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Care Tips and Advice

Home > Care tips and advice
26Feb
Electrical Safety Check

Caravan Electrial Safety Check

CategoriesCampervan Service Caravan Service Motorhome Service

EICR Safety Test – What every owner should know! The electrical installation condition report (EiCR) identifies damage, deterioration and defects which may cause danger within your Caravan, Motorhome or Camper van. It is a safety check of the 230v mains electrical wiring, switches, and appliances in your Caravan, Motorhome or Camper van. Bristol Caravans are trained, qualified and have the correct kit to complete this important safety check. What is included in a EiCR? The testing process involves the wiring and accessories undergoing several, and rigorous, electrical tests using: Problems discovered during the inspection and test can be remedied, or recommendations given to […]

19May
CTEK Lithium Battery

What are the benefits of a Lithium Battery?

CategoriesLithium Batteries Motorhome Upgrades

What does a leisure battery do? The leisure battery will power all 12v appliances including your lighting, and water pump! Your habitation 12v system needs to be above 11 volts for appliances to work. Benefits of a Lithium Battery Maintenance of a Lithium Leisure Battery Lithium batteries require little maintenance. Simply remove after a season and store in a cool place, out of direct sunlight. Ensure it is left at a minimum of 50% charge. It is not a requirement out of season to keep the battery on charge. Unlike other batteries Lithium (Li-on) batteries can re-charge hundreds of times […]

26Feb
Solar Panels

What is the right size Solor Panel for my Caravan, Motorhome or Campervan?

CategoriesMotorhome Upgrades

There are a few items to consider when thinking about a new solar panel: What type of leisure battery are you going to charge, and how many amps can it take when being charged? Only a Lithium battery can accept more than 10 amps, therefore if you have “standard” leisure batteries i.e. Lead Acid, Gel or AGM you should aim for a max or 10 amps charging. To put 10 amps into context, solar panels are usually sold based on a Watts rating. A 120w Solar Panel in theory without any loss, will give 10 amps, in reality it is […]

02Jun
Maxx Fan to keep your motorhome cool

How to keep your Caravan / Motorhome Cool

CategoriesCaravan Upgrades Motorhome Upgrades

Do you suffer from a hot and stuffy Caravan or Motorhome?Have sleepless, uncomfortable nights?Have little air flow, despite all the windows being open? Bristol Caravans are here to help you make your Caravan or Motorhome cool and comfortable through the summer months. It is important we make the most of the summer season. Setting up your Caravan for Summer Keep Blinds and Curtains closed Blocking the sunlight from entering your Caravan or Motorhome keeps the air inside from heating up. Although a simple trick, it can be very effective! Next time you go to the beach for the day, leave […]

28Mar
Toilet Not Working in Caravan or Motorhome?

Toilet Not Working in Caravan or Motorhome?

CategoriesCaravan Maintenance Motorhome Maintenance

If your toilet is not working in your caravan or motorhome, here are my top tips for year round successful toliet operation, keep your toilet fresh and ready to go! Nobody wants to go back to a smelly toilet in their Caravan or Motorhome…! How to leave the toilet out of season: Flushing the Top Tank –Before tucking your Caravan or Motorome away over the winter season, make sure you flush the top tank with clean water. You do NOT want to leave any resedue of chemical in the system as it will crystalise. Once crystalised your flush pump will […]

13Nov
230v-RCD-with-test-socket

Mains electic tripping at the post, why?

CategoriesCaravan Maintenance Caravan Service Motorhome Maintenance Motorhome Service

Overloading your Caravan / Motorhomes Electrics?  If your Mains electic is tripping at the post, and you are wonder why? There are two common causes that trip my electrics,1. Overloading – MCB Trips2. An Earth Fault – RCD Trips If you think you have a fault with your 230v system, consider an EICR test, it is a sefty test and will give you a written report on the sfety of your caravan, motorhome or campervan. Here is some more info on EICR. The last thing you want to do on holiday is trip your electrics, and potentially your neighbours! To […]

