Planning a trip..........Preparation, preparation, preparation (1 Viewer)

Apr 13, 2012
5,504
18,593
Funster No
20,541
MH
Mobilvetta Euroyacht
Exp
1996, then break 'til 2011
Confession time...........apart from checking engine oil and water levels I don't do much else

Sometimes I remember to empty toilet cassette, fill fresh water but usually I just chuck in food and drinking water (plastic container) and set off.....

I bought my van in July on a Thursday and and decided to go to Brewery Dave's meet at Sandy((y) ) on the Saturday.... got there OK - went to switch on the gas, no gas bottle - previous owner must have kept it, forgot to pack any bedding as well :doh:....so a pretty cold night..

Lesson learned?....No...

Got home bought a gas bottle - Calor.... OK but my van had been originally designed for Campingaz (small locker and bottle storage) so over time I bought 2 Campingaz cylinders meaning to swap over sometime as I would be going to France at some time and you can't exchange Calor bottles over there....never got round to it but carried the bottles in the van anyway

January... set off for France and Spain, forgot to change the Calor bottle for the full one at home:doh:.... first night in France gas ran out.....I would change the Calor to Campingaz in the daylight next morning.....another cold night ...under a Summer duvet:doh:

Next morning discovered the gas fittings in the locker for the Calor bottle were 'properly' crimped on - no chance of changing to Campingaz until I got home:doh:

....will I ever learn?......probably not
 

GeriatricWanderer

Free Member
Feb 1, 2015
1,194
4,199
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, just cos I can!
Funster No
34,964
MH
Pop-Top Campervan
Exp
45years
Thanks for writing my life story for me. :)

However, I'm a meticulous planner when it comes to route planning. I know exactly what route I will be taking - where my first stop will be and how long it will take to get there.
The problem is that I always end up going somewhere else - but that's what it's all about.
 
Dec 27, 2014
967
3,361
Funster No
34,567
Ring jotter on kitchen table for the month leading up to departure.
List started.
Items added.
Items removed as they get done.
Items to take added to large plastic boxes that will live above cab.
Final week things like fridge on, and final check list on van done.

Planning need not take a lot of time, 10 mins a day will do if planned in advance. Route usually planned on the move as we tend to do whatever seems like a good idea at the time.

Most of all, enjoy.
 
R

Robert Clark

Deleted User
I've got a terrible memory so keep a list of MH jobs on my phone
Mrs C has a similar list of food essentials
Having s list means you can forget about having to remember things, which is a lot less stressful
 

scotjimland

LIFE MEMBER
Jul 25, 2007
2,086
9,023
Suffolk Coastal District, UK
Funster No
15
MH
Timberland
as Jonkil says.. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^(y)


Winter at home is a good time to research aires, sites, places to visit .. possible route etc .. easier done before you leave.. but should never be a rigid plan, I always keep it flexible.. so don't ever book sites.. or have a rigid route.. no point in that if like us you like to wander..

Nothing more exciting than spreading a country map on the floor and marking aires on it and a possible route.. dreaming of the day you set off ..

yes, I use Google maps for planning and also a sat nav. with all the POIs loaded .. . but a paper road map or atlas is forever..

Good adage ... 7ps

Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Lenny HB

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 18, 2007
52,696
147,628
On the coast in West Sussex
Funster No
658
MH
Hymer B678 DL
Exp
Since 2008 & many years tugging
Find we can never think about what we need until the last minute always end up in a mad panic and mad dash for the ferry.
Do remember one incident about 20 years ago with the caravan, just a weekend trip. I said I've put stuff in the fridge dear, got to the site wife opened fridge and said where's the food, there was beer, gin, tonic but no food. Well being a man I only packed the essentials.:LOL:
 

Puddleduck

LIFE MEMBER
Jan 15, 2014
12,357
43,866
Scottish Borders
Funster No
29,703
MH
Without at present
Exp
On and off for many years.
I make lists for my lists. :rolleyes:

Me too. I even have a laminated list for the "pre-flight check-list"!

Ring jotter on kitchen table for the month leading up to departure.
List started.
Items added.
Items removed as they get done.
Items to take added to large plastic boxes that will live above cab.
Final week things like fridge on, and final check list on van done.

Planning need not take a lot of time, 10 mins a day will do if planned in advance. Route usually planned on the move as we tend to do whatever seems like a good idea at the time.

Most of all, enjoy.

We have a (laminated) standard packing list with additional lists for specialist activities. Makes it easy.

After forgetting the duvet second trip out we know we need our lists. :)

Trip planning? Well we do plan the first and last night as a rule, but after that we just follow our noses :)
 
D

deleted-member02

Deleted User
Going slightly off topic, does anyone else leave a part filled toilet cassette in the van ?

