Caravan Coupling Broke

Packing up the caravan to leave Feildings freedom camping site – the caravan coupling just would not attach to the car! I lowered the coupling directly over the tow bar and it sat on top.

After jiggling and pushing everything I could think of, I decided to try a little CRC under the coupling handle.

Previously, when the coupling connection squealed while turning corners, I’d learnt NOT to grease the tow bar as there are friction pads in the UK coupling the can’t get grease on them. So I was very cautious about where I squirted the CRC.

Lifting the coupling handle up and down, there was a loud ping. I lowered the coupling onto the tow bar again and this time it slotted into place.

I was hugely relieved that it was working again, as I wasn’t sure what to do if I couldn’t move the caravan! The park might have become my home for quite a while.

Check caravan is firmly attached to car tow bar

I did do a safety check to be sure the caravan was securely attached to the car. This involves lowering the caravan coupling onto the car tow bar, closing coupling handle, then winding up the jockey wheel to rise the caravan and car – checking it’s still firmly attached to the tow bar. The Trudgians have a great video showing this safety check in more detail.

What went wrong?

What do I think went wrong with the coupling? I think it became stiff with age. I think a spring or something HAS broken in the coupling. It use to show green below the coupling handle when it was attached to the tow bar. Now it flicks to red even though it’s firmly attached. I searched online and sounds like it is the safety indicator but it’s still safe to use.

To be extra cautious, I have bought some new friction pads for a better connection to the tow bar and will be sure to check the coupling is firmly attached before towing.

Woodville Camping Area

My next stop was Woodville on the return loop.

There are two reasons why I picked to stay at Woodville for two nights:

• The weather was turning bad with two days of solid rain forecast and I planned to stay put and wait it out.
• The location of my accident with the shredded tyre and missing wheel arch was just down the road and I was curious to see if I could find the wheel arch.

The town is tiny, with some basic shops and a Four Square (small supermarket). The main road is straight through town.

There is a camping area near town with about 5 powered sites and a grassy area. Go to the local petrol station to pay and get a key for the toilet and shower.

As it was about to rain, I parked on the concrete but paid for a non-powered site. This caused mass confusion that night when a bus turned up expecting to park at site 2 where I was. It really bothered this gentleman that I was there, but when I rang the petrol station, they were so relaxed and wondering what the problem was.

It’s a well maintained area, but right next to the town recycling centre with the sound of smashing glass during the day. You can also hear the highway traffic from the campground.

The loud location made me realise my obsession with finding a shower. I really should start modifying my caravan shower until I am happy with it.

Finding the Wheel Arch

My daydream was that I’d find my wheel spat on the side of the road mainly in one piece.

I drove to the gravel area where I had previously pull over to let cars pass and think this is where the tyre got a puncture. The gravel area looks fine and didn’t have anything particular sharp.

Carrying on down the road I thought I spotted some plastic and pulled over. It was part of the spat! Crossing the road, I found many small parts and started adding them to a plastic bag.

It wasn’t a whole piece like I’d secretly hoped, but I wondered if I could piece it back together like a jigsaw puzzle.

Getting back to the caravan, I found out that it was beyond my skill.

It’s been an unusual trip and has really tested me. But I still love this lifestyle and consider the tough parts as learning new skills.

Do you have any challenging caravan stories? I’d love to hear in the comments below.

The post Caravan Coupling Broke & Wheel Arch Pieces Found appeared first on Travelling K.

In the previous couple of weeks I’ve been exploring the bottom of the North Island. My last article was focused around Masterton and Lake Ferry and this article starts in the outskirts of Wellington and finishes north in Fielding.

Caravan site close to Wellington

There is an NZMCA park specifically for members on the outskirts of Wellington. Each park is different, but this one is basically just a large carpark with a dump station in the middle and a cabin with a welcome book. The advantage is the location – close to Wellington for only $3 per night.

There are not many campground options in Wellington and I’ve only found a very expensive Top 10 Park in Lower Hutt or a dodgy feeling campground in Porirua. I’ve since heard Ngatitoa Domain is a good freedom camping spot and am keen to try it. If you have a small motorhome or campervan there are a couple more options but they looked very tightly packed.

