A-Z OF CARAVANS

A

AWNINGS

What’s that old joke about awnings? Divorce in a bag! Fortunately, these days it doesn’t have to be that way, because superior technology, combined with better materials, makes the current crop of awnings distinctly easier to assemble than their predecessors.

But why have one? Simple answer – you can double your living space.

When buying, think about how much space you realistically need – a porch awning that covers a section of the van could be sufficient if you’re just looking to give yourself a place to store kit and/or perhaps a spot for your pooch.

Larger touring groups will benefit from a full awning, which covers the entire side of the caravan.

Next, which type of awning: pole or air? The rigid stability of a pole awning is great if you’re on site for an extended period, while speedy air awnings can really take the pain out of assembly.

Here are our favourite tips for achieving awning happiness:

■ Practise assembling your awning before you actually use it at the site, to save yourself a world of stress.

■ If you label any poles, you will find assembly a great deal easier.

■ Pack up your awning when it’s dry, so you won’t have to unpack and dry it when you’re back home.

■ Awnings can be very heavy – transport them in your car or as near to the axle as possible.

B

BARBECUES

If you enjoy dining al fresco and you are a regular barbecue chef when you’re away on tour, think about ditching the disposables and investing in a barbecue that will see you all the way through the summer months, year after year.

When you shop around for the right model, try narrowing down your needs:

■ How many people are you likely to be cooking for?

■ How much space do you have and how portable do you want the barbecue to be?

■ Which fuel do you want to use?

■ What will you be cooking?

There are plenty of BBQs to choose from – here are some of our favourites!

BACK TO BASICS

Valiant Folding BBQ

This lightweight barbecue weighs only 3kg and folds away neatly for easy transportation.

Price £44.99 Web amazon.co.uk

MULTI-TASKING

Campingaz Camping Chef Folding Stove This multifunctional stove, with four free CV470 cartridges, has two burners and a central grill, all with piezo ignition.

Price £59.99 Web camping-intl.com

TOP OF THE RANGE

Lotus Grill Charcoal BBQ

This stylish grill comes in a choice of colours and sizes, and with a free carry bag, lighter gel and 1kg of charcoal.

Price £149 Web cuckooland.com

ON THE GO

Jetboil Zip

The space-saving Zip boils water in just over two minutes. Including a fuel canister stabiliser and drink-through lid, it’s easy to carry at only 12oz.

Price £94.99 Web jetboil.co.uk

C

CASSETTE TOILETS

A less glamorous (but very important) consideration of touring is choosing your on-board facilities. If you’d rather not brave the midnight cold to answer a call of nature, the cassette toilet is your friend.

Cassette toilets make waste disposal as stress-free as possible. They’re made up of two chambers, one storing the flushing solution and the other holding waste and a chemical. The waste chamber is tightly sealed to