Trailers & 'BWSOW's

[Richard A Thackeray]

View attachment 636608

https://maustinpark.com/

I'm driving up in the morning, to collect them & the BWSWOW
I presume I'll be returning the opposite of my route there, it's longer but avoids the Ring-Road & the busy stretch at Cross-Gates/Colton
- 'Harewood Bridge' > Harewood Bank > Harewood Avenue > Collingham > Wattle Syke > A1 South (at the Boston Spa jct) > M62 West =

I think, that Harewood Bank will be the longest/steepest hill I've tried 'the combination' on so far

Although, many years ago, I did take a caravan (Swift Challenger) up Sutton Bank.............. behind a Land Rover 90CSW-V8 (the duo, seen on page 1)

 

[figbat]

Another job today. At the service a few weeks ago the guy found damp in one corner of the floor. Probably down to an external bodywork cap that was loose, undoubtedly linked to the scrape on that corner where a previous owner has clearly caught it on something. So, remove the cap and reseal with Sika sealant. I won’t know if it’s worked until it rains again but it looks better.

 

[figbat]

Oh, I also cleansed the water system with Puriclean.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

I'm driving up in the morning, to collect them & the BWSWOW
I presume I'll be returning the opposite of my route there, it's longer but avoids the Ring-Road & the busy stretch at Cross-Gates/Colton
- 'Harewood Bridge' > Harewood Bank > Harewood Avenue > Collingham > Wattle Syke > A1 South (at the Boston Spa jct) > M62 West =

I think, that Harewood Bank will be the longest/steepest hill I've tried 'the combination' on so far

It was indeed that route coming home (if not en-route there)
Harewood Bank is sign-posted as a 1-in-10
It wasn't an issue, a nice steady 30MPH in 3rd, mainly out of mechanical sympathy

Ready for departure

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

View attachment 636608

https://maustinpark.com/



The water pump's not playing fair!

We even borrowed one from someone else on site, so that precludes the pump itself
Presumably, somewhere along the line, the 12V supply to it; isn't working

SWMBO is booking for the same site again, next month
Thus another drop-off & collection for me

https://maustinpark.com/

EDIT; Thurs 7th @ 14:02
Booked up, barring 2 of the required 6 days

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

SWMBO is booking for the same site again, next month
Thus another drop-off & collection for me

https://maustinpark.com/

EDIT; Thurs 7th @ 14:02
Booked up, barring 2 of the required 6 days

She's booked for; http://www.ruddingholidaypark.co.uk/

I think the last time I was there, was in 1989, for the ARC National Championships, that is to say the Association of Rover Clubs
Which was mainly Land Rover clubs

The closed railway tunnel/cutting was used as part of the course, for the Comp Safari

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

 

[figbat]

Current situation: Sherwood Pines. A week here with a gravel sportive on Saturday. I found the Sherwood Pines bike shop yesterday during a stroll through the forest - very good place, great staff - they managed to find me a tube of chamois cream ‘out the back somewhere’ since I forgot to bring any, and they gave me a good tip for a ride today - will be heading to Clumber Park.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

With regard to this;

It's getting towards the time, when we'll be looking at taking the BWSOW out of hibernation, & ..... SWMBO doesn't really want to drive my car, as it's a manual, & she's driven autos for the past 4 years

So, the choices are;
1. PX my Kodiaq for an automatic
2. I continue to deliver/collect it, but that restricts distance/availability (with my working shifts/weekends)
3. Purchase another car, that is an automatic, & 'hefty' enough to prevent the tail wagging the dog syndrome (and I get to keep my Kodiaq)
Or.............
4. Which she's not that keen on, she gets used to driving the Kodiaq, & tows the BWSOW herself
(it has a motor-mover, for onsite manoeuvring)

We’ve just been to look at a vehicle, & put a deposit down
It’s certainly not new!!
‘55’ plate, but we have a 'private plate' on retention that can go on it (I'm sure it's still got time on the certificate)

Nothing too fancy, but ‘hefty’ enough to cope with the BWSOW, & has a good enough towing capacity

3.0 Turbo-Diesel
Automatic
4x4
Hopefully, we'll get it by next weekend
(seller has agreed to a full valet & 2 new front tyres)

 

[DRHysted]

Spent this afternoon at the storage yard checking everything over on the tin box. Everything fired up, light up, spun round, pumped, chilled, or braked as it should. Forgot to do a lighting check, so will need to do a quick pop out either tomorrow or Monday. Then she’ll be ready for the annual pilgrimage to the Scottish highlands next month (10 to 12 hour drive).

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Sunday 17th

Due to the forthcoming vehicle being on a 'Flange' tow-bar, & especially given the condition of the present tow-ball, it looks like it's been buried in the Councils road-salt reserves, & to my mind not salvageable for use with a 'stabiliser hitch'
Thus I require another one

I knew I had one, it was a 'take-off' my last Land-Rover (110Td5 'Heritage'), & that whilst the body had some surface corrosion, it was infinitely better than the one fitted - curiously, the 25mm pin is perfect
https://www.towingandtrailers.com/p...73l0ARLK_epV3KjuPuVArG2Y4HditzfulgKXt_Iy6LG-0

The bracket with the 'eye-bolt' will be fitted to accept the breakaway cable (and, maybe a repaint?)
The ball on this is perfect, if requiring a degrease

It's fitted with 7-pin towing electrics (I checked)
The caravan has 13-pin system, so I had to check whether my lighting-board was functioning correctly
(despite not being used for, maybe;15 years?)
I need it, as I'll have to check the electrics, before its inaugural tow
Thus, if I know that the lighting-board functions correctly, any problems will be due to the vehicle

With an adaptor in place, to allow the 7-pin board to function with the 13-pin socket of the Kodiaq, a quick run through the legally required lighting shows that it still works!