I stayed at the park for a couple of nights before moving on. Partly because my caravan shower is not particularly enjoyable and I personally found it too much like a carpark with no privacy.

How to access the NZMCA park

You need to be a NZMCA member and have a self contained vehicle. They have a new app for paying which I used for the first time and found easy. Better than trying to find the correct amount of coinage and makes things simpler for the caretaker at the park. To find the parks around New Zealand, you get a printed book when you join or have access to an app similar to CamperMate that shows where they all are.

Campground with ensuite cabins

I only moved a little way up the coast to Paraparaumu and have fallen in-love with this campground. Kapiti Holiday Resort only has powered sites between massive hedges and every single site has it’s on ensuite in a little cabin. It felt amazing knowing there was no chance of a queue with previous peoples hair in the drain and having the ability to leave my products out. The little things.

They have quite a few permanent residents and a very relaxed office attitude. I extended my stay but found it hard to get anyone to take my money at the office! It sounds like the campground is just a side business for them. It was a little more expensive than some campgrounds but still a good price for being so close to a city. And have I mentioned the ensuite cabins! I’ll be back.

Beach nearby

Another great thing about this campground is how close it is to the beach. Just one block away. I started going for a walk at lunchtime and in the evening for the sunsets. It’s the type of wind swept beach that really clears the mind and wakes you up!

Fixing greywater pipe & holes

As I had a bit of space and privacy, I crawled under the caravan and had another look at the grey water pipe that wasn’t as firmly connected as I wanted and the 2 holes that people thought needed fixing to make sure water didn’t get in and affect the caravan.

For the grey water pipe, it’s been suggested that I disconnect (unscrew) the connecter holding the pipe to the caravan enabling the pipes to connect more firmly together. It worked! I’ve also been told I need to get a sealant or something to make sure it won’t leak. This is something I still need to do…

With the two holes, one is showing the insulation material. For now I’ve cut two coke cans up and used the metal sheet to cover the two holes. I used duct-tape to seal up (which hasn’t lasted long from the dirt and shaking of the caravan). Luckily I also screwed it in to place and have been looking into how to permanently fix it.

Freedom camping in park

My next campsite was freedom camping in a park in Feilding. Timona Park is a large area with a sports field, playground and stream. It seems well set-up for self contained vehicles with private spots and plenty of trees.

I was genuinely nervous that night as I rarely freedom camp and a few teenagers in modified cars had previously roared past. I have heard locals sometimes hassle freedom campers and I wondered if they would be back. The gate apparently closes at night, but was still open when I went to bed. But I was fine and awoke to see that I even had a couple of neighbouring vans.

My ideal campground is having plenty of privacy and surrounded by nature, but when I freedom camp it’s always nice to think that if I’m bothered, there is someone nearby to help.

I’ve been enjoying this trip around the bottom of the North Island and it’s always interesting exploring, trying new campgrounds and finding new favourite spots.

I’ll be working more on my caravan soon so please let me know if you have any tips.

The post Paraparaumu Campground With Ensuite & Freedom Camping appeared first on Travelling K.

It happened and I survived.

My 1st flat tyre

It’s the second flat tyre I’ve had with this caravan and was only 4 months ago while driving into a caravan site. Because I was at a holiday park, it meant I had the time to learn how to change the tyre. I also learnt that the spare wheel under the caravan is impossible to get out and I ended up just replacing the flat tyre. I meant to fix the access to the spare wheel… I really did… but time passed.

Back to my new flat tyre

The second flat tyre was along state highway 2.

Just before it happened, I pulled onto a gravel area to let a couple of cars pass and suspect there might have been something sharp on the ground.

I carried on driving but wondered about a strange sound… It sounded like a loud motorcycle but I was sure there was none when I pulled out. Reaching a flat section of road, I started wondering what else it could be since this motorcycle should have passed by now.

That’s when I clicked and though it might be the tyre. I slowed down and pulled onto the grassy shoulder.

A car pulled up next to me saying he’d been flashing his lights for ages! Funnily enough, that day my side mirror extender kept falling off from the wind and passing trucks. After the second time, I left it on my dashboard. I couldn’t see his flashing lights! Although to be honest, even with the extender mirror I’d only see him if he wasn’t too close. I really wish he’d honked his horn.

You’ll be wondering why it took me so long to click. You’d think it was obvious. It was a blustery day with plenty of hills and corners which makes the car work harder. It was only when I was on the flat that the car felt like it was working too hard.

How to fix the flat tyre

After swearing for a while, I knew I’d need help as I still couldn’t access the spare wheel.

I called my insurance company (Covi Insurance) and went through to their roadside assistance team. I don’t pay for roadside assistance, so I got a quote for $150 which I happily paid.

They organised for a local guy to drive out.

After my first flat tyre and my failure to access the spare, other UK caravaners mentioned there was a pin I needed to take out first. I had a look and seriously couldn’t figure out where this pin was. Turns out there is one! But you need strength and pliers to pry it out.

There were 2 bolts holding the spare tyre to the metal cage. The second bolt was stuck on and required him to take it to his work and cut it off. There is no way I would have been able to do this by myself.

Where the spare tyre was kept

Once the spare wheel was released, he speedily changed the shredded wheel and oh, it was shredded!

Spare wheel on. Realised spat was ripped off too!

On the road again

The spare tyre looked a little worn and rusty as I think it hadn’t been touched in 10 years.

The plan was to carry on for another half an hour to Masterton and take the caravan straight to a tyre shop. I’d learnt that these are unusual European tyres that stores don’t normally have in stock – but can be sent for quickly. I planned to come back in two days to have the new tyre put on.

My initial plan had been to drive through Masterton and carry on to Castlepoint beach which was another hour to the coast. But I was cautioned not to risk it since I no longer had a spare tyre.

You might also be wondering why I didn’t get a new tyre before this? I had asked a tyre specialist plus a mechanic and was told it looked ok with enough tread.

Accomodation in Masterton

One of my fun activities is to browse the NZMCA campground app and save any campgrounds that sound appealing. I’d previously saved the Masterton Showgrounds as a possibly. I drove in, spotted two buses and pulled up next to
(what I guessed) was a power box.

Summer is over and it felt freezing with a dusting of snow on the nearby mountains. I decided to splurge and pay for a powered site as it’s just easier when you’re plugged into the power and my heater runs on the perfect low temperature.

This site might now be one of my favourites. It’s cheap, has lots of space, has water and there’s are lots of old toilets and showers. A relaxing spot to recover from the stress of the day.

Damage to the caravan

I did more damage to the caravan than just the tyre.

When the roadside assistant jacked up the caravan I saw water coming out of a pipe. Crawling under the caravan, I saw that a screw was gone from the grey water pipe connector and one of the pipes had popped out of its corner slots. I was able to pop the pipe back in and screw the connector more firmly onto the caravan, but suspect I need someone with more strength to firmly slot it completely in.

The wheel spat (tyre edging / frame) was also ripped off when the tyre was shredded. It’s made the side of the caravan look very ugly and almost looks like it’s been burnt. Looking online, it won’t be cheap getting a replacement. Possible $200 plus shipping from the UK or I’ll keep looking for an option in New Zealand.

Grey water connector

It’s survivable

And what I learnt from this miss-adventure? It’s survivable. If I get a flat tyre again, my spare tyre will be in my car boot for easily access, so in theory I should be able to change it myself. Although now that both caravan tyres are new, I am hoping this will never happen again.

Do you have a story about a flat tyre? I’d love to hear in the comments below.

The post Flat caravan tyre while driving appeared first on Travelling K.

My fridge has decided to play up. It’s the worst time of year for this to happen as food goes off quickly and it sounds like the heat has affected a lot of other mobile home fridges.

Fridge Problems

My 10 years old caravan fridge has always been a little temperamental for me when running on gas. This type of fridge is called a 3-way fridge because it runs on power, gas or battery (if set-up).

Since getting a solar panel, I’ve been trying to run off-grid and not be plugged in as much. Partly to save money and partly because that is the type of camping I want to do.

This summer, the fridge started playing up.

