Caravan Owners Facebook Groups – August 2023
Vanners Helping Vanners — Compiled by Alison Huth, Editor at Large alison@whatsupdownunder.com.au
Red Centre Caravan Owners and Enthusiasts
Mystery Leads
Steve asked: A quick question for those familiar with the RC Kimberley wiring. I have a BMPro running the van, but there are also two fused +ve connections direct to the battery. What do they connect to?
Andrew replied: Diesel heater and compressor fridge if you have one.
Urban Caravan Group of Australia and NZ
Unplanned Night Light
Toni posted: One of our USB points has started lighting up. Out of the blue mind you. It never used to do this. But now when you’ve used the USB and closed the cover the USB stays lit up all the time. Anyone have this happen? Our van is 18 months old. None of the other USB points are doing this. The USB is not newly installed either.
Consensus of replies is that some do, some don’t. Stewart turns his BMPro off at night to make sure they don’t.
Highlines can handle anything
Crusader Caravan Owners Group of Australia
Brutal Winter
DT posted: Tad cold overnight at Murrurundi NSW at 6am this morning. This is the thermometer inside the van showing inside and outside temp.
All the hoses are frozen.
Heaters MUST work!
Thierry asked: Hi team, our diesel heater is displaying /flashing this image, and is not firing up. We have removed the fuse and turned off to restart several times to no avail. Would anyone have any similar experience to help us? Heading back to Victoria and not having a Diesel heater is not ideal.
Spin 146 replied: After about 8 years ours stopped working, had it service and they replaced a gaze filter and the igniter you need to start them up once a month for 15 mins but sounds similar to our previous problem.
Jayco Silverline Enthusiasts Australia
No Wire Light Switches
Sarah posted: Well I’ll be buggered did you know that the light switches run off of batteries and are not hardwired in. I wanted to put up some pouches to put our iPads in but the switches were right in the middle of where I wanted them. Easy fix pop off the light cover, unscrewed from the wall, applied some double sided tap and hey presto. We also swapped the lights as you come in the main door so annoying that the off button was at the top.
On the Move Caravan Owners Group:
Unstuck Sticky Stuff
Nikki asked: Can anyone recommend a suitable glue for this? We’ve tried a few things but the laminate top keeps peeling off the stove top. It’s a Nov 2021 Traxx, Thanks.
Janice replied: OTM know there was a bad lot of panels. People have had them replaced as it was a defective product.
Snowy River Caravans
No question is every silly.
Margy asked: Hi everyone: we just picked up our SRC18 this week. Sorry if I sound stupid new to it all lol. The lights to tell you the levels don’t seem to work. What am I doing wrong?
Jenny replied We thought the same just needed a bit more in there then bingo light came on
From Then to Now
Laurie posted: A little refurbishment to our almost 15 year old Retreat Lindeman. It was done by a friend of mine that is a retired builder.
New Age Caravan Owners Australia
Bed Sag, Shoe Store
Carole asked: Have not long ago picked up our new 18ft Manta Ray pop top. We are having a bit of a problem with the bed extension. It drops down at the full extension to fit the mattress. Has anyone else had this problem?
Natasha replied: We built a cube for under ours. Our kids kept jumping on it even, so it stops it from sagging. Plus, now we store shoes in it.
E1 Blip and Beep
Crystal asked: Hi everyone, just wondering if anyone knows why this error code is coming up on our water heater? When I turned the power on it started beeping and this came up?
Thanks in advance
Two good answers: Peter: no gas.
Kaz: Mine also does it if you don’t turn the hot tap on enough so you don’t get enough flow. I just turn it off and then back on again fully on.
Don’t Mess With The Drain!!!
Karen posted: Today’s fun. Headed north from Weipa to Bamaga. We’ve been travelling in table drains, as everyone does for a few days. Today we got into one that had a big crack in it. The crack got bigger very quickly. About 54kms south of the Fruit Bay Falls turnoff. We came around a corner to find carnage ahead of us. One van totally on its side. They’d dropped a wheel in the ditch. We had to reverse out and fill the crack with logs and gingerly crawl out. So pleased to say that there are endless numbers of caring, helpful travellers that all stopped to lend a hand. And I’m very impressed with Rosco’s calm skill at handling the situation.
Royal Flair Caravan Club Australia
BOM, BOM and more BOM
Admin John shared a timely reminder that everyone should have BOM on their phones or tablets. If there’s one thing that’s predictable it’s that the weather is unpredictable!
Cape York? Easy as!
Jeremy posted: Just on the return journey after taking our little Nova to the Tip of Cape York! Handled everything with ease!
Some mods I did in preparation for the trip:
- Carafan dust pressurisation system
- BOS Caravan legs and jockey wheel/stand
- 400ah Lithium Battery System with Victron 3000w Miltiplus inverter and Victron Solar and DCDC chargers, 1150watts of fixed solar
- Bushman 190lt Compressor fridge
- 50lt Auxiliary rear mounted water tank and jerry can holder, reinforced rear bar to suit.
- Yokohama 265/85r16 XAT tyres with internal tyre monitoring system.
- Starlink satellite Internet system
- 200w wind generator
The Quokka Rainbow!
Nik posted this stunning photo of her Quokka at Hamelin Outback Station WA.
Everything Caravan and Camping
You did what with Balloons!
Sue posted: 
The Tin Man and Friends.
Andrew posted this photo taken at Docklands in Melbourne. It sure got attention, basically asking what they are? And the answer is Wind Chimes on top of posts.
CREATIVE NOMADS – Sewing, Crafting and Cooking throughout Oz.
Crochet a TANK!
Admin Shelley posted this one. She’s been out of action for a few weeks and wondered if she should teach herself crochet to give this one a go. She’s on the mend and looks like giving this a miss at the moment. Get well Shelley.
WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION HITCHES – FACTS AND FICTION.
Click here for the essential info
By Mason Roberts on a corner of the main street in Wagin WA DCH.
What the Towing Company Sees at Accidents.