to the power supply which does limit there use somewhat. However with a car with V2L we could power lighting and maybe power tools from the car. That would be a useful facility. On a car note though, it will be hard giving up the Karoq's powered drivers seat with memory. With Mrs SDA being 5ft 1ins and me being 6ft 1ins we get to do a lot of seat adjusting and the electric seat has been a joy. The smallest EV I could find with such powered seats is the Kia EV2 in their top of the range model listing at £33,295 whereas the Inster lists at around £24,000. An extra £10,000 for electric seats seems a bit much.

This os probably a topic more than for just caravans. But has anyone experienced waking up and being bitten by some bug overnight. Although I only have been bitten a couple of times this holiday (and note these are not bed bug bites. I have experienced them in the past) my wife appears to be getting assulted by them. Does anyone have any remedies that can stop this? My wife is sensitive to sprays so that is not an idea I will entertain. Thank you.