The best and worse things you ever bought for your van.

[GMJ]

Best-
Hydraulic levellers (the boss can not sleep unless ABSOLUTELY level.
Solar Panels
2nd Leisure Battery

Worst -
Those yellow plastic strips to get you out of muddy fields. First time I used them they fired out behind the wheel three times on the trot. Now have very nice spiky blocks collected by rope. They work - especially if lowered onto them by the hydraulic rams.

Do you mean something like this?

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I have only had to deploy mine once and yes, they do work well.

 

[Robmac]

Do you mean something like this?

Buy Caravan Accessories and Spares | You Can Caravan

Top quality caravan awnings, furniture, accessories and spare parts. Try our 5-star Trustpilot rated customer service for all your caravan accessory needs

www.youcancaravan.co.uk

I have only had to deploy mine once and yes, they do work well.

I bought a hand operated winch for the van. I've also only used it once but it got me out of trouble.

People say that it's too slow and hard work compared to an electric winch, but usually you only have to move the van a foot or so to get out of a rut.

 

[Rogerdodge]

They are the very ones.
Given to me by a friend who had to give up his van.

Only used them once, but got me out of a wet field in Norfolk.

 

[barge1914]

Best definitely refillable gas bottles. Worst probably a level checker, never used but only cost £2.

Clinometer app on phone, does the same job costs nothing.

 

[GMJ]

They are the very ones.
Given to me by a friend who had to give up his van.

Only used them once, but got me out of a wet field in Norfolk.

Yes - once here also...in the Netherlands despite my telling the receptionist on the site that we would get stuck. "Oh no" she said "we have never had anyone get stuck"

 

[Jo001]

Clinometer app on phone, does the same job costs nothing.

We are luddites, we just run some water into the basin, whichever end it runs to gets the levelling block ...

 

[n brown]

best thing is a 4m length of 20mm rope and the ability to tie a bowline . when you're stuck on a bit of wet grass or mud , even a car can get you moving

worst thing i probably the awning . i exchanged what i thought was a couple of hours work retrofitting a massive awning to a van for a smaller awning i had to remove . a very hard day's work for something of little use !

 

[Rumour]

Because three way fridges struggle in warm weather, or if not level. And this lets you know when the temperature is getting to high before it’s to late, and without opening the door letting all the warm air in. It’s then time to switch on the fan, or try to get level. And all for £12.99. And you may have noted that others have purchased this gizmo and find it useful.

Our van came with cruise control, and we never use it, and I am far to impatient to wait for a slow cooker. But I am pleased that you enjoy using yours.

In answer to your passive/aggressive post....

Our Thetford fridge worked just fine in that recent bout of upper 38 degrees weather! It was working fine for three weeks in the south of France in June in +35 degree temperatures. Frozen food stayed frozen and the milk was icy cold. But if that gizmo floats your boat?
Slow cookers? You don't "wait" for them! You prep, put it on and go about the day, it is ready when you get back. Cruise control is useful on longer journeys instead of keeping my foot and leg in one position for the duration.

But I am pleased that you don't enjoy using yours...

 

[Fisherman]

In answer to your passive/aggressive post....

Our Thetford fridge worked just fine in that recent bout of upper 38 degrees weather! It was working fine for three weeks in the south of France in June in +35 degree temperatures. Frozen food stayed frozen and the milk was icy cold. But if that gizmo floats your boat?
Slow cookers? You don't "wait" for them! You prep, put it on and go about the day, it is ready when you get back. Cruise control is useful on longer journeys instead of keeping my foot and leg in one position for the duration.

But I am pleased that you don't enjoy using yours...

Passive/Agressive, really

You asked a question, I gave you an answer, and informed you that I don't use a slow cooker in my van, or my cruise control.
But many thanks for explaining what cruise control and slow cookers are, and why you enjoy using them.
I finished by stating that I am glad you enjoy using yours.
If thats passive or aggressive to you, then I hope you don’t enjoy using them

 

[trevskoda]

Fight.

 

[n brown]

bundle !

 

[Fisherman]

Fight.

No passive/aggressive, I don’t do fighting Trev.
Rumour has it you lot over the water are into that kind of thing.
Oh wait a moment I’m half Irish

 

[wildebus]

I liked using my Slow Cooker when I was away at festivals and so busy all day. Meant that when I was done for the day I could just tip the food onto a plate and have dinner without messing around doing prep
Generally speaking however I don't tend to use in in the van but do a fair bit at home (although less now I don't eat meat - it was brilliant at super tasty beef stews)


One potential problem with fridges and the statement "Frozen food stayed frozen" is that all too often that is not actually the case and the reality is "Frozen Food defrosted and then Refroze before I noticed". A classic cause of food poisoning even though the local burger van and "meat on the street" truck usually gets the blame. A fridge temperature logger is a brilliant tool for food safety.

 

[Fisherman]

I liked using my Slow Cooker when I was away at festivals and so busy all day. Meant that when I was done for the day I could just tip the food onto a plate and have dinner without messing around doing prep
Generally speaking however I don't tend to use in in the van but do a fair bit at home (although less now I don't eat meat - it was brilliant at super tasty beef stews)


One potential problem with fridges and the statement "Frozen food stayed frozen" is that all too often that is not actually the case and the reality is "Frozen Food defrosted and then Refroze before I noticed". A classic cause of food poisoning even though the local burger van and "meat on the street" truck usually gets the blame. A fridge temperature logger is a brilliant tool for food safety.

Yes David we use one at home, but not in the van.
As for the fridge gizmo you put me on to I reckon it’s the best £10 I have spent on the van. On two occasions our fridge failed on our last van, once due to outside temperature in Anstruther and in whiting bay on Arran when we were not level. But thankfully the fridge in our current van has not failed us so far.

 

[Winger]

Fitted a cheap household thermostatic shower mixer valve, so much control over temperature and also saves the need to run off cold water. Cost £32 but worth every penny. Closely followed by a Lagun table leg which gives great versatility

 

[Harrytherid]

Worst: Garmin motorhome satnav, expensive rubbish. Best, yes the Gaslow system and then the 10 inch tablet with Osmand + on it as moving map and loads of adapters and tools to enable connection to obscure water supplies. The awning came with the van as did the satellite dish. awning still there but keep thinking to take it off but dish long gone.

 

[Richard Wasteney]

Best….SOG system (don’t need chemicals or spare cassette now), Gaslow, charcoal BBQ, fridge thermometer and tea towels (to put between anything that rattles bottles oven shelves etc)

Worst….calor gas bottle, caravan club membership, Hokey Cokey fuel saving device

 

[Harrytherid]

I have a very sensitive nose and there was a guy emptying a SOG tank round a corner. The stench was so bad I nearly threw up Why no spare cassette needed? I have two.

Best….SOG system (don’t need chemicals or spare cassette now), Gaslow, charcoal BBQ, fridge thermometer and tea towels (to put between anything that rattles bottles oven shelves etc)

Worst….calor gas bottle, caravan club membership, Hokey Cokey fuel saving device

 

[saxonborg]

I liked using my Slow Cooker when I was away at festivals and so busy all day. Meant that when I was done for the day I could just tip the food onto a plate and have dinner without messing around doing prep
Generally speaking however I don't tend to use in in the van but do a fair bit at home (although less now I don't eat meat - it was brilliant at super tasty beef stews)


One potential problem with fridges and the statement "Frozen food stayed frozen" is that all too often that is not actually the case and the reality is "Frozen Food defrosted and then Refroze before I noticed". A classic cause of food poisoning even though the local burger van and "meat on the street" truck usually gets the blame. A fridge temperature logger is a brilliant tool for food safety.

Bought a Govee widget the other day, impressed, I can see the temperature inside my moho from about 8/10 metres away while I’m sat in my living room, strange thing is I can’t see my Victron smart solar controller which is also in the moho, any ideas why this might be?

 

[wildebus]

Bought a Govee widget the other day, impressed, I can see the temperature inside my moho from about 8/10 metres away while I’m sat in my living room, strange thing is I can’t see my Victron smart solar controller which is also in the moho, any ideas why this might be?

The Victron kit is specifically low-power Bluetooth and has a poor range. Smart BMSes in Lithium Batteries seem to have the same issues going by the ones I have used.

The Govees do have an impressive range. I have a Raspberry Pi in my MH running a system called "Home Assistant" and that Pi can see via its Bluetooth the Govee located in a fridge at the other side of the house on the attic floor.