Errors started regularly appearing on the fridge panel that were mainly gas related. Then the screen would go blank from about 11am to 3pm. I started doing tiny food shops as I could no longer trust the fridge.

I tracked down a gas man in the area who specialised in motorhome and caravan appliances, but he was out of town for the week. He sounded like the best option so I waited for his return.

Because the screen was going blank for just those set times, a theory formed that this issue was heat related. The sun was heating that side of the caravan in the mornings. I took off the outside vent covers and even tried an elaborate shade to try cooling it down… and it seemed to help that problem.

I started researching where I could buy a new fridge just incase this one gave up. A self containment officer had recommended getting a compressor fridge. I hadn’t heard of them before. They run on power but are very power efficient. Overall though, getting a new fridge looked like it would cost $2k and more.

Mark from Action LGP Services came out the next week to have a look. I listed all the odd errors with the fridge and he was pretty sure he already knew what it was. He took out a part that tends to get rusty in New Zealand… possibly the burner? Mine was stuck, so he gave it a good clean. The fridge worked… for half a day. Then another error started appearing all the time. Mark looked it up and said it was power related. The next step was to get the battery checked.

As it was a Saturday afternoon the battery shop was closed. I took the battery in early Monday morning. They charged it all day and learnt it wasn’t holding it’s charge. Time to get a new battery.

While this was going on, the fridge wasn’t cold when it was running (in-between all its other problems).

Food storage

• I was able to pay a little extra and use the campground communal fridge. But then the attached room was booked which included the use of that fridge.
• I couldn’t move the caravan to a powered site as they happened to be fully booked!
• I tried turning my fridge into a chilly bin (ice box) but the ice didn’t last very long.
• My neighbour kindly said I could store a couple of items in their outside beer fridge. Then kindy offered to let me plug into their home for a week until I got a new battery!

New Batteries

I’d planned to buy bigger batteries before winter. Last winter I really struggled if there were a couple of days rain in a row and no sun reached the solar panel.

My original battery was just 95ah. It’s basically the smallest you want to go. I’m pretty sure I had previously damaged the battery when I didn’t understand how long you could use the battery – turns out it’s just two days on that tiny battery.

Because I was planned to go away for 2 weeks, I wanted the new battery ASAP. I started ringing around and looking online before eventually deciding to go with AA Solar batteries. They were one of the cheapest, they set-up my solar panel so knew my system and they said the batteries would arrive quickly.

I’d been picking up bits of advice for some time. When I first got the solar panel, I was all about Lithium batteries and how amazing they sounded. But the general talk is how they are still a new technology so are very expensive. Deep cell gel batteries sounded the next best option. They are sealed and don’t require any maintenance. That sounds like my type of battery!

I’d planned to double my battery capacity with one 200ah battery, thinking this would be a huge jump! I found AA Solar has a 150ah battery which weighed 46kg and decided no-one could handle one heavier than that. Plus I’ve always been paranoid about my caravan’s weight distribution after warnings from different people. 

Talking to AA Solar on the phone, I was told this battery wasn’t big enough for what I planned to use it for. I’d mentioned my laptop as the biggest powered item, the possibility of winter in the South Island one-day and maybe getting a compressor fridge if mine finally died. Basically I could get a cheaper battery with a shorter warranty or get two 6 volt 300ah batteries with a 5 year warranty. Looks like I was getting the more expensive option!

The grand total for these batteries was $1k and it still wasn’t certain if this would fix my fridge issues. I had been hoping to get grey water tanks soon, but they have been pushed down the list.

The batteries arrived in town and the company helped load the very heavy batteries into my car boot.

I’d been feeling uncertain about my ability to correctly attach these batteries. Another of my neighbours is a semi-retired electrical mechanic and offered to help. I’m glad he did as I would have been stuck a few times.

Between the two of us, we shifted the batteries under the sofa seat. This is where all my solar power controls are. Fuses were taken out. A wire needed cutting and reattaching which is where I would have become stuck. A wire went from positive to negative on the two batteries which made them parallel or series batteries?!?! Still figuring it out. This means the batteries go from 6 volt to 12 volt which is what you want in a caravan or motorhome. But the total amp hours is still only 300.

