Part No.5
In this section we will talk about getting ready for the trip away, whether its the first ever or the 50th time. The planning and getting ready should be the same, now it will seem a lot but will get used to doing it and will became second nature after a
The Hook Up !
while, I will use what I do before I travel so you get a full picture, now I am a little OCD about this because you are about to take a little over 3 ton of weight on the back of your car so its a huge
safety issue that you get it right every time.
Before we set out on any trip more so now that we are full time on the road I go through many steps to make sure that once we set out that we reach the place, we are heading.
Now it is no bother for us if we see something
along the way and we spend an extra day or so on the trip.
We are mainly house sitting always plan to get to someone’s house a few days before them leaving, so we may head towards that house up to 5 days
before if we are further 500 km away as we don’t wish to let people down by being late.
So I will use a trip that I will be planning to take in next few weeks to give you an idea what I plan for within a trip.
First, some of the checks I do will base on how
long I have been parked up in the van for so for this I have been parked for over four weeks.
1. Know the distance I will be traveling for the trip.
2. Understand and check the road ahead with google etc.
3. Are there any steep climbs along the way?
4. The distance between fuel stops.
5. Any overnight stops required to get to the house.
6. Plan to arrive at the house by 1 pm.
So approx. A week out from the move I will walk around the van and check to see if anything that may have changed from when you arrived and as part of that will get under the van and check that nothing is hanging or missing under the van. Check all the tyres for anything strange or odd, eg. Bubbles, lumps, cuts, etc.
Check all the chains, and wiring harness is in order.
Understand where I am going and if I will need water along the way and if I will require gear to level van up much and I do this by asking for a photo of where van will be and if it’s a level spot.
Then I will pack what gear such as jacks and leveling ramps on put top or behind car seat so accessible to get out.
Understanding water required will give me an idea how much I will carry as with the set up I have running half tanks work best for me. (you need to work out what water you need to take to keep your van stable) And this silly thing about half tanks will move about and make the van sway, what a lot of bull. Now, what happens when you are driving your car, and you have half a tank on fuel does it make your car unstable No.
We are not getting 3 ft. waves here, just little movement, the road conditions are going to move your van about, not a little bit water
The amount of water is best for where the tanks are mounted on your van mine are one forward of wheels and one behind wheels but within the centre of van so balanced load and how much ball weight is also needs to be understood to not have a lot in front tank if you have a higher ball weight and that comes from doing the checks.
Still one week out check car, brakes good, tyres are all good after visiting all those places including down dirt roads, etc. when the car was serviced last, etc.
As the week goes, start to pack away stuff not needed and check it’s all in its place.
Depending on how our food supplies are we try not to shop and use any foods we have and not add extra weight as most places have larger shops open 7 days now, so really a little bread, milk and a couple of meals is all you really need.
Any books, magazines that are read are given away or placed into laundry as they have free book places in most van parks.
If you need move heavy stuff that ends up in the top cupboards back down low to keep the van stable.
Now I look at fuel, do I need full tanks, I have 2 and carry full up to 140lt., or can I run to house sit with less fuel, so I believe having about a half load of fuel will give me plenty so just by this and half tanks of water have saved approx. 160 kg. Weight to carry that is not needed plus about 40kg. For not stocking up on food and bottled water, and beer, etc. so you can get this stuff when you reach the new spot.
So now I have got the Palmerston Highway to go down so the less weight I carry, the better and with less fuel and water and not loading the food up and getting rid of any other stuff that I don't need, so you can plan an easy trip to suit the travel
Now the trip is about 3.5 hrs so I plan to leave around 9 am, the reason being that it gives the people who work to get out and off the roads and most trucks will go early down range to get load and come back up,.
Plus it's a stressful time so being half asleep and hungry is not good so have breakfast get a shower in, go out hook up the van, do your checks inside and out making sure everything is away locked down and stored, so it is not moving about, the TV is stored in its place etc.
Then I go away and have a coffee and come back and recheck its amazing by doing this fresh eyes see something you may have missed. Check the lights, blinkers, brakes, etc.
So hope you have read all that and are understanding what is required to just get ready to leave, so that will be all this time and the next part will be the lists and check lists I have that I have developed that you can see and get further ideas.
Just remember that is most important to do checks and feel happy before you set out or you will have issues and those who don't do them are just silly and dangerous out on the road.
Till next time.
The Hook Up !
while, I will use what I do before I travel so you get a full picture, now I am a little OCD about this because you are about to take a little over 3 ton of weight on the back of your car so its a huge
safety issue that you get it right every time.
Before we set out on any trip more so now that we are full time on the road I go through many steps to make sure that once we set out that we reach the place, we are heading.
Now it is no bother for us if we see something
along the way and we spend an extra day or so on the trip.
We are mainly house sitting always plan to get to someone’s house a few days before them leaving, so we may head towards that house up to 5 days
before if we are further 500 km away as we don’t wish to let people down by being late.
So I will use a trip that I will be planning to take in next few weeks to give you an idea what I plan for within a trip.
First, some of the checks I do will base on how
long I have been parked up in the van for so for this I have been parked for over four weeks.
1. Know the distance I will be traveling for the trip.
2. Understand and check the road ahead with google etc.
3. Are there any steep climbs along the way?
4. The distance between fuel stops.
5. Any overnight stops required to get to the house.
6. Plan to arrive at the house by 1 pm.
So approx. A week out from the move I will walk around the van and check to see if anything that may have changed from when you arrived and as part of that will get under the van and check that nothing is hanging or missing under the van. Check all the tyres for anything strange or odd, eg. Bubbles, lumps, cuts, etc.
Check all the chains, and wiring harness is in order.
Understand where I am going and if I will need water along the way and if I will require gear to level van up much and I do this by asking for a photo of where van will be and if it’s a level spot.
Then I will pack what gear such as jacks and leveling ramps on put top or behind car seat so accessible to get out.
Understanding water required will give me an idea how much I will carry as with the set up I have running half tanks work best for me. (you need to work out what water you need to take to keep your van stable) And this silly thing about half tanks will move about and make the van sway, what a lot of bull. Now, what happens when you are driving your car, and you have half a tank on fuel does it make your car unstable No.
We are not getting 3 ft. waves here, just little movement, the road conditions are going to move your van about, not a little bit water
The amount of water is best for where the tanks are mounted on your van mine are one forward of wheels and one behind wheels but within the centre of van so balanced load and how much ball weight is also needs to be understood to not have a lot in front tank if you have a higher ball weight and that comes from doing the checks.
Still one week out check car, brakes good, tyres are all good after visiting all those places including down dirt roads, etc. when the car was serviced last, etc.
As the week goes, start to pack away stuff not needed and check it’s all in its place.
Depending on how our food supplies are we try not to shop and use any foods we have and not add extra weight as most places have larger shops open 7 days now, so really a little bread, milk and a couple of meals is all you really need.
Any books, magazines that are read are given away or placed into laundry as they have free book places in most van parks.
If you need move heavy stuff that ends up in the top cupboards back down low to keep the van stable.
Now I look at fuel, do I need full tanks, I have 2 and carry full up to 140lt., or can I run to house sit with less fuel, so I believe having about a half load of fuel will give me plenty so just by this and half tanks of water have saved approx. 160 kg. Weight to carry that is not needed plus about 40kg. For not stocking up on food and bottled water, and beer, etc. so you can get this stuff when you reach the new spot.
So now I have got the Palmerston Highway to go down so the less weight I carry, the better and with less fuel and water and not loading the food up and getting rid of any other stuff that I don't need, so you can plan an easy trip to suit the travel
Now the trip is about 3.5 hrs so I plan to leave around 9 am, the reason being that it gives the people who work to get out and off the roads and most trucks will go early down range to get load and come back up,.
Plus it's a stressful time so being half asleep and hungry is not good so have breakfast get a shower in, go out hook up the van, do your checks inside and out making sure everything is away locked down and stored, so it is not moving about, the TV is stored in its place etc.
Then I go away and have a coffee and come back and recheck its amazing by doing this fresh eyes see something you may have missed. Check the lights, blinkers, brakes, etc.
So hope you have read all that and are understanding what is required to just get ready to leave, so that will be all this time and the next part will be the lists and check lists I have that I have developed that you can see and get further ideas.
Just remember that is most important to do checks and feel happy before you set out or you will have issues and those who don't do them are just silly and dangerous out on the road.
Till next time.