Tell me a bit about yourself?

I am a 31 year old male living alone in my caravan. I worked as a regional manager before this, looking after a wide range of businesses in the electrical wholesale industry. I was brought up in Hamilton but born in Tokoroa. I have always been interested in living with less and enjoying life in a more simple way.

What is your caravan model and age?

2018 Weinsberg 450 fu

What tow vehicle do you have and would you recommend it?

Toyota Mark X 2005 2.5L AWD works well but fuel consumption when towing is high.

Why did you decide to buy a caravan?

I wanted to live off grid for at least a year. I had looked at many tiny designs but I eventually decided I wanted to stay mobile and a caravan seemed like the best way to go.

What has surprised you about living in a caravan?

Emptying the toilet waste is not so bad. It’s amazing how easy living in a caravan is – you give up very little.

What have you added or improved to your caravan? What are your definite musts?

I added a large amount of solar and a lithium battery system as well as a generator and 2x 12kg gas bottles so I can stay off grid longer without the need to go to powered campgrounds and be able to go longer with no gas bottle fill ups. I think in winter down south a generator is a must if you don’t want to go to a powered campground.

Is there anything else you plan to improve?

Adding another toilet cassette so I don’t have to visit the dump station as often.

How did you learn the practical aspects of caravanning?

Forums, Youtube and from the dealer who sold me the caravan.

How do you afford this lifestyle?

I have money from my house sale.

What advice would you give to anyone thinking of living permanently in a caravan?

Join the NZMCA, make your caravan as off grid capable as possible and add as much solar as you can fit on the roof. One of the biggest costs is petrol so try to set up a home base in one location as long as possible.

Do you still have a home base? Where does your mail go?

I have a friend that I send all my mail to. I do not have a home base as such. I sold everything aside from what I have in the caravan.

What New Zealand camping sites have been your favourite so far and why?

Lots all of them. The freedom campground at Lake Pukaki was really nice as well as the Tekapo NZMCA site.

What does your ideal camping site need?

Water, dump station and a pretty view.

How do you find driving and reversing with a caravan?

Driving is okay. Keep in mind that the caravan is wider than the car and take it slowly. Reversing is something I’m still getting used to.

What is your power set-up and do you find you have enough?

I have 2x 150w and 1x 260w solar panel, with a 200ah lithium battery, and a Ryobi 1100w generator. It depends where I am – most of the time I can stay running off solar, but in the deep south where sun hours are less, I find I have to run my generator more.

How do you find collecting water and disposing of waste water?

Not too much of an issue using 20L containers with my 80L onboard tank I am able to collect water then pump it into the tank.

How do you find the toilet and shower onboard?

The toilet is good. The shower is okay, but the space is small. It would be nice to have a larger space, but it works as intended.

What are your favourite websites or YouTube channels for practical advice or inspiring RVers?

Travelingk and BuslifeNZ

What is your plan with this caravan lifestyle? Do you think you’ll still be in the caravan in a years time?

I was planning to do this for 1 year but beyond that I don’t know.

Have you recently bought a caravan, bus, motorhome or campervan? I’d love to hear how you are finding the experience.

The post Interview with David and his Weinsberg 450 fu Caravan appeared first on Travelling K.

The biggest concern with starting this lifestyle is how to earn money while travelling – well, for people who aren’t retired anyway. I’ll admit, I still haven’t got the perfect set-up, but I’m getting there.

I’m a graphic designer and turns out this is a great career for travel. It honestly didn’t cross my mind when I start my university course. I’ve now been workings for over 10 years and was able to still do this job in London and Melbourne as the same software is used worldwide.

Here’s a quick overview of my career

4 years at university
Bachelor of Art & Design (Graphics) at Auckland University of Technology.
Yarn company in Auckland
Wentworth Distributors is a New Zealand yarn company that distributes it’s brand “Naturally”.
Design projects included refreshing their overall brand look, printed brochures, website, yarn labels and press ads.
World-wide advertising in Auckland
Y&R Advertising with clients from Bank of New Zealand, Farmlands farm retail store.
Design projects included layout of magazines, booklets, press ads, online banners, mailers, forms, brochures, DLs, billboards.
Freelanced in London and Auckland
Through recruitment agencies who place me in a company. These jobs range from 2 days to 6 months.