My two new batteries

The power error has since disappeared but the fridge hasn’t been cold for the last couple of days. Seems to be ok right now… guess we’ll see how it goes.

What I’ve learnt

• There are 3-way fridges and compressor fridges. A 3 way fridge runs on power, gas or battery (if set-up). A compressor fridge runs off your battery or power but is very energy efficient. A compressor fridge might make a bit of noise but is more reliable – it’s also cheaper!
• Juicies are fantastic when the freezer is mostly working. They are sealed in plastic so can’t melt everywhere. The problem is if they overheat for too long, then they inflate and burst!

Overall, having a working fridge is really handy! Especially when it’s crazy hot and all you want is something cool to drink.

Have you had fridge problems this summer? Think you know what’s wrong with my fridge? I’d love to hear in the comments below.

The post Caravan Fridge Errors & New Batteries appeared first on Travelling K.

I really enjoyed showing-off this lifestyle and possibly encouraging future adventures in a mobile home. We had great food and an awesome catchup while taking in the sights around the Hawkes Bay area.

Now to the challenging parts!

No Space

My caravan has a fix double bed and the seating area converts into a queen sized bed. It also has a sliding door to divide the two spaces.

I must say, I would only ever have people stay who I know well. There is no real privacy. Sounds carries and the caravan wobbles with every movement. Luckily I knew my guests very well and I’m a regular guest at their house.

What I learnt 

• The drop down bench that extends the bench area was very helpful. I don’t usually bother with it when I’m on my own.
• Having a public toilet and shower for everyone to use made life easier.
• It would be helpful to have an awning with outside seats. It becomes challenging when people get up at different times in the morning. Plus who wants to make a bed before their first cup of tea or coffee! Luckily for this visit there was a public seating area nearby.

Dog in Caravan

I’ve been daydreaming about getting a dog for a while. One of my hesitations was wondering how a dog would find the caravan. It was a great chance to see how Rocket (the dog) would find it.

What I learnt 

• He seemed more settled than my friends expected. They thought he liked that he could see and potentially defend the whole home. There was only one entrance!
• He seemed to enjoy having his bed under the table. I don’t know if it felt more secure and cave-like or if he liked being as close as possible to his owners. The bed actually fit perfectly in the area!
• There are a couple of other dogs and cats in this campground. This did cause a bit of difficulty… one cat was very cheeky and kept sneaking up to look around. Another dog was aggressively defending its territory and would bark like crazy whenever he saw Rocket. This makes me realise that consideration is required for dog friendly locations.
• Rocket was on a longer lead whenever he was outside and it seemed to work ok. His drink and food was kept just outside the door.
• Dogs shed hair. And I have lots left in the carpet and mat to highlight that fact. I imagine it would be an ongoing chore.
• Where would I keep the dog food?

Other hesitations

• I don’t think it would be right for me to get a dog until I can take the dog with me everywhere.
• Having a dog would cost money… I’m trying to spend as little as possible right now.
• There are lots of great campgrounds that don’t allow dogs.
• Hiking in the national parks would create a challenge as dogs are not allowed.
• Dog needing to go to the toilet… still unsure how it would go.

Desires

• I’d really like the company.
• I’d feel more secure. A dog to alert me when someone’s outside and hopefully scare them away. Unfortunately there is always that concern when travelling as a solo female.
• I just want a dog… *shrug*

What do you think? Should I get a dog? Let me know in the comments below.

The post Guests & dog staying in caravan appeared first on Travelling K.

I was moving the caravan from Hawkes Bay to Taupo with the plan of staying a few days before heading north. I’d just set up the caravan in Taupo when everything started to go wrong. My phone broke,  I was asked to leave the NZMCA park and then I got a flat tyre on the caravan!

Accident 1: Phone Died

The first thing to go wrong was that my phone completely stopped working. The apple icon just flashed on and off even after putting it on charger. I kept trying over a couple of days with no luck.

It’s strange how dependent we become with our smart phones. It is my clock, alarm clock, map, taxi, weather forecast, entertainment as well as a communication device.