Personally, if possible, I prefer to empty and clean before I come home - can't imagine leaving it til the next journey. Must be ummm ripe o_O


Also fill up with fuel when close to home, good to know you've always got a full tank ready to go.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Feb 22, 2008
12,258
44,933
Norfolk
Funster No
1,575
MH
Nearly Tugging
Exp
Since 2004
Think I have serious OCD, I check, double and triple check days before any trip, and even then when I finally get a mile or two down the road , I stop and check around again.
Don't forget anything but my nervous breakdown is imminent :Eeek:
 

Puddleduck

LIFE MEMBER
Jan 15, 2014
12,357
43,866
Scottish Borders
Funster No
29,703
MH
Without at present
Exp
On and off for many years.
ohhhhhhhhhhh errrrrrrrrrrr no.. ewwwwwwwwwwwwww

always empty and give a really good clean at the last site .. then when we get home it comes out for another deep clean..

Same here. The whole van gets a good clean back to front, top to bottom when we get home. It just looks and smells so much better once that has been done!

All the tanks, fresh, grey and cassette are empties and cleaned.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Puddleduck

LIFE MEMBER
Jan 15, 2014
12,357
43,866
Scottish Borders
Funster No
29,703
MH
Without at present
Exp
On and off for many years.
Oh and all the crockery, pots and pans get put through the dishwasher before being replaced in the van ready for next time.
 
D

deleted-member02

Deleted User
Do nearly all the preparation within a few days of getting home.
Clean the van straight through, including tanks.
Bring crockery and cooking utensils in for a wash in the dishwasher then return to van. Same with tea towels, waterproofs if they come back muddy.
Keep bathroom topped up, possibly restock cleaning products.
Wash the outside of the van, check fluids, perhaps check gas if I think it's getting close to a change.

Then before setting off, load food, beer, clothes, clean towels, toothbrushes, fresh container of drinking water.
Any specifics for the trip, might be beach gear / festival gear / long trip with everything.
Sometimes wash the van again (if it's been stood a while), check tyre pressures.

Cash / Credit Cards / Passports / Phone chargers.

What could possibly go wrong ?
 
Sep 16, 2010
2,994
2,849
Bungay Suffolk
Funster No
13,734
MH
Autotrail TrackerEKS
Exp
Since 2010
Got a loading list on the compitituter and print it off about month before we set off.. It sharpens the mind, then just tick it off as the things "go aboard" and we haven't forgotten anything SO FAR !!

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Lenny HB

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 18, 2007
52,696
147,628
On the coast in West Sussex
Funster No
658
MH
Hymer B678 DL
Exp
Since 2008 & many years tugging
Going slightly off topic, does anyone else leave a part filled toilet cassette in the van ?

Personally, if possible, I prefer to empty and clean before I come home - can't imagine leaving it til the next journey. Must be ummm ripe o_O

Yes but by the time we get home it's half full again.

Now that reminds me of another caravaning story:
Now this was in the days before they fitted pressure vents in the cassette, young daughter asked if she could use the loo, she knew it had just been emptied for trip home, I said OK.
Forgot she had used the loo then remembered two weeks later found out the hard way she had done a number 2. Opened the slide a big explosion followed by an almighty stink would have thrown up on the spot if I hadn't been so busy cleaning the shit off my face.:crying:
 
Feb 24, 2013
12,991
101,181
Bolsover, Derbyshire
Funster No
24,833
MH
Hymer S800
Exp
not long enough
OK you lot, so where do you put your list so you don't forget where it is :D

as for the loo, ours seems to be in permanent use as well, we are lucky and have a manhole at home close to where we park MH so easy to empty whenever, but it is a black tank so a bit different, but it can be ripe if left by mistake

and gas, I am fed up with the number of times I have come home with gas on auto and forgotten to hook up, then use the rest of the gas sat on drive keeping an empty fridge cool :mad:
 

Lenny HB

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 18, 2007
52,696
147,628
On the coast in West Sussex
Funster No
658
MH
Hymer B678 DL
Exp
Since 2008 & many years tugging
and gas, I am fed up with the number of times I have come home with gas on auto and forgotten to hook up, then use the rest of the gas sat on drive keeping an empty fridge cool :mad:

Problem compounded with these stupid new fridges that you have to open the door to see what it's set too.
Last week playing with the hot water system after I finished drained the system down but hadn't turned off the control, so 26 Lt of gas gone heating an empty boiler.:mad:

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Lenny HB

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 18, 2007
52,696
147,628
On the coast in West Sussex
Funster No
658
MH
Hymer B678 DL
Exp
Since 2008 & many years tugging
as for the loo, ours seems to be in permanent use as well, we are lucky and have a manhole at home close to where we park MH so easy to empty whenever, but it is a black tank so a bit different, but it can be ripe if left by mistake

When I had to repair my sewer a couple of years ago I put in an emptying point, just a 6" sewer pipe 6" above the ground with a screw cap, much easier than lifting a manhole cover.
 