London: GPJ international events company, Mitie strategic outsourcing company, City Index financial markets company, Jack Wills clothing store, Hogan Lovells law firm and Action for Children charity.

Auckland: Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising, Villa Maria Winery, Special Advertising, Hyde Advertising, Radio Network, SkyCity, KPMG and Auckland Council.
Small design agency in London
Clients were Legal & General insurance company, Bagel Street food retail, D’lish food retail, The Belfast Airport Foodcourt, The Who Cares Trust charity and Specsavers opticians.
Design projects included magazines, multi-paged leaflets, food packaging, food court design, press ads, posters, newsletters and exhibition stands.
Family run corporate company in Melbourne
Connective is a corporate company who are the middleman between banks/lenders and mortgage brokers.
Design projects included refreshing their overall brand look, WordPress websites, emails, sale brochures, direct mail campaigns, stationery, banners, online and print ads, expo events and videos.
Travel company in Auckland
Flight Centre is a worldwide retail travel company with over 17,000 employees and 30 brands across 11 countries.
Design projects included After Effects digital screens for the retail stores, website banners eDM’s Flash banners, campaign posters, press, DM’s, videos, travel expos, pull-up banners and other print material.
Small design agency in Hawkes Bay
Milk & Sticks is a new company with some impressive clients. They are Keep New Zealand Beautiful, Fingermark – a technology company and New Zealand Broadcasting.
Design projects include website design and build, logo design, brochures, booklets, posters, social media banners, t-shirt design and more.

How have I earned money while living in the caravan?

When I decided to buy a caravan I’d been saving for a house before deciding that this was never going to happen in Auckland. I switched my aim towards a caravan instead and saved for another 6 months working at my permanent Auckland job.

I then quit and went on a roadtrip to find the caravan and bought one in Nelson in the South island of New Zealand. I had grand plans of starting an online business that would support me. Turns out 3 months is definitely not enough time to succeed and I didn’t particularly enjoy the direction I was going anyway.

After 3 months, I ran out of money and made my way back to Auckland where I freelanced over winter – doing small trips away in the caravan to the Waikato and the Coromandel. I learnt that it’s hard to live in a caravan in a city if you don’t have friends or family with land for you to stay on. After a few false starts, I found the best campground option in Northcote.

In spring, an old workmate asked if I wanted to work part-time for her new graphic design agency in Hawkes Bay. I was desperate to get out of Auckland as living in the city wasn’t what I wanted – especially while living in a caravan. I’ve been at Milk & Sticks for over 6 months now and it’s worked well. I’ve ended up going into the office ⅔ of the time and travelling and working online ⅓ of the time. Working part-time has also enabled me to focus more on TravellingK.

Unfortunately the contract has gone quiet lately and this last week I’ve been worrying about money – which is never fun. I’ve learnt that I can live on 2 days a week of work, and save a little if I work 3 days a week. In the last month there’s been a few times when I’ve worked less than 2 days a week which means I’ve dipped into my tiny savings. And there have been some big caravan expenses lately – from things breaking to getting ready for winter.

So if you know of anyone after a graphic designer let me know! The ideal client would be a small to medium sized business who is happy for me to work remotely. I’m keen to have another day of work a week.

Does TravellingK make any money?

I started TravellingK over 1.5 years ago and have been spending money instead of making money. It’s definitely been a passion project. Web hosting for this website costs money, the website template to make it look nicer cost money, my monthly bill for the programs to edit the videos cost money. I’d hate to find out the grand total I’ve spent and add up all the hours of work.

YouTube Earnings

In the last couple of months – basically since I reached 1000 subscribers on YouTube, there has be a change. I had been making $5 a month through those annoying YouTube banners that sit on the videos. When I reached 1000 subscribers it jumped to $10 a month – this is also probably because of the change to YouTube with needing more subscribers and view to monetisation your channel. Now I’m over 2000 subscribers and earning $17 a month! I’m hoping it just keeps growing.

Also, I can’t touch this money until I reach NZ$130. But the good news is I’m so close to reaching that amount! Soon, very soon.

Patreon

I finally started Patreon which now seems to be the main way a YouTuber can make a living.

You can pay as little as $1 a month and have access to a whole lot more. I am more open on this platform as it feels safer for a solo female than on a public platform like YouTube or Facebook. I share some of the graphics I’ve designed (although I’ve been a little slack and only posted 1 so far, but more are coming!). I share more up to date news and the little wins for TravellingK.

The $5 and $20 a month tier also have a group monthly Skype chat with me.

The $20 tier gets a personal thank you message in my videos!

I think this is the best way for me to make any money for TravellingK at my 2000 subscribers level. I think this is the level YouTubers need support. It’s a tricky balance to keep growing the channel but earn enough to live off. Once I get to a certain level, then I should hopefully have more time to make other sellable products and be more self-sufficent. There are days where I wonder why I’m spending so many hours doing this. So, if you would like to help, please consider becoming my patron.
Designing merchandise

I’ve also started designing RV and kiwiana designs that a company called RedBubble print and post out to people. I’ve sold 3 products so far and plan to keep adding more designs. Well, when I find the time. I do have plenty of ideas for this.

Click here to see what designs I’ve created so far.

I’ve also started designing stickers. Some small ones to add to journals or walls and also larger stickers for on caravans and motorhomes. Again, this is an area I’m expanding and will keep updating!

Click here to see the latest stickers.

Selling photos

As a graphic designer, I’ve regularly bought images from Shutterstock but it’s interesting being on the other side – contributing the photos. It’s not the fastest way to make money as I’ve sold 1 photo and only made 25c. I’ll keep adding photos and see how it goes.

So that’s it – this is how I afford this caravan lifestyle.

Keen to help?

I have been worrying this last week about money with the contract job going quieter. I really really don’t want to end up back in Auckland as I’d be back to full-time freelancing with less time for the videos and they’d surely become very dull too.

The 3 main ways to help:

• If you need any graphic design work done – please contact me. The ideal client would be a small to medium sized business who are happy for me to work remotely. I’m keen to have another day of work a week.
• Become a patron! Even $1 a month means the world to me and really motivates me to keep making these videos!
• Just keep watching, commenting and sharing my videos. This all helps me grow and the more I grow the more I can earn through YouTube advertising. A big thank you to all of you who have helped me reach this stage.

There’s definitely less certainty to a permanent 9-5 job but there’s no way I want to go back to full time in an office. I’m curious to learn if you have any other ideas for me to earn money? I’d be keen to hear.

The post How do I afford this caravan lifestyle? appeared first on Travelling K.

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.

But because it’s so small, the caravan looks messy very quickly. A few items left out take over the whole area.

Because collecting fresh water and dumping waste water is an ongoing chore, it’s best to be conscious of the water you use while cleaning. I end up using more wet wipes and throw away cloths.

Entrance Mat

The entrance area is easy to get dirty. If you think about the foyer of a house, that usually has the dirtiest carpet. And most campground sites are either on grass or gravel which is transferred into the caravan. I’ve just experienced a few days of rain and there’s clumps of mud on the mat.

I have an outside mat too which I sit next to my steps when travelling and the mud from the mat ends up on the wall.

How do I clean the area? I have a small dustpan with a stiff brush then use baby wipes to remove the mud from the wall and the surrounding mat.

Carpet & Floor

My caravan is a 2008 Sterling Europa model where the carpets are in 2 sections that are easy to take out. This does simplify cleaning the carpet as I usually take it outside to clean.

Over summer I have kept the smaller carpet under the table but took out the larger carpet which normal covers the rest of the area. I might permanently keep it like this as it’s a lot easier to clean.

