Kannon Fodda
LIFE MEMBER
- Feb 26, 2019
- 2,981
- 9,104
- Funster No
- 58,768
- MH
- Autotrail V-line 540
- Exp
- I Make Schoolboy Errors!
Like many, the van has been sat there, all forlorn, doing nothing for months. I've stared at it longingly. I've ventured in and raided it of a few bits and pieces (the BBQ made it to my rear garden). Now it's time to get ready for a trip out again. So what should be on the list of tasks to checkover?
Batteries should be OK. I have manual switching of solar between the leisure and motor (one day I'll work out where and how to fit a battery master), and the Vanbitz alarm app shows motor is fully charged. Gauge says leisure is OK, but I'll top off with overnight EHU before setting off whilst I get the fridge pre-cooled.
I'll check tyre pressures (visual walk around the van suggests they are OK). I'll check oil levels. I'll risk not starting the van (it's less than a year old), until I want to set off, I know I haven't started it since February, but unless I'm going to go for a decent drive I understand it's wrong to simply start the engine and not thoroughly run it up to temperature and proper speeds.
Water I'll flush out and do a sterilising solution on the freshwater, and rinse through the grey tank probably with a dose of a cleaning solution. I'll then recheck everything is flowing properly from all taps (hope the pump doesn't have problems from lack of use?). It was all drained down before lockdown.
I'll give the van a clean inside and out. It's been parked so long that weeds have started to grow from the drive through the alloy wheel spokes!
I need to reload with everything that I borrowed during lockdown - BBQ, dried foods, bedding, bicycle spares.
Oh I'd better get it off SORN.
So what have I missed?
Batteries should be OK. I have manual switching of solar between the leisure and motor (one day I'll work out where and how to fit a battery master), and the Vanbitz alarm app shows motor is fully charged. Gauge says leisure is OK, but I'll top off with overnight EHU before setting off whilst I get the fridge pre-cooled.
I'll check tyre pressures (visual walk around the van suggests they are OK). I'll check oil levels. I'll risk not starting the van (it's less than a year old), until I want to set off, I know I haven't started it since February, but unless I'm going to go for a decent drive I understand it's wrong to simply start the engine and not thoroughly run it up to temperature and proper speeds.
Water I'll flush out and do a sterilising solution on the freshwater, and rinse through the grey tank probably with a dose of a cleaning solution. I'll then recheck everything is flowing properly from all taps (hope the pump doesn't have problems from lack of use?). It was all drained down before lockdown.
I'll give the van a clean inside and out. It's been parked so long that weeds have started to grow from the drive through the alloy wheel spokes!
I need to reload with everything that I borrowed during lockdown - BBQ, dried foods, bedding, bicycle spares.
Oh I'd better get it off SORN.
So what have I missed?
