Pre-holiday checks

Press, 6 December 1979, Page 16

Pre-holiday checks

The first day of your holiday can be a trauma if the car engine boils, if the caravan water pump does not work, or if the caravan sways over the road at any speed over 60km per hour. It is always better to prevent problems before going away and a systematic check is the best method of uncovering potential trouble. First, turn everything on that will be used — radio, refrigerator, cooker and lights — to make sure they work. Take the rig for a test run to make sure it is road-worthy and road-ready. And try these sensible specific checks including under-the-bonnet electical, L.P. gas and water system examinations. The car or motor-home engine: Ensure all fluid levels are up to scratch. It is amazing how much wear and tear can be spared an engine by making sure it is properly lubricated and cooled. Follow your car’s handbook directions for checking and refilling oil, water, automatic transmission fluid. Do not forget the power steering reservoir and brake fluid level in the master cylinder. Top up the battery — check out each cell and refill with distilled water if necessary. The fan belt should be checked for wear, loose belts should be tightened. If there are cuts in the belt it should be replaced. Tyres and wheels: Check each tyre’s pressure with a hand gauge when the tyres are cold. Inflate the spare tyre to towing pressure. Badly worn or cut tyres should be replaced. Whilst examining the tyres make sure the nuts holding the wheels on are tight. If in doubt, tighten them to the recommended torque pressures (if this information is not in the handbook your franchise dealer can help). Electrical system: If you have an auxiliary battery in your caravan or motorhome, this is the most important item to check before going on holiday. Top up with distilled water and. if you have a hydrometer, check the battery’s level of charge. The hydrometer should read 1.270 at full charge. If the battery is low, recharge it with a trickle charger. Check all lights and electrical appliances. A breakdown in the 230 V system could heed fixing by an electrician. If your caravan is fitted ■with electric brakes — and they are becoming more common nowadays — check that they are working by engaging the brake controller manually and trying to drive the tow vehicle forwards. If the system is working properly the caravan will be difficult to move. The L.P. gas system: Three aspects need checking here — supply, appliances, gas lines. The amount of gas in the bottle can be checked by weighing it on bathroom scales and then subtracting the tare weight (T.W. — embossed on the

bottle’s collar). The difference will be the amount of gas, in kilograms, in the bottle.

When taking the bottles to be refilled, transport them in an upright position. Do not leave them sitting in the sun or they will heat up and expand the gas. After refilling, ensure the shut-off valves are working before leaving the refilling point. Check out your gas appliances by turning them on. The pilot light can tell you the state of the system’s health. A bright blue crown should be seen at the base of the flame when it is turned full up. A yellow flame means a wrong gas/air mixture. Too large a pilot flame or one that blows out frequently may mean that the system’s pressure regulator needs adjustment. Do not forget to look around the back of gas appliances. Clear all vents of debris. The Water System: You should have drained the tank at the end of the last trip. This prevents the growth of algae in the tank and plumbing. As a safety measure you might like to superchlorinate your initial fill of water. Do this by adding one teaspoonful of liquid bleach to every 45 litres of water run into the tank. Place the bleach into the filler hose and let the fresh water flush it down. If you have an electrical water pump air in the system can be forced out by turning on all the faucets and the shower (if fitted) until a steady stream of water comes from each tap. Check the water pump, whether power or manual, for leaks and remove the hoses to flush out any inline strainer that may be fitted. Packing your caravan: It is most important to load your caravan properly. Too much total weight will make for a tiring, frustrating journey and it could add too much strain to the car. Too much weight in the wrong place can make the caravan unstable. Always place heavy goods, such as canned foods, close to the floor, and load evenly on each side. Also keep the heaviest objects either across or in front of the caravan axle. Make sure that, all cupboard doors shut tightly and that crockery or glassware cannot fall out. Do not forget to close the refrigerator door properly and try to wedge in tightly any large items stowed on the floor. Just before leaving: Make sure the car and caravan are properly attached; that the hitch lock has operated; the safety chain is attached and the electrical connection is properly plugged in and that the lights are working. Turn off the L.P.G. lines at the bottle. Latch the refrigerator door and all cupboard doors. Secure any breakables, such as television, heaters and glassware. Close the roof vents and windows. Lock the caravan door.