I don’t have a vacuum cleaner as there’s no place to store it. Also I’m usually not plugged into the power and my inverter can’t handle the wattage required.

The way I clean it is to use a stiff brush and just brush the carpet…. it works. Luckily it’s such a small space it doesn’t take long.

For the lino floor, I use Dettol Floor Cleaning Mop which is light-weight, mess fresh and uses disposable wipes. The advantage of this product is it can fit under the heater and fridge to clean the areas I can’t reach. Learn more about the caravan cleaning accessories I use here.

Bathroom

The bathroom space is tiny with a combination shower / toilet. If I was getting a caravan again I would get a separate shower because it becomes annoying wiping the shower base down so I can use the toilet.

To be able to freedom camp and stay at cheaper sites in New Zealand you need to be self contained. To be self contained, your grey water set-up is changed so that if your tank becomes too full it floods the shower base instead of overflowing onto the ground. A clever system, but this means the shower base regularly get dirty. I’ve had last nights pumpkin soup turn up in the shower base before.

I’ve also started storing my larger pot plant next to the toilet while traveling. It’s worked well as it’s wedged into the small space. But this does mean I get some leaves and dirt around the toilet.

There is a skylight above the shower which I usually leave open if it’s not raining or too cold. But when you open the screen to close the skylight, leaves and twigs that have come through end up on the ground.

Cleaning the toilet is just wiping it down… even inside the bowl. There is no water in the toilet bowl like a house toilet.

I saw that my pipes really need a bit of maintenance. I need to find some liquid to clean away the slime that’s started building up.

The vanity sink is outside the toilet area and is next to my bed. It’s just like a house sink with no surprises.

Kitchen

This is the area you see as soon as you step into the caravan. I’m lazy and usually leave a few dishes to dry which tends to make the area look cluttered.

The stove stop always needs a good clean. Food and fat end up splattering the wall to the side and the glass screen in front.

I use the grill just for my toast so there are bread crumbs scattered around. The stove is really just like any house stove… I see it’s actually due a proper clean.

There are a few different challenges with cleaning in a caravan compared to a house. And that’s lack of water, lack of storage and if not plugged into the power, lack of power for vacuum cleaners.

If you want to know what accessories I have in the caravan, I have written this article about it.

Do you live in an RV? How is this different to you? Do you have any tips? I’d love to hear in the comments below.

The post Cleaning the Inside of a Caravan appeared first on Travelling K.

I’ve learnt that there are ALWAYS things breaking or needing maintenance in an RV. I’ve got a list of little jobs still to do – the broken door latch, adding another cutlery draw, adding grease to joints and more.

This week I was able to tick off two items – the toilet and mould issues.

Thetford Toilet Cassette

My toilet cassette has been leaking for months. It would be fine until tipped sideways to carry or when emptying the waste. It was in a weird place too, on a small section which I still don’t know what it does.

I’ve been procrastinating about buying a new one because they are about $300 each, so I’ve been putting up with the leak.

Moving the toilet cassette started requiring me to keep it flat and definitely gave me a muscle workout. I also accepted that it was going to be messy emptying at the dump stations.

When I visited the Covi Motorhome, Caravan & Outdoor Supershow, I talked to the Thetford stall. Turns out there is a filter under this mysterious button that could be replaced for $30. Then I saw that their new toilet cassettes had wheels! With the expo discount included, I was sold. Who wants to fiddle around fixing messy cassette filters and seals when I could get a brand new cassette with wheels.

If you are interesting in getting a new toilet cassette in New Zealand, contact the wholesaler Lewis Gray at sales@lewisgray.com

Needed a clean inside

Mould Problem

This has been slow happening since I bought the caravan. There are some amazing large windows on an angle at the front of the caravan. It does cause it to become a bit of a sunroom. The fake wood windowsill started to slowly curl away.