02May
Off-Grid Lithium Battery

Considerations when you plan to go off-grid

CategoriesCaravan Upgrades Lithium Batteries Motorhome Upgrades

Are you planning to take your Caravan, Motorhome or Campervan off-grid?Fancy going off-grid, but a little nervous?Need your leisure battery to last the whole trip? If you are a keen explorer, here are some lithium battery considerations to ensure you get the most out of your Caravan, Motorhome or Campervan. If you are considering installing an inverter, battery charger, or solar panel, contact us and request our short questionnaire to help us identify exactly what you need. An example of an off-grid system: How it works: Without having 230v mains electricity, you will need alternative power solutions in its place. […]

26Feb
Brake fluid replacement at Bristol Caravans

Brake Fluid Replacement, What, Where, How, When

CategoriesCampervan Maintenance Motorhome Maintenance Motorhome Service

Automotive experts agree that Brake Fluid should be changed regularly as a part of normal routine service. Not all manufacturers mention Brake Fluid in their scheduled maintenance recommendations, those that do, recommend fresh Brake Fluid approximately every 2 years or 24,000 miles, your motorhome probably cover less than 12,000 miles per year, so when was the last time your motorhome benefitted from some new Brake Fluid? The tech bit… Brake Fluid is a safety-critical subject, how important are the people onboard your vehicle? Most people don’t know why Brake Fluid should be changed, well Brake Fluid is hygroscopic, which means […]

05Jun

How does an Motorhome & Caravan Inverter work?

CategoriesCaravan Upgrades Motorhome Upgrades

If you are wondering “How does an Inverter work in a motorhome or caravan?” this article should help as a first step. An inverter is used to convert your 12v into 230v. This is perfect for going off-grid as you do not have access to mains electricity hook-up. In conjunction with your inverter, we recommend having a lithium battery. Due to inverters using a lot of energy, you must ensure you have a powerful battery. Having a lithium battery is the perfect solution because they have a higher energy density, a longer life, and the ability to maintain voltage even […]

14Jan
Lithium Installation

Why should I fit a new Lithium Battery?

CategoriesLithium Batteries

Do you enjoy spending time off-grid? Have you always wanted to try going off-grid, but have been deterred by the limited facilities? Here at Bristol Caravans, we aim to provide a solution to all your leisure vehicle needs… A case study is probably a good way to discuss the benefits of a new Lithium Battery. A new customer asked how we could breathe life into an older motorhome. A great question from the customer, but we needed a little more info, so asked about his aims, and how he would like to use his leisure vehicle. He said his hobby […]

16Apr
Winterisation drain down

How Do I Drain Down My leisure vehicle?

CategoriesCampervan Maintenance Caravan Maintenance Motorhome Maintenance

Why are we talking about drain down, does it really matter? Yes it does, this article is about “draining the fresh water” out of your caravan, motorhome, campervan. This is usually undertaken at the end of the season, before you store your vehicle for a long period. If water is left in the system, as weather temperatures drop, water can freeze in your taps. As water freezes, it expands! If teaspoon of water was to expand in your tap, the tap could split. A split tap usually means a new tap, a repair you want to avoid. The cost could be […]

26May
motorhome cambelt

Motorhome & Campervan Cambelt Replacement Guide

CategoriesCampervan Cambelt Replacement Campervan Maintenance Motorhome Cambelt Replacement Motorhome Maintenance

If you have a motorhome with a Cambelt system, you will need to plan and budget for its replacement. Read our top tips. But before we dive into all things cambelt, quick heads up. Bristol caravans is designed as a one-stop-shop for your motorhome & campervan maintenance. We have experienced & qualified staff that can help you with Engine Chassis Service, Habitation Service, Damp Repairs and popular upgrades like Self-Levelling Systems, Rear Air Suspension, Lithium Installation ( leisure battery upgrade ) and many more, just ask. Many customers travel to see us and then stay on our campsite whilst having […]

19May

Lost Wheel Syndrome: Caravan Wheel Detachment

CategoriesCaravan Maintenance Caravan Repairs

At Bristol Caravans we have heard a lot about caravan lost wheels over the years. And from time to time we are asked for more details on the subject when we recommend WSL wheel bolts. The following may be seen by some in the caravan industry as controversial, so I preface the following by saying this is the view of Bristol Caravans (ACORNCO LTD), and is shared in the interest of improving safety within the caravan community, without Prejudice. We hope caravan owners adopt the recommendations at the end of this blog to improve road safety. Caravan manufacturers are encouraged […]

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