It can be hard work pushing a pipe on to the site tap when filling your Aquaroll. To save yourself the hassle, get an empty plastic bottle and cut its bottom off. Then, turn it upside down into the Aquaroll so it acts as a funnel.
P Johnson
Gloucester

I was reluctant to leave my new tyres on the caravan over the winter, as I was worried they would be flat come spring. So I jacked up the caravan and took the wheels off – taking the opportunity to clean the brake dust away from the parts to prevent squeaking when I stop – and went to a scrapyard. I asked if I could try the wheel on different hubs caps. It fitted the Vauxhall Astra/Nova ranges and the scrap merchant gave me two of these wheels with very worn tyres for free. My new tyres are now stored on a wheel in the dry and I know they won't be flat when I come to use the van in the spring.
P Lawler
Leicestershire

A packet of dried paella mix split and some of the contents escaped and left a fishy smell in a kitchen cupboard of our new caravan. All the odour removers we bought did nothing to remove the smell. After some thought I put a small bundle of fresh hay in the cupboard and, after changing it a few times, the smell had completely gone.
J F Cuthbert
Reigate, Surrey

The best bit of touring kit I have made was a duck board. I built it using 12 wooden slats, some nylon rope and copper pins. It goes in front of the step where a lot of traffic passes, so if the rain is heavy, the duck board stops you sinking when you step on that area. It also rolls up tightly and can be stowed neatly.
Peter Manley
Hockley, Essex

My caravan has an early-model submersible pump. Sometimes, after refilling my Aquaroll, the pump spins without effect because there is air trapped in the pump casing. I am sure it happens to others, so my tip is this: once you have put the pump back into the Aquaroll, and once it is underwater, bang it about a bit on the inside of the tank. Usually this dislodges the air bubbles and the pump is able to work normally.
Jim Smith
Ilkeston, Derbyshire

Here's a handy hint that will help get your clothes dry. Pull out the bed slats before you go out for the day and you've got a useful clothes dryer. If you are in a hurry, the blown-air heating will speed things up.
Margaret Clark
Fort William, Invernessshire

My wife always used to scold me for splashing the kitchen window, cooker top and work surface when setting up the water system (we have a pressure system with Elegance tops). So I cut a piece of plastic pipe 3cm x 30cm of the type that is fitted to many household washbasins. I then placed it between the tap spout and sink waste, and left it attached until the taps were running smoothly. It really works: trust me, I'm a builder.
J Wright
Oxford

After many banged heads and a broken pair of specs, I've worked out how to stop my injuries from walking into the open caravan window. Cut a 45cm length of plastic safety tape and attach it to the window fastener. This fluttering tape signals a warning to passers-by that the window is open. It can then be tucked behind the seat cushion when the window is closed. This is especially useful when opening windows on the side of the van where the water drums are placed.
Sheila Beeby
Ormskirk, Lancs

When reversing your caravan remember that the ‘back' of your front wheels point in the direction the rear of the van will go. So, left lock means that your tourer will go to the right. And remember to always go slowly.
Bernard Whitley
Louth, Lincs

To prevent water freezing in your Aquaroll, wrap a sleeping bag around the Aquaroll – leaving some excess to cover the pump pipe – and pull the drawstrings tight. Then place the Aquaroll inside a large sack – I use a Gardner's Aquaroll Bag. This method was tried and tested on New Year's Day at Hemel Hempstead Caravan Club site, where ours was the only van on the site with running water.
Bob Blackmore
Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset