Speed is overrated

Checklist

A list of items we will need before setting off in the caravan. We’ll add things here as the come to mind and cross them off as we achieve or purchase them.

The list is almost complete now. When it is, I’ll remove it from the main menu and add it to the Other Links page.

As we were forced to switch from the Kokoda Admiral to the Cusader Kingsman, and we have now replaced the Kingsman with the Recliner, I’ve added colour coding below to indicate when items have been obsoleted by a caravan swap:

  • Admiral items are in blue
  • Kingsman items are in green

Big Ticket Items

  • Kokoda Admiral
  • Crusader Excalibur Kingsman (see it here)
  • Crusader Musketeer Recliner (see it here)
  • Volkwagen Touareg (see it here)

Caravan

Mandatory Items

  • Potable water hose
  • Water pressure regulator
  • Inline water filter
  • Grey water hose
  • 15 amp power cable
  • 15 amp surge protector
  • 10 amp to 15 amp converter
  • Levelling kit
  • Tow ball weight scale
  • Wheel chocks
  • Camp chairs
  • Folding table
  • Anti-flap kit for awning
  • Ground mat
  • Bug zapper
  • Glasses & Mugs
  • Plates
  • Cutlery
  • Utensils
  • Pots & Pans
  • Storage containers
  • Lantern & Torch
  • Level
  • Step/stool
  • Hitch lock
  • Ground pegs for the awning, ground mat etc

Optional Items

Options and Modifications

  • Move air conditioner to centre for better air flow
  • Grey water tank
  • Replace standard siding with Ali-comp
  • Delete oven
  • Move microwave to oven space
  • Upgrade microwave to convection
  • Fridge: compressor
  • Club lounge: square corners
  • Washing machine 3-3.5 kg
  • Lights in cupboards and in or over boot (could use battery powered, movement sensor lights ⤤)
  • Cupboad lights
  • Tunnel boot lighting
  • Fans to living area and bedroom, or 12v outlets at least
  • Ensure exhaust fan in both shower and toilet
  • Front boot or toolbox slide tall enough for Weber Baby Q
  • Under body protection (DIY: pool noodles?)
  • Sail track to off side
  • Check position of outside light. The further from the door the better.
  • USB points either side of the bed.
  • Mattress options? (none available, add topper if needed)
  • Battery options? (Specified extra 120 Ah AGM battery for total 2 x 120 Ah AGM)
  • Upgrade to Lithium.
  • Extra solar panel? (Specified extra 160 W solar panel for total 2 x 160 W)
  • Solar upgrade: 2 x 200 watt panels
  • Somewhere for the Touareg’s full-size spare. (added extra wheel bracket to rear bar of van)
  • Anti-sway system. (ESC included as “show special” on the Kingsman)
  • Anti-sway

Post-purchase checks

  • Silicone around shower, particularly the bottom near the door.
  • Add fly screen inside vent covers to prevent wasp and bee infestation.

Vehicle

Mandatory Items

  • Tow bar
  • Brake controller (Replaced the one the car came with, with this.)
  • Anderson plug for charging the caravan batteries.
  • Anderson plug (red) for powering the Electronic Sway Control (ESC)
  • Have tow bar and brake controller checked and source missing components.
  • Tow Mirrors (purchased these)
  • UHF radio
  • Torch & lanterns
  • Emergency medical kit
  • Tyre repair kit
  • Air compressor
  • Emergency windscreen
  • Full size spare (Touareg only has space-saver) (found one on gumtree. It’s from a 2015 but looks almost identical.)
  • Good quality floor mats (purchased these)
  • Cargo area floor liner (purchased this)

Optional Items

  • Recovery tracks (not needed until we start travelling more extensively)
  • Walkie Talkies (Purchased two hand-held UHF radios to cover this)
  • Satellite phone or beacon (not needed until we start travelling more extensively)
  • Dashcam (see this post for a possible solution)
  • HEMA maps
  • ODBII code reader (I’m liking this one: OBDeleven)

Recommendations

  • Hydraulic jack – the standard VW supplied jack is a known problem.
  • Replace wheel lock nuts with standard nuts. The lock nuts are known to be extremely difficult to remove. Actually, I think they are studs.
  • Filters, oil, coolant and common hoses (don’t forget the clamps!) for more remote trips.
  • Some kind of silicon repair tape.
  • Impact driver (A recent flat on the tug showed how difficult the studs are to remove, especially the lock studs)
  • Breaker bar (when even the impact driver couldn’t remove a wheel bolt)

Miscellaneous

  • Stone Stomper or Rock Tamers
  • Jerry cans (Diesel)
  • Drone
  • 15 amp outlet at home.
  • Quality broad-brimmed hats
  • Tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) for both car and van, possibly including both spares
  • .Torque wrench