Esmeralda

Esmeralda · Guru

Esmeralda

Happywanderer · The Master

Congratulations Helen and Esmeralda. Great news and you will be so excited.
The trouble with caravans and campervans you can't take them through the laser wash so its all hand washing. Poor Myrtle is the same, she neds a good wash, cut and polish, hope to get it all done sometime soon, just got to work out how.
You did well at the Tow Ed course Helen, maybe you could buy your own witches hats (orange cones) Carry them with you.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Looking good Helen - you sound so proud of her - and yourself - I can back straight (with difficulty) - will have to find out about Tow Ed course up here - was going to do a course last month, but was unwell, and had to cancel. Where are you headed when you go? Coming up North?

Rip and Rosie · Guru

We are booked for Tow-Ed as well.... sick of feeling less than confident when faced with needing to reverse. Can't wait for the course in a few weeks.
Also can't wait to clean the van - although she's spiffy inside. Also got a few maintenance type stuff to do, but she's a lovely girl.............. although she might be a he...............hum................ need to look underneath perhaps.

ozi2 · Guru

Congratulations Esmeralda, a job well done.........there are a lot of men who should do it as well. The towing courses offer so much to people prepared to do it.

Perhaps E you could fill us in on what the current course covered and what you got out of it, if you dont mind?

cheers

ozi2

Sheba · Guru

Happywanderer wrote:
The trouble with caravans and campervans you can't take them through the laser wash so its all hand washing.
I can put my Campervan through 2 Carwashes in my area, no trouble, even with the Solar Panel on top.
Don't know if they're Laser or not though. Don't you have one down there that takes buses Marj ?
Congratulations Helen. I bet you can't wait for the day you can take off.
Cheers,
Sheba.

-- Edited by Sheba on Thursday 14th of July 2011 08:53:29 PM

Happywanderer · The Master

Ok Sheba, Maybe I need to look into it. 2 things worried me, one being the height of the van may not go under the bar barriers they have there and also being a pop top I wondered if the pressure could cause water to go into the bit where it joins causing a leak. I also have a little top window on the roof that winds up and that is sort of rounded on the top as well.
I need to look around and see if they have one suitable for buses.
I prefer the laser as its only jets of water hitting the vehicle instead of those strips of material beating away at the vehicle doing what ever damage they may do. My sister takes her Mercedes in the one with the strips and her hubby tells her off for not going through the laser as gentler on the paintwork.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Good on you Helen, we did the tow-ed course too, learned heaps.
I think it or something very similar should be compulsory before anybody is allowed to tow a caravan or large trailer.

Vic · Guru

Well done Es, and hope the results are ok and you get on the road soon!

HW, stick a long piece of wood across the highest point on your van, and then measure from the ground to the piece of wood. Put the measurement on a bit of cardboard or something and stick it on the dash where you can see it. Most places with limited height have hanging signs with the measurement shown so you can check that before you go through, add a cm or two to your measurement just to make sure.

Ummmm........dare I say it, wanted to know if I could go through the McDonalds drive through, but my height was ok. There are plenty of places that have these height signs up, including car washes. I would leave your car wash/cut and polish until the work on the engine is complete, just give it a hose down until then, you don't want it all nice and clean and then have grease marks/dust or something on it after you have cleaned it.

-- Edited by Vic on Thursday 14th of July 2011 09:41:57 PM

Sheba · Guru

Then the ones I go through are the Laser ones Marj. They usually have a Sign with the Minimum Height limit written on it.

My height is 2.10. [with the Panel on top]. I've never had any leaks yet.

Cheers,

Sheba.

Happywanderer · The Master

Ok, will measure the height of Myrtle and write it on the inside of the visor with all the other instructions. Maybe a little higher than yours Sheba because of the raised windup window on top. It sits up like a bubble.
I will see it all the time then. She won't be getting a cut and polish till after her heart transplant Vic.

Cruising Granny · Guru

What a week of achievements you girls have had. Well done!
It's a great feeling to park up the van and reverse into a site. Then you get our of your tug, and check out the looks you get. Not just from the guys but from the girls. It's very entertaining. Well worth the experience. I have thought about selling them tickets to watch me.

Now Marj, you'll get a lot of satisfaction from cleaning Myrtle on your own. It doesn't matter if it takes a week. It's not worth killing yourself over, but it's really worth the effort to do it yourself. You'll find out all sorts of things about her cosmetic facade, and under the wheel arches, behind the bumper bars, the door jambs and hinges, the sliding door, around door handles, rubber seals, windscreen wipers etc.
When you cut and polish her, use the thick paste stuff from any auto care place. Just make sure you rub each spot until the paste almost disappears. The rubbing action is removing the oxidised paint and sealing the remaining paint. You won't rub the paint off. Leave it dry completely before you buff it off with a soft cloth. Old towel is perfect. It's a lot of work but if you take your time, it really is worth it.
You'll have to do the roof really well, because you won't want to get up there every time. Well, I don't. I wash it but don't chamois it.
Get a good ladder, one with the 3 wide steps is my fave. Worth the dollars to invest at the hardward store or Bunnings.
I don't like car washes. I find all sorts of things out about Rosy every time I bath her. It's a great chance to check out what might need maintenance, what condition the tyres are in, if they need inflating a bit more, all that sort of stuff. Have fun with it.

Happywanderer · The Master

Thanks CG, Had wanted to do it myself but wasn't sure how I was going to reach a lot of the high spots. Better invest in a decent ladder while waiitng. Maybe I can entice a few of the neighbours to come out and do a little patch rather than watching.

milo · Guru

the car wash we have is very high roofed, but a bit tricky to get in, with there stupidly narrowed drives, same with a drive thru thru maccas etc..
oh a friend of mine and i went to maccas once in his old holden station wagon in reverse at night.. mind you he was very very good at it..was an ex car race driver..
but funny to watch them at the counter as we drove thru.. lol..

clazandaza · Senior Member

Aw dont you lot go and get all expert at reversing your rigs into sites and such. Where's the fun in that?

Part of caravan park and camping entertainment is sitting watching dad trying to reverse the 24 footer whilst mum is giving him all sorts of hand signals from the back and side of the van (none of which I might add are sanctioned by the Transport Dept).

Leads to all sorts of wonderful advice by dad to mum in relation to her lack of spacial interpretation and back advice by mum to dad as to where he can put his caravan etc.

Ah the memories

Ian

blaze · Guru

I think boat ramps on a saturday morning is good value entertainment also
cheers
blaze

Esmeralda · Guru

blaze wrote:
I think boat ramps on a saturday morning is good value entertainment also
cheers
blaze

The instructor told us he thinks that boaties are the worst!!

Esmeralda · Guru

clazandaza wrote:

Aw dont you lot go and get all expert at reversing your rigs into sites and such. Where's the fun in that?
Part of caravan park and camping entertainment is sitting watching dad trying to reverse the 24 footer whilst mum is giving him all sorts of hand signals from the back and side of the van (none of which I might add are sanctioned by the Transport Dept).
Leads to all sorts of wonderful advice by dad to mum in relation to her lack of spacial interpretation and back advice by mum to dad as to where he can put his caravan etc.
Ah the memories
Ian

When you travel solo there is no one to help or to yell at smile

Esmeralda · Guru

Gerty Dancer wrote:
Good on you Helen, we did the tow-ed course too, learned heaps.
I think it or something very similar should be compulsory before anybody is allowed to tow a caravan or large trailer.

I agree Gerty - there was only one couple apart from me (and my girlfriend's husband - they are hiring a van in the next few weeks and it was the same price for me alone or if I brought someone). The other couple were from Tasmania and had just picked their Ecotourer off-road van the day before. The wife wasn't going to drive/park but decided to give it a go and did really well.

Esmeralda · Guru

ozi2 wrote:
Congratulations Esmeralda, a job well done.........there are a lot of men who should do it as well. The towing courses offer so much to people prepared to do it.
Perhaps E you could fill us in on what the current course covered and what you got out of it, if you dont mind?
cheers
ozi2

will do later today

Esmeralda · Guru

Rip and Rosie wrote:
We are booked for Tow-Ed as well.... sick of feeling less than confident when faced with needing to reverse. Can't wait for the course in a few weeks.
Also can't wait to clean the van - although she's spiffy inside. Also got a few maintenance type stuff to do, but she's a lovely girl.............. although she might be a he...............hum................ need to look underneath perhaps.

You will learn a lot - I feel much more confident about reversing now.

I decided Esmeralda was a girl - she had a pink curtain and the laminex had a pinkish tinge biggrin

Esmeralda · Guru

jules47 wrote:
Looking good Helen - you sound so proud of her - and yourself - I can back straight (with difficulty) - will have to find out about Tow Ed course up here - was going to do a course last month, but was unwell, and had to cancel. Where are you headed when you go? Coming up North?

Thanks Jules - might be coming up north - I will let you know towards the end of the month.