I’d cracked the screen recently and eventually decided that it was properly dead and went to a mobile store to buy a new phone.

Accident 2: Asked to Leave NZMCA Park

This is quite an embarrassing accident. I had set up the caravan and was talking to a friend through my laptop (since the phone wasn’t working) when a custodian of the park appeared at my door and started telling me off. He really wasn’t happy with my grey water tank. I went outside with him and we had a chat.

I have been cheeky with the grey water tanks – I confess. When I got my Self Containment, the officer converted the waste tank so there was no chance of water falling onto the ground. Everything is sealed. There is even a clear pipe that goes up which warns you when it’s full and designed to start flooding your shower as a guide.

The problem I have is that it’s just too heavy for me to lift into my car boot to drive to the dumping station, if there is none at the campground.

When originally faced with this problem, I came up with some complicated ideas like a car ramp, pulley system or water pump. Then I thought of a simpler idea… why not have two smaller tanks!

What made the custodian unhappy was that it could possibly overflow and get waste water on the ground.

I didn’t have my correct official tank with me, so I was asked to leave.

Being genuinely curious, I asked a whole lot of questions and I’ll pass on to you what I’ve learnt:

• The best solution would be to get a grey water tank fitted under the caravan.
• I could modify the smaller tank to be the same set-up as the correct official grey water tank. I recently saw that Burnsco sells the parts.
• The grey water tank has to be the same size or larger than the fresh water tank.
• Be aware that the new tank should sit lower than the hose off the side of the caravan for the water to flow in.
• Other people sometime use two people to lift correct official tank into the car or tip waste water into smaller tanks.

Accident 3: Flat Tyre on the Caravan

I moved to a campground I’ve been to before. It’s on the edge of Taupo along the Thermal Explorer Highway. It’s down a gravel road and is very peaceful. There are birds and llamas wondering around.

The campground is called Wairakei Natural Thermal Valley.

I parked next to a field before noticing the flat tyre on the caravan.

By this point, I was tired. The last thing I wanted to do was change a tyre and decided to wait a day.

Refreshed, I went to take out the spare tyre from under the caravan. It’s an AL-KO brand and looked like no one had touched it since being fitted in 2007! I found some very helpful instructions on Caravan Talk. After much fiddling around I realised I wasn’t going to be able to get the spare wheel out.

It now looked like I’d need to take the spare wheel off and take it into town. As it was Sunday, I needed to wait until the next day.

The people at the campground are very helpful and friendly. The owner had previously helped me when my break lights connection from car to caravan needed to be replaced. This time, the caretaker lent me his jack (I’ve since bought one) and even loosened the screws on the wheel rim for me. But I was determined to learn how to do this myself!

Taking the tyre off was easy enough and I took it to Terrys Tyres in Taupo – recommended by the caretaker. They took one look at it and said I’d need a new tyre. Because it was an unusual size they needed to order one in!

Luckily it only took a day to arrive. I was nervous about sleeping in the caravan with it sitting on just the jack and stabilising legs. They kindly lent me a tool to support the caravan just incase the jack gave way.

A very long process to replace the tyre – but for it to happen while I was in a campground was the best place.

What a week!

I’m now in the process of getting a quote for grey water tanks fitted under the caravan and he’ll also look at the spare wheel.

Have you had a similar bad day? I’d love to hear in the comments below.

The post A Series of Unfortunate Caravan Accidents appeared first on Travelling K.

Caravan’s Warrant of Fitness

As I’ve had the caravan for a year, it’s time to get the warrant of fitness.

In New Zealand, you need to get a warrant of fitness for an vehicle or trailer to show it’s safe to drive on the road and then pay for it’s registration separately.

I asked a local motorhomer where it was best to go and booked a visit. I’m glad I asked, as the place I had thought to go has a bad reputation in this area. Asking a local definitely seems the way to go!

Facts & Cost

• A caravan is classed as a trailer, and only needs to get it’s WoF once a year, where-as a car needs a WoF every 6 months.
• Another advantage is the price. The WoF cost $35 and the registration for the caravan for a whole year is only $35.57!

Luckily there were no problems with my WoF and I now have a new sticker in the window.