Then over summer I kept the windows on the second latch so a tiny bit of air could come through while still being secure and locked. Because these windows are on an angle and we sometimes get horizontal rain in New Zealand, I think water was getting in and sitting on the windowsill without me being aware.

I eventually noticed when there was some mould. I took mould cleaner to it and have kept an eye on the area since. But curling fake wood with the odd bleach spot wasn’t a great look.

Mitre10 hardware store sold test squares of lino and I cut some to fit the space. Because the lino tiles are thick, they are sitting really well and have completely flattened the area.

Plenty of people have asked if the caravan gets mouldy. There’s a van blogger I follow who always has condensation and mould problems in winter, but I didn’t seem to have any issues with my caravan. I’m hoping this is it and my problem has been solved.

What’s on your to-do list? How do you deal with mould? Would you be able to handle a toilet cassette? I’d love to hear in the comments below.

The post Unboxing Caravan Toilet Cassette & Mould Found appeared first on Travelling K.

I wandered around the show and stopped at anything that particularly grabbed my attention. There was so much to see and the below is really only a fraction of the show.

WBR Campers

They convert vans into campervans and can use either your own van, or they buy new-ish Japanese imports and modify them. You have complete control of how much you want done – whether you just want the pop-top added or the whole interior fitted. They are self contained so you can freedom camp in New Zealand.

I filmed the basic starter campervan, but around the corner were other more expensive options.

They have just branched into renting out the campervans too.

Campers: www.wbr.co.nz

Rental: popaboutcampers.co.nz

Jayco

A popular Australian brand, they had a huge area for their caravan and motorhomes. The two that stood out:

Toy Hauler

For the toys obviously. There was a ramp that opened up the whole back area and lead to space for your bikes with a couple of bunk beds.

At the other end was a bed in a pop-out tent area.

This trailer has Jayco’s massive wheels and looked like it could go anywhere.

Starcraft Caravan

One of their cheaper caravans, it was also one of my favourites at the show. I think because it wasn’t overly fussy looking inside. It had the island bed for easy access, a nice seating area and a seperate shower. Just ticked all my boxes.

www.jayco.co.nz

Clark Global Expedition Vehicles

The most photographed vehicle at the show, this beast of a machine towed over everything. The owner constructed it in London before travelling around Russia and the Stans – there was a map inside with the impressive routes. He has now set up a business making expedition vehicles.

www.clark-global.com

TrailLite Baileys Unicorn Cartagena

This caravan had amazing windows at the front. They went all the way up and you would feel like you’re sitting outside. Everything was of the best quality and I was jealous of the separate shower and large fridge/freezer. I did see that there were many caravans at the show with the bed sitting sideways which could be shortened for easy daytime movement.

www.traillite.co.nz/caravans/unicorns

Eriba Caravans

Funnily enough I had just seen this brand on YouTube and thought it looked lovely. I think modern caravans are generally not the best looking on the outside but the Eriba is very slick and attractive.

It’s a small caravan with a pop-top and would really be for the shorter holidays.

www.eriba.com

Explorer Motorhomes | Frontier Backpack

Described as a 4WD Motorhome, it’s the type where the living area sits on top of a ute. Climbing up the ladder, it felt surprisingly large inside and really has everything you need. Kitchen, seating area, permanently made bed, toilet – it even has a shower!

If I was moving around every day or two and wanting to get to out of the way places, I would consider a set-up like this.

www.explorermotorhomes.co.nz

New Age

This is the second time I’ve filmed this caravan. It feels different to other caravans with the door at the end. It’s only a 2-berth caravan when driving,  but has a pop-out bed in a tent area to maximise the space and makes it a 4-berth.

newagecaravans.com.au

Bivouac Campers

Camper trailers fold up small for driving but open up into a living area on top of the trailer. I think of anything with a tent as Australian style. It has chunky off road tyres and really is designed for warm weather. It would be fun and definitely a more affordable option than other brands at the show.

www.bivouaccampers.co.nz

GO Rentals

I was excited to see this here. GO Rentals is a car rental company I’ve used in New Zealand for previous South Island exploration. I saw online that they now rent out caravans and I’ve been curious to see inside. This would be the PERFECT way for someone considering buying a caravan to have a taste of the lifestyle before purchasing.

