Electrics
How to upgrade from 7-pin to 13-pin electrics
Modern cars use 13-pin towing electrics, so why not uprate your caravan's electrics? Follow Nigel Hutson's step-by-step guide and get the job done
Habitation Matters
Electrics
How to upgrade to LED awning lights
LED awning lights don't just look good, they save energy, too, so if you're looking to upgrade a defunct halogen lamp, here's our step-by-step...
Showers & Toilets
How to replace a Thetford toilet cassette seal
Sick of your caravan's toilet cassette disgracing itself on your way to the disposal point? Follow our step-by-step guide and it'll soon seal as...
Electrics
How to upgrade to a digital TV antenna
Get digital TV in your caravan! Follow our step-by-step guide to upgrade your TV's antenna so you can enjoy watching more channels in more...
Electrics
How to fit a USB socket in your caravan
Love gadgets but hate running out of battery? Follow our step-by-step guide to fitting a USB socket in your caravan, to keep your devices...
Fixtures & Fittings
How to fit solar panels to your caravan
Enjoy off-grid touring for longer on your caravan holidays! Nigel Hutson explains how to install a solar panel to your van – it's easier...
Habitation Matters
How to clean a Carver Cascade GE water heater’s burner
Our resident DIY caravan mechanic Nigel Hutson explains how to keep your caravan water heater going strong for longer – with a little routine...
Electrics
How to fit an Alde load monitor and outside temperature sensor
DIY mechanic Nigel Hutson shows how to fit an Alde load monitor and outside temperature sensor in your caravan to avoid tripping campsite electrics
Water Systems
How to replace a tap micoswitch in your caravan
Practical Caravan's DIY mechanic Nigel Hutson explains how to replace your caravan tap's microswitch the easy way when it decides to stop working
Fixtures & Fittings
How to repair Seitz pleated blinds and flyscreens
This simple repair to Seitz pleated caravan blinds will keep them working smoothly for many years to come, says Practical Caravan's DIY expert Nigel...
Water Systems
Guide to caravan water pipes and pumps
Our expert John Wickersham explains how caravan water pipes and pumps work – and gives his troubleshooting guide on how to fix them when...
Electrics
Expert advice on caravan lights
A history of caravan interior lighting and how to update your tourer's lights – Practical Caravan's technical expert John Wickersham is here to help
Water Systems
Waste-water wisdom
Practical Caravan's expert John Wickersham explains how the correct pipework can help your water drain away more quickly – and keep nasty niffs at...
Showers & Toilets
How to use and fix caravan toilets
Nobody wants the caravan toilet to break down on holiday, so follow John Wickersham's top toilet hints and tips to keep your loo working...
Fixtures & Fittings
12 steps to saintly caravanning
Practical Caravan's Bryony Symes has a dozen resolutions you can take on to assure yourself safer touring in 2014
Water Systems
Keeping your caravan water system safe
HAVING WORKED IN caravan and motorhome manufacturing businesses for 33 years, I know how much attention is paid by both manufacturers and their suppliers...
Electrics
How to… Cope with reverse polarity on tour
Practical Caravan's experienced experts share their knowledge so you know how to deal with reversed polarity when on holiday in your caravan
Water Systems
How to… Use a Truma Ultrastore water heater
Find out how to get the best from your Truma Ultrastore water heater
Water Systems
Elddis Project: Completing the water installation
THE FINAL STEP in modernising the water system was to fit a Whale Watermaster socket in place of the old foot and electric pumps....
Habitation Matters
Elddis Project: Replacing a leaking rooflight
WHEN REMOVING THE defunct space heater from our Elddis project caravan, I noticed that the rooflight was leaking because the mastic had dried out....
Electrics
Elddis Project: Removing the Carver/Truma space heater
OUR 1983 PROJECT caravan had a Carver 1800 space heater – which had stopped working long before Practical Caravan bought it. Truma bought Carver...