Esmeralda · Guru

Happywanderer wrote:
Congratulations Helen and Esmeralda. Great news and you will be so excited.
The trouble with caravans and campervans you can't take them through the laser wash so its all hand washing. Poor Myrtle is the same, she neds a good wash, cut and polish, hope to get it all done sometime soon, just got to work out how.
You did well at the Tow Ed course Helen, maybe you could buy your own witches hats (orange cones) Carry them with you.

Thanks HW - I am pleased to have her back but I have put her in storage for a few weeks. I am planning the look at a couple of those carwashes where you do it yourself with a broom like thingy. I will take my new ladder - I recently bought a three step ladder at Aldi and find it is very solid - to wash the roof. Maybe I will take a grandson for the roof. smile

biggles · Senior Member

blaze wrote:
I think boat ramps on a saturday morning is good value entertainment also
cheers
blaze

Hi Blaze - I prefer to go to the local rubbish tip - you see a lot of people reverse a trailer for the first time, in the end some people have asked the bloke running the tip to reverse their car & trailer in........

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Hired a campervan in Tassie several years ago now, we called it the Conehead - had a little air thingy on top. Anyway hubby was looking for a specific beer, and spotting a sign for it outside a pub, turned into the drivethrough - creeeaaak!!! yep we were too high - managed to back out with just losing the air thingy.
Guy there was telling us about a woman in a campervan who had driven in, scraping roof all the way, of course, couldn't get out, they let tyres down, but no go ended up having to cut the firbreglass top off the van!!!! Wouldn't like to have seen her face when she had to pay the insurance ($3,000 I think ours was). We just had to buy a new air thingy - luckily!

-- Edited by jules47 on Friday 15th of July 2011 06:03:53 PM

Gerty Dancer · Guru

blaze wrote:
I think boat ramps on a saturday morning is good value entertainment also
cheers
blaze

Especially when they wade into the water where there are salties! I hardly dared to watch!

Cruising Granny · Guru

Happywanderer wrote:

Thanks CG, Had wanted to do it myself but wasn't sure how I was going to reach a lot of the high spots. Better invest in a decent ladder while waiitng. Maybe I can entice a few of the neighbours to come out and do a little patch rather than watching.

You could have a neighbourhood busy bee. Cook a batch of scones, put the kettle on and go for it. A bit like a sausage sizzle, but cheaper.
I have to use a ladder to do the cruiser roof and bonnet. We, the vertically challenged, have to be resourceful when it comes to reaching high places, or, kissing tall men.
Ah, the memories come flooding back. It's been a while.

Happywanderer · The Master

You are so right CG. I need to get a good ladder first or maybe borrow a neighbours as won't need it all the time.
Now tall men, thats another subject, most of my ex's have been at least 6 feet tall. By that I mean 2 exhubbys and a few male friends along the way. I'm only 5 ft 3 inch but love a tall man.
I could do with a few now couldn't I? just to polish Myrtle of course.

Rip and Rosie · Guru

I am ashamed to say that on occasions I "act blonde".... like a few years back I got a new van with full canvas annex. Of course I made a mess of things trying to work it out, which attracted every man from around the place..... some of whom only went home when their wives came to fetch them. (I think no one wanted to be the first to leave and have the others think he couldn't work it out either).

Now days however, more experienced and fewer things flummox. That's not to say things like physical strength and height are still not issues, but mostly I can work my way through most stuff around the van, if I get the right advice.

In my humble experience, some men think that if a woman asks for advice, she wants him to take over, (which is sometimes the case but not always ) so the advice is less likely to be about teaching, but may involve showing (unless he is an ex-schoolteacher who will draw up a lesson plan including and exam).

if I ask a woman for advice, mostly I find I will get her experience, some sympathy, suggestions about what to do, a loan of any bits needed, and a bit of an idea where to get more help if needed.... and we might end up with a cup of tea.

Unless her husband is around and then its "Vic, can you come out here and help" and THEN we have a cuppa.

Cruising Granny · Guru

I find it's much more efficient to start the job. There's always someone strolling around the park, and they'll check in to see what I'm doing.
If it looks like I might need a hand they'll step in. Some ask if they can help, and I usually welcome their offer.
I asked a fellow woman lone camper to help me with a job once, thinking she had the additional experience to help me with the task. I promptly learned she wasn't as independent and capable as she thought, or she'd led me to believe.
I had to bite the bullet and ask a bloke to help me. He gave me more help and respect than I ever got from the shiela.
Another one of life's experiences.
The day I installed my "oversize" sign and beacons, I installed the roof racks, and had to get help lifting the sign up on to the racks.
I asked a neighbour who bolted as soon as the sign was set on the racks. I did the clamping etc.
Yes, it's still up there, and hasn't looked like moving.