CWH

LIFE MEMBER
Jan 29, 2014
5,128
245,513
UK
Funster No
29,909
MH
WildAx PVC
Exp
From November 2013
a manhole at home close to where we park MH so easy to empty whenever
put in an emptying point, just a 6" sewer pipe 6" above the ground with a screw cap
Is it "OK" to do either/ both of these? Just wondering for future reference you know...

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Oct 1, 2013
7,487
19,763
Lanzarote
Funster No
28,377
MH
Nil by mouth
Exp
Lots
Before every European trip I take the van for a full service. £180 well spent :)

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
  • Like
Reactions: CWH

wingman

Free Member
Feb 10, 2013
1,217
3,333
Romford, Essex
Funster No
24,645
MH
Coachbuilt Lo-Profile
Exp
Since 2012
LOVE these anecdotes! Makes me feel 'normal'!

I'm in the laminated list brigade. Bought a really cheap laminator ages ago and buy cheap pocket-sized pouches when stationery stores have them on special.

I organise my list by location or compartment in the van and not by headings. I found that by organising my checks this way, rather than having a long list of thoughts, it saves me leaping all over the place. Nothing worse than Salt and Butter being listed next to Bodywarmer!

I have a page for the vehicle's exterior, then inside the cab, then moving backwards through the vehicle...... N/S Overhead Locker 1, N/S Locker 2, Under Bed 1 and 2 etc, finally winding up at the rear lockers and toiletries.

Mrs W has her own page which contains things like 'gas hair wand refills' and such nonsense!

I have a separate page for special items for foreign travels, which I skip if I'm not going X-channel.

Of course, lists vary and there are the newly added must-have's, followed by the must-have's from last year that I've thrown out!:nod: I make amendments with a fine permanent marker pen on the laminate and when the list resembles a kid's first drawing, I re-call it off the PC, print and laminate an amended new page. As my list pages are hole-punched and of the 'flip' type, it's easy to replace a page or two as it's only held together with cheap clipped-off cable ties.

OCD? Maybe, but nothing gets forgotten (famous last words!)
 

CWH

LIFE MEMBER
Jan 29, 2014
5,128
245,513
UK
Funster No
29,909
MH
WildAx PVC
Exp
From November 2013
I have a page for the vehicle's exterior, then inside the cab, then moving backwards through the vehicle...... N/S Overhead Locker 1, N/S Locker 2, Under Bed 1 and 2 etc, finally winding up at the rear lockers and toiletries.
This is my "plan" - to have a plan organised like yours @wingman
One day...
Broken Link Removed
 
Last edited:

Carol

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 2, 2007
14,044
111,473
North Wales.
Funster No
519
MH
A class
Exp
18 years s Motorhome (33years caravans)
Confession time...........apart from checking engine oil and water levels I don't do much else

Sometimes I remember to empty toilet cassette, fill fresh water but usually I just chuck in food and drinking water (plastic container) and set off.....

I bought my van in July on a Thursday and and decided to go to Brewery Dave's meet at Sandy((y) ) on the Saturday.... got there OK - went to switch on the gas, no gas bottle - previous owner must have kept it, forgot to pack any bedding as well :doh:....so a pretty cold night..

Lesson learned?....No...

Got home bought a gas bottle - Calor.... OK but my van had been originally designed for Campingaz (small locker and bottle storage) so over time I bought 2 Campingaz cylinders meaning to swap over sometime as I would be going to France at some time and you can't exchange Calor bottles over there....never got round to it but carried the bottles in the van anyway

January... set off for France and Spain, forgot to change the Calor bottle for the full one at home:doh:.... first night in France gas ran out.....I would change the Calor to Campingaz in the daylight next morning.....another cold night ...under a Summer duvet:doh:

Next morning discovered the gas fittings in the locker for the Calor bottle were 'properly' crimped on - no chance of changing to Campingaz until I got home:doh:

....will I ever learn?......probably not

Probably a small amount of forward planning would make life more comfortable, make a small list, keep it in your van , if it's just, loo fluid, loo rolls, check gas, fresh water, the little things make it easier and more enjoyable. (y)
 
Aug 18, 2014
23,539
131,310
Lorca,Murcia,Spain
Funster No
32,898
MH
Transit PVC
Exp
16 years since restarting
Think I have serious OCD, I check, double and triple check days before any trip, and even then when I finally get a mile or two down the road , I stop and check around again.
Don't forget anything but my nervous breakdown is imminent :Eeek:

sounds like me.:LOL:

When I had to repair my sewer a couple of years ago I put in an emptying point, just a 6" sewer pipe 6" above the ground with a screw cap, much easier than lifting a manhole cover.
(y) Given me some ideas! If I can remember them.:D
 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Funsters who are viewing this thread

Back
Top