This is what I wanted access to before buying mine. A way to calm some of my concerns like towing a caravan and handling a toilet cassette. At the time I could only find expensive motorhomes to rent (although I’ve since learnt that the odd dealer sometimes rents caravans too).

It’s an unusual looking vehicle and quite slim, with a pop-top roof and toilet accessed from outside. All you need to comfortably explore New Zealand.

www.gorentals.co.nz/campers

Lilliput Caravans

The Lilliput caravan club was also at the show. Lilliput caravans are very cute vintage caravans that the members restore and personalise. I met a friendly couple in their caravan who follow TravellingK and I absolutely loved getting their feedback and thoughts. They are so upbeat and fun, I hope to meet them again in the future.

The club recently published a book about the history and stories of the caravans and owners.

www.lilliput.org.nz

Tow-Bar 2 Tow-Car

I had recently seen a motorhome towing a small car and though it was a good idea. The main problem with motorhomes is the inconvenience of packing up every time you want to go out and the hassle of finding a large enough parking spot every time you need something from town. Towing a small car could be an easy solution.

This UK company has modified their set-up to comply with New Zealand road-rules and might be the only legal option in New Zealand. The towing part can be disconnected and stalled in the car when driving around.

UK: tow-bars2tow-cars.com

NZ: arobros.co.nz

AA Solar

They are the company who set-up my solar power and I recently bought my caravan batteries through them.

Glad I got the chance to talk to them in person and meet the new owners. Great attitude and I suspect there will be some positive changes with the company and am keen to see how they progress.

aasolar.co.nz

Fridge Tech

Ever since I had my own fridge problems and heard about compressor fridges I have been curious to learn more. Fridge Tech were displaying all compressor fridges and I asked why they are becoming more popular than 3-way fridges. Apparently it’s a combination of solar power improving and the new fridges ability to run on less power. They are also cheaper and more reliable than 3-way fridges. The only concern is to check your power set up can handle it!

Apparently the new caravan brands are starting to install compressor fridges instead of 3-way fridges and I’m wondering if they will be the norm soon.

www.fridgetech.co.nz

Thetford Toilet Cassettes

Is it normal to get excited when you see your toilet brand is at an expo?

My toilet cassette has slowly been disintegrating. It has been leaking from a small part (not the main seal) and I could no longer carry it sideways – only horizontal. I’ll admit it has meant emptying the cassette at dump stations has been messy.

Talking to the staff, I learnt I could buy the parts separately and fix the toilet cassette myself. The newer model has wheels to roll the cassette along… I was sold. Easier to just buy a new cassette at the discounted expo prices… although trying to fix my toilet could have been an entertaining video.

Wholesaler: www.lewisgray.com

Kiwi Fuel Saver

This company gives you discounts on fuel through their cards and you pay them monthly.

Plenty of caravanners and motorhomers have raved about this company and I’ve been meaning to join. I even had the forms in the caravan. But as the form is 5 pages long, I kept procrastinating.

Luckily the friendly staff filled the form in for me at the show and sped the process up.

www.kiwifuelcards.co.nz/get-your-card

Wireless Nation

My internet provider was there too and I was able to talk to the founder of the company. I am regularly asked how I find Wireless Nation and what the connection is like. It was good to check with the company that I’ve been correctly describing how it all works.

I am able to stream YouTube and Netflix with no problems and haven’t run out of gigabytes yet. Sometimes I’ll be in an isolated area with no cell phone reception, yet I’ll still get internet through the modem. I think of it as having extra strength to reach the towers compared to a cell phone.

wirelessnation.co.nz

Covi Insurance

So many companies I use were at the show!