The 'S50 RAT' plate dates back to my Discovery '50th Anniversary' & subsequent 110Td5 'Heritage'

Adaptor in-situ


I already have the 'Yin', to its 'Yang' (ie; 7-pin vehicle to 13-pin BWSWOW), as I used it when I borrowed my friends Defender 90, to get the caravan to the storage compound

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Sunday 17th
I received this last night, but the phone has been on 'airplane', so I didn't see it, until I returned it to 'normal' a while ago
Our storage site has been broken into & a van taken
(an almost new Swift, it seems)


Message to all owners.
Please read in full as there is a lot of detail here. No need to reply please as I don’t want lots of messages.

Following the break in and theft of a caravan I wanted to let you all know what the plan is going forward.
As an immediate action I have managed to get some of the CCTV back up and running, but not all.

Outside of Pauls working hours I am parking farm trailers in front of the gates in an attempt to slow or deter further attacks. However this means I have to significantly restrict access hours and days and that will cause some of you problems. I can't have unrestricted hours anymore as it requires me to move trailers in and out every time people want access.

Had the attack been at night I could have just blocked them at night, but it was day time! So access hours will be:
This weekend including Bank Holiday Monday 10am – 4pm (and absolutely no later, the entrance will be blocked off). Tuesday 9-12 but you need to call me so I can let you in and out. Wednesday and Thursday closed.

Then starting Friday 22nd the following will every week for the foreseeable future: Friday 11-3pm, Saturday 11-3pm, Sunday 11-3pm, Monday 9-11am, Tuesday 9-11am. Wednesday and Thursday closed.
So please plan yourselves around this as I cant make exceptions. If this doesn’t work for you I understand and ofcourse wont stop you removing your caravan and finding alternative storage.

I am exploring options of having heavy duty gates made that can be shut and locked that are additional to the current gate. These would be used instead of the blocking off with trailers. But all this will depend on cost and effectiveness. I will let you know how we progress.
Most if not all owners I have spoken to want me to continue despite the recent theft. Thankyou for the support.
I don’t believe I can ever totally guarantee the safety of your caravan no matter what I do, but I can try and make it as difficult as possible for these organised gangs of thieves.

Some other suggestions from owners to consider: “Remove a wheel on single axel caravans or two on doubles. Remove the hitch”. I think good ideas and whilst inconvenient for you it would probably be the most effective way of stopping your caravan being taken … unless of course the thieves have spare wheels or remove one from another caravan. Your decision.
Also beef up your wheel locks. I was amazed at the apparant ease with which the orange “nexus?” wheel lock was simply barred off (it was found in the grass, not cut) and the same with the hitch lock.

If you have a tracker you should look at where it is placed. The owner of the stolen caravan found the tracker in the grass and it was just ripped out … interestingly there is a diagram on the box that shows where to instal it!
So finding a tracker isn’t very hard! Have you considered an Apple Airtag simply hidden in the van … it has a 1 yr battery life and every time an iphone (any iphone) is near it records a signal ….£20 each! ( I use one of my motorbike).

That’s all for now

I'm just glad, having spoken to him, that he didn't come across the scrotes
He was out, when it happened, & on arriving back. noticed the gate was open/missing
On checking CCTV, 4 masked men were seen, then they cut the cables
The elapsed time from CCTV first showing them, to him arriving home was about 20 minutes

We've had a discussion, & whilst ours is in the compound closest to the house/furthest from the road (last place they'd attempt to steal from?), as - so far - we don't take if for a week at a time, just the odd few days here & there
I'd be happy to work around him, but SWMBO doesn't agree with me, as (for example) its next outing will be a Wednesday return home

So.............. we're going to look at another site in the morning, slightly more money (but an almost £100 discount if you pay for a full year in advance, but 'Gold Standard'/palisade fencing/'24-7' manned (I think?), full CCTV/etc......

 

[MrGrumpy]

Our storage place is also a 365 days a year campsite and holiday home site. Never had a van stolen but have had break ins . It’s got CCTV at the main entrance and palisade fencing round both storage compounds.

However nothing is insurmountable with these scum bags. Our local to us storage site had two vans stolen a coupe of years back. Couple I know got their van back eventually, well it was found . Insurance had already paid out by then. I’ll let you guess where the police found it though. The usual places and folk whom steal them.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

We've been to look at the possible new compound this morning, it's further away, but "hey-ho!"
I've got to return their paperwork, & show them the requested documentation, so will probably take that in the morning

Then, maybe move the 'van on Friday morning??

 

[DRM]

That’s ridiculous opening hours, who on earth can pick up between 11 & 3 on a Friday when working , then be back again between 11 & 3 on a Sunday, that’s not my idea of a relaxing weekend, definitely better off moving it