Electrics
Elddis Project: Fitting a Carver Cascade water heater
RECENTLY, I TOOK out the old Morco water heater to replace it with a Carver Cascade. Cascades fit through the wall into the caravan....
Fixtures & Fittings
How to… Use a Truma caravan heater
How to get the best from your Truma Trumatic S3002 heater
Electrics
Elddis Project: Work on the 12V system and water heater
IT HAS BEEN several weeks since I last had time to work on our 1982 Elddis Whirlwind. So far I’ve concentrated on the electrics....
Electrics
Reader DIY: How to fit a dishwasher in your caravan
READER RICHARD MINNS has one of the most popular and useful mod cons installed in his caravan – an automatic dishwasher. Previously fitted to his...
Electrics
Step-by-step: fitting a Trailer Vision reversing camera
THE TRAILER VISION reversing camera system features a colour camera and monitor, and it is also wireless. This means that it's extremely easy to...
Electrics
Step-by-step: how to fit an MCB fuse control panel to your van
IF YOU TEND TO use a lot of electricity on site, you may have found the mains supply cuts out. Reader Ron Horniblew explains...
Electrics
How to… Fit an MCB fuse control panel
Find out how to install an MCB fuse control panel to your caravan
Electrics
Fitting a Trailer Vision wireless reversing camera
REVERSING CAMERAS have been around for many years and have proved particularly popular with drivers of large vehicles and motorhomes, but much less so...
Fixtures & Fittings
How to… Fit air-conditioning – unit details
If you are installing air-conditioning to your caravan, make sure you select a suitable unit and fit it properly – here is reader Tony...
Fixtures & Fittings
A step-by-step guide to fitting air conditioning
ONCE YOU'VE WORKED out which air-conditioning unit you're going to use and where to site it (click here for reader Tony Brown's advice on...
Electrics
How to… Retrofit air-conditioning to your caravan
Fitting air-conditioning into your caravan can be a tricky and complex process – Practical Caravan reader Tony Brown shares his advice
Fixtures & Fittings
Step-by-step: adding a digital heater controller
WAKING UP ON a cold morning, many caravanners must, like me, jump out of bed, turn on the heating then jump back in while...
Fixtures & Fittings
Step-by-step: fitting an Al-Ko Mammut caravan mover
HERE ARE THE 18 steps involved in fitting an Al-Ko Mammut caravan mover, plus Doug's verdict on the product and the installation process. STEP...
Fixtures & Fittings
Fitting an Al-Ko Kober Mammut caravan mover
SOME MONTHS AGO I had the chance to try out Al-Ko Kober’s new caravan mover, the Mammut, and was very impressed with it –...
Habitation Matters
Should I have a gas hose as standard?
My wife and I started caravanning 10 months ago with a used Avondale Argente. We were complete novices. To connect the gas we just...
Fixtures & Fittings
Suspected gas blockage? Here’s what you do…
IS YOUR REGULATOR definitely blocked or have you run out of gas? Ensure your cylinder is not empty.Are you using butane and has the...
Fixtures & Fittings
Gas regulator change has resulted in blame game
CARAVANNERS HAVE reported the failure of their LPG regulators since the industry changed from fitting regulators directly to gas cylinders to fitting them to...
Water Systems
Advice clinic: fitting a gauge to your on-board water tank
READER FRANK LEIGHTON from Bristol has written in with a query about the on-board water tank on his Swift Challenger. He would like to fit...
Electrics
Laugh at the cold – how to use your caravan’s heater controls
MYSTIFIED BY your heater's controls and what they do? Follow our handy tips on how to crank up the heat and keep the cold...
Water Systems
Advice clinic: do I need a pump to connect two Aquarolls?
CARAVANNER R J GRANT from Stevenage would like to know if it's possible to daisy-chain two Aquaroll containers so that he won't run out...
Electrics
How to… Cheat the winter cold with your caravan heater
Top tips and advice from Practical Caravan's expert team to keep you warm and cosy when out on tour across the chilly winter months