Covi Insurance is my new insurance company for my caravan and contents. I changed over in November and so far so good. Great talking face to face with the staff and get a better feel for a company – a friendly bunch.

www.covi.co.nz

BOP RV Dog Kennels

Too cute – you can buy these dog kennels in the shape of a caravan and they have a surprising amount of detail.

www.boprv.co.nz

Oz Pig | Cooking

An attractive little outdoor cooking stove. It can be dismantled and fits into a small bag. Looked very versatile for cooking different ways and heating water. I think it would be a fun addition if you liked spending time outside your RV.

www.ozpig.co.nz

Overall plenty to see at the Covi Caravan, Motorhome & Outdoor Supershow.

Did you make it to the show? What was your favourite stall? Let me know in the comments below.

The post Covi Caravan, Motorhome & Outdoor Supershow 2018 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 don’t think myself much of a cook. Some people love it – I just get bored and would prefer to do something else, like edit a video!

The positive parts with RV cooking

• Can keep an eye on the cooking while sitting in ‘lounge’
• It’s like cooking in a very small apartment with a very small kitchen
• Everything is right in front of you, all within easy reach
• Good sized oven with grill and 3 gas burners and 1 electric element
• A working fridge – although very small in size and temperamental in summer
• When travelling you can pack away the supermarket items straight away
• No rush to compete for cooking time with flatmates

The limitations with cooking meals in a caravan

Lack of kitchen & storage space

Mobile homes are really tiny spaces. It’s a minimalist lifestyle.

The kitchen beach space is very small and took me a while to get use to. There is a clever drop down bench over the bed for extending the space but I rarely use it now.

There is hardly any place to store pots and food. I’ve ended up taking out the microwave just to have more room for food! I’m also in the process of adding another draw under my cutlery draw.

The fridge is tiny and can’t hold much. It’s not possible to have many leftovers or much frozen.

Limited water & small waste pipes

Using lots of water to clean dishes means filling up the fresh water tank that much sooner. This chore makes you very cautious in your water use.

Washing pans with leftover fat is problematic in a caravan. Fat gets on everything, clogs up the tiny pipes, ends up sitting in the grey water tank and basically stinks out the whole place.

My solution is using disposable cooking trays. Less mess and it makes cooking that much easier. It might feel wasteful, but I’ve found this lifestyle encourages you to have less stuff and less rubbish in general.

Smell in caravan

The RV is basically one room. I’m sitting on the sofa and can see my bed which is 3 steps away. Anything smelly cooked in the caravan will stink the whole place. How much do you want your sheets smelling of onion?

Sensitive firealarm

I’ve learnt that if anything I fry becomes a little bit smokey, the firealarm will go off. If I open the oven door to cooking food for too long, the fire alarm will go off.

It’s a small space with low ceilings and it’s not that far from the fire alarm installed by the door.

Even with the extractor fan on and open windows, it doesn’t prevent the fire alarm from going off.

Easy meals in the RV

After living in the caravan for over a year, I’ve ended up with a few favourite lazy meals to cook in the tiny kitchen.

Couscous, vegetables and egg or left-over meat

A great easy meal. This is my dinner when I don’t have much in the fridge.

Cover couscous with boiling water in the bowl you’ll eat from. Place small plate ontop. Lightly boil whatever vegetables are on hand. If there’s leftover meat, use that. Otherwise cook an omelette, slice and add.

Fresh supermarket soup

This is my lazy dinner.

There are some great fresh soups in the cool section of the supermarket. They seem healthy-ish and keep for a long time in the fridge. A great meal if you’ve driven the mobile home all day and can’t be bothered visiting the supermarket.

Chicken thigh with vegetables

Rip off the plastic seal and put in disposable cooking tray. Best if trays are the same size as the plastic meat packets. Put in oven for 30min. Cook whatever vegetables you have on hand. Add hummus on the vegetables.

Overall I’m very happy with my tiny caravan kitchen. It really does everything I need a kitchen to do.

Do you have a favourite easy meal? I’d love to hear in the comments below.

The post Cooking Meals in a Caravan Kitchen appeared first on Travelling K.