Go! Drive & Camp

A 132-page lifestyle magazine for campers, caravan and 4x4 enthusiasts and adventure travellers.

go! Drive&Camp DIY Guide

Go! Drive & Camp

THE WHOLE WORKS • If you own a caravan, it's not merely a case of hitch, tow and light a fire. Just like your car, it also also needs a bit of tender loving care from time to time. So when it gets a breather in the winter, you should make sure it sleeps safely and soundly.

HAVE A GOOD LOOK AROUND THE CARAVAN…

CARAVAN STORAGE • One of the burning questions among new, and even some old, caravanners is how you're supposed to store your caravan when the holiday's over.

CANVAS CARE • A tent is like married life: if you give it love and attention, everything's plain sailing, but if you neglect it, you'll sleep outside.

HOW TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR TENT

BATTERY CARE • At one point or another, many of us have been the victim of a flat battery. But you can fight back if you know how.

TYRES • It's an undeniable truth that at some point, you will need to replace your caravan's tyres. It's always an expensive affair, but if you don't pay close attention before you do it, it can cost you even more.

WOOD ROT • It's not the end of the road if your caravan picks up wood rot – it can be repaired. You can fix small small patches of rot yourself, but if it's spread over a large area of wood, you'll need to call in the pros.

POINTERS BEFORE YOU BUY • You've been itching to swap your dome tent for a small, second-hand caravan for a while now. But beware, there are several red flags you need to be aware of before you spend your hard-earned cash.

THE CARAVAN PLUG

SERVICE THE JOCKEY WHEEL • A jockey wheel that is not functioning correctly can cause some havoc. You would, for example, not be able to unhitch the caravan from the towbar. Maybe the thread of the arm on the side is worn out…

SERVICE THE COUPLER • Most caravans built before or during 2009 have a cast iron coupling head, but some of the newer ones are fitted with a steel head that simply slips over the tow bar. While steel couplings need little maintenance, cast iron coupling heads require more attention, we shed some light on whats needed.

FIX THE BRAKES • Your caravan's brake shoes are just as important as your tow vehicle's. It's important that you check them regularly – and no, it's not a quick job.

SERVICE THE WHEEL BEARINGS • If your caravan's wheel bearings should conk out on the open road, your whole holiday will be ruined. Take precautions by servicing them.

REPLACING A WINDOW • Just like you (or your eldest) have to mow the lawn or fix a leaking tap from time to time, it's sometimes necessary to do a bit of maintenance on your caravan. Some campers have no qualms about servicing their own wheel bearings or even the coupler, but certain tasks are even easier than that – like replacing a cracked or broken window.

REPLACE THE POP-UP'S GAS STRUTS • Most road caravans have a pop-up roof. This naturally helps with less wind resistance – compared to a fixed roof – but these roofs also have an out-ofsight aid. The gas struts make lifting easier untill the day they don't.

CLEAN YOUR CAST IRON POT • Properly maintained, your cast iron cookware should last a lifetime. But add some neglect to the equation and rust will wreak havoc on your pots, pans and griddle. Here's how you can bring them back from the brink of catastrophe.

SHARPEN YOUR AXE • The saying goes that a bad carpenter blames his tools. We'd like to quality that and add that a bad carpenter is actually someone who doesn't look after his tools.

HOMEMADE FIRE LIGHTERS • The internet is peppered with camping tips, and it seems as if everyone has a clever substitute to replace something you'd usually buy in...