I’d been a little nervous beforehand, as this was the first time with this caravan and I was wondering if there would be an expensive item to fix.

Spraying in Apple Orchard

I love my new spot in the orchard, but the down-side is that once a week, this crazy looking machine (which looks like something from a Star Wars movie) goes around completely coating the apple trees in a fungicide spray which is used to protect the trees but my caravan gets coated too!

This will carry on until the apples have grown to a set size.

I’m going to move soon, because altho I love being surrounded by the apple trees, it’s a hassle cleaning the exterior of the caravan once a week.

Emptying the Cassette Toilet

In this video – I also show how I empty the toilet.

The toilet cassette is accessed from the exterior and easily pulled out. Everything is automatically sealed.

There is a handle for easy moving on it’s side, but my seals are starting to fail, so I am currently carrying it flat, to avoid leakage! Yum!

Some campgrounds have Dumping Stations, but this place doesn’t. I put the cassette in my boot and drive to the closest Dumping Station which I find on the Campermate or NZMCA App.

I just unscrew the cap, point at the hole, put a button on the cassette for air flow and away it goes. I use blue chemicals in the cassette and pink chemicals in the flushing system which neutralises all smells and breaks down the toilet paper. I buy the chemicals from Burnsco.

To avoid angering the next people, I clean the drain and wash my hands. Done. Easy.

Sunsets & Quiet Times

It’s such a peaceful place and I love the golden hour and the sunsets. Just being able to sit and watch out the windows from my comfortable caravan lounge while listening to the birds. This is one of the reason why I decided to buy the caravan.

Would you be willing to empty the toilet? Do you have any tips, advice or questions? I’d love to hear them in the comments below.

The post Caravan WoF & Life in an Apple Orchard appeared first on Travelling K.

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This was one of the most stressful drives I’ve done so far – driving from Coromandel Town to Whitianga in New Zealand.

My mechanic had wanted to do some work on the car before I tackled any big hills, but I decided to spend the money on travel instead.

The first hill leaving Coromandel Town (towards Whitianga) is surprisingly large and I got stuck behind a massive truck going 5km up hill. My engine overheated and started to steam but there were no places to pull over. Stressful.

I reached the top and the breeze on the way down cooled the engine. Reaching the bottom, I stopped to let my engine recover – and let myself recover too.

Tips for overheated engines

Since this trip, I’ve taken the car to my mechanic, had some work done on the car and he gave me some tips for if this happens again.

• Pull over if you can and keep engine running
• Have the car fan on as this brings in wind over the radiator
• Never open the radiator cap if hot
• Pour water evenly over radiator to help cool down

Arriving at Whitianga

I couldn’t decide where to stay for the night as the first campground option was closed for winter, and the next campground didn’t inspire me. This is the advantage of travelling with the caravan, the freedom to be picky. Especially in winter when there are less people around and nowhere is full.

Arriving at the Whitianga NZMCA campground, I decided to stay and rest. I was uncertain about this campground to start with, as you could hear nearby builders and it was very windy. But the advantages were the cheap price, close to the shops, had rubbish bins and a fresh water tap.

Whitianga is completely different to Coromandel Town, as there are many new houses being built with their own cannel for personal boats.

Hahei

My next stop was Hahei. I stayed at Hahei Holiday Park which is right by the beach. In winter it cost me $20 a night, but in summer over the holidays the minimum would be $80 for 2 people, and I wouldn’t be able to get it for less. A big plus for winter travel.

There is a surprising amount to explore in the area with Cathedral Coves and Hot Water Beach. I ended up staying longer than planned and sure to be back… in winter.

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This winter adventure has somehow been extremely stressful and yet very relaxing.

Living in a caravan does make you live in the moment and really see what is around.

Have you ever had your car or motor vehicle overheat? I’d love to hear your story in the comments below!

The post Engine overheating | Coromandel Town to Hahei appeared first on Travelling K.

Explore the slightly warmer Coromandel over the New Zealand winter seemed like a good idea. But then it rained, and rained and rained. 

I arrived at the NZMCA Coromandel Town campground, after a drive navigating the roadworks from sections washed away in previous storms. The campground was down a long driveway and opened onto a field. NZMCA is a New Zealand organisation with perks like very basic but cheap campgrounds. I left the gravel entrance and picked a spot on the other side for privacy if anyone turned up.

I knew the weather was going to turn in the next couple of days, so planned to sit it out before moving on. What I didn’t realise was the bad weather planned to hang around for a long time.

3 days of rain

It ended up being over 3 days of solid rain. I was running power off my one solar panel and a damaged battery. It was a long 3 days. What I’ve learnt from my experience in the wet New Zealand winter:

Need a new battery

I think this stay would have been manageable if I had batteries that stored more power and could last longer in wet weather. It just wasn’t working for me and I needed regular visits into Coromandel Town for a place to recharge my laptop.

Generator

I’ve slowly started to think getting a generator might be worthwhile. Something small that I could lift on my own. The down side is the noise. A bus appeared for 1 night and they apparently had a quiet generator, but I could still hear it on the other side of the campground. What are your thoughts on generators?

Running out of gas

I ran out of gas one morning, when I needed that first hot drink. Luckily there was a gas station close by to swap bottles and I had a warm cup of tea in hand soon enough.

I haven’t been cautious with my gas usage and have been using it for my heater, hot water and cooking. I’ve only used 2 bottles in 1 year, but now I’m staying off-grid, I’m curious to see how long it will last. There is room for another gas bottle and I’m considering adding it to avoid future surprises.

I was given a tip on how to tell my gas level… pour hot water on the bottle and you’ll be-able to feel which part is cold – you may even be-able to see the condensation. The colder area is the gas level.

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Handy tools

Below are the two products I mention in the video that have been very helpful:

• I have a combination shower / toilet and find the water sits at the bottom of the shower and I need to clean it after every use. I bought a window wiper that has been one of my favourite purchases so far! 
• As I’m on solar power, I looked at my light bulbs and saw they were 10w each. I usually have two lights on in the evenings, with one light using two light bulbs. This was meaning I was using 30W of power. By changing these light bulbs, I now only use 9W and already see this helps saving power. I bought my light bulbs from Lighting Plus. 

Facilities in the area

One problem I’m attempting to fix is the inability to wash my hair in the caravan shower. I just don’t have enough water and I need to figure out why it’s not draining fast enough.  Looking on the CamperMate App, I visited the pools for a shower, only to find they’re closed for winter. After fretting about my dirty hair, I asked the friendly lady at the information centre and learnt there was another option at the gym. I have a new appreciation of showers connected to the water supply. All that water gushing out and no need to empty a grey water tank.

A visit to the laundromat helped with all my muddy clothes and I was able to charge my laptop. The laundromat was a great place to meet the locals and I loved how friendly and relaxed everyone was.

Checking out the NZMCA App, I found the Coromandel Town dumping station. There’s no tap at the NZMCA campsite, so I became a regular sight filling up with fresh water and dumping my grey water. Because I’m currently just using small tanks, I need to visit every second day. 

Staying on my own

I felt comfortable staying at this campsite on my own. I think this is partly from practice, as I stay on my own more often and the location felt secure. People driving past couldn’t see me, but there were people in houses and businesses around if needed.

How to pass the time

I’ve found I can easily keep myself entertained if I have enough power for my internet modem and laptop. There is always something to do. The problem is I regularly run low on power to run them and I’m currently trying to fix this.

I also love to read and have a Kindle and eBooks App on my phone.

Fear of being bogged down

As it kept raining, the water couldn’t soak into the soil and the surface water increased. My poor boots were getting saturated! Time to buy some gumboots. I was worried that when it came time to leave, the caravan would be bogged down and I wouldn’t be-able to move on until everything dried out.

I eventually became over my cabin fever and though the ground was still very water-logged, I hooked up the caravan, changed the car to four wheel drive and slowly drove off the grass and back onto the gravel.

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Have you ever struggled with multiple wet days in a tiny space? Do you have any tips? I’d love to hear in the comments below.

The post Caravanning Off-Grid in New Zealand Winter appeared first on Travelling K.