We’ve just returned from Satara in the Kruger Park; it’s not the first time we’ve camped there. Again we came face to face with a tent-peg-eating campsite. I think we returned with only two straight tent pegs. After demolishing several pegs, I called on a passing camp staff member who, I assumed, would have some unique expertise and knowledge to assist me. After he had destroyed another four tent pegs, I persuaded him to leave it to me as I was just as capable of reducing my supply of tent pegs, along with the appropriate cursing, on my own. Maybe our tent pegs are just plain inferior.
I’m now shopping round for a cordless drill, which I believe will assist me when we’re camping on very hard ground. But are there perhaps any other tips or suggestions that you know of before I resupply myself with new pegs? Is there a secret mallet that should be used?
In a similar vein, I was wondering if you or your readers had any advice regarding inflatable mattresses. I suffer from back pain, so I like a mattress to be reasonably firm. During this last trip, while I was endeavouring to make sure our mattress was well inflated, some of the internal construction popped, producing what I called Mount Kilimanjaro between my wife and me. It was a source of great hilarity for the rest of the family, but not amusing to me! Now I have to shop for a new mattress as well as new tent pegs. Are there mattresses that one should avoid at all costs? Everything seems to be made of inferior materials these days.
Sounds like you’ve been a bit unlucky lately! On the issue of tent pegs, we’ve featured sturdy screw-in tent pegs in recent issues of the magazine. We commented on them again in Caravan Clinic in our September issue, on page 77. These thicker-than-normal tent pegs should cope with pretty much any terrain. If you’re looking to buy new pegs, make sure you buy the thickest that you can find. You'll find a sturdy set at www.parasolsa.co.za.
On the topic of your Mount Kilimanjaro mattress, have you considered a large double bed camping stretcher? We’ve also heard of campers placing a firm layer of foam on top of their inflatable mattress, although we’re not too sure how comfy this would be!
Caravaning with a disability
Ralph Henderson writes:
I read the Clinic letter from Heinrich Kruger on page 71 of the August issue, where he mentions that because of his disability he has a problem getting into his caravan with a wheelchair.
We have a standard Gypsey Regal Blue Series, inside which I use a mechanic’s stool. All I do is park my wheelchair next to the entrance, then transfer to the stool and scoot around inside. I’ve made no alterations to the caravan, so it keeps its value and structural strength.
People in wheelchairs battle getting in and out, so we set up a caravan tent as well. Inside the tent we erect a double blow-up bed at the entrance, and I simply hop onto the bed from my chair.
Caravan park ablutions are sometimes a problem. But we’ve solved that: we have a gazebo with sides – access is easy as it has no lip like normal tents. Inside there’s a gas geyser with a hand-held shower and a cassette toilet.
We can now go camping anywhere we want and we don’t have to worry about whether the destination has facilities with wheelchair access.
If anybody wants to contact me in this regard, they are welcome. My email address is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Thanks for sharing your advice with us, Ralph. It’s so great to hear how you’ve overcome the challenges that you’ve encountered when caravaning.
Tata ma chances
Monty Mc Lean writes:
I’m replying to the query about the Tata Xenon 3.0‑litre as a towcar that I saw in the September 2011 issue on page 76.
I have a Tata Xenon 2.2‑litre double-cab and it’s a great towing vehicle. For about two years now we’ve towed our Jurgens Fleetline without any problems. The Tata Xenon 3.0‑litre only has an 80 kW engine delivering 300 Nm of torque, but the 2.2‑litre has 103 kW and 320 Nm. I’ve also heard that the 3.0‑litre tends to vibrate so you much that you can lose weight while driving!
The right pressure
Japie Odendal writes:
My neighbour has a Nissan X-Trail which he uses to tow his Gypsey Romany. He would like to know what tyre pressures he should have on the car when towing.
Start by looking at the rating on the tyre, and what the manufacturer lists as the correct tyre pressure for a full load. As a rule of thumb we inflate tow vehicles’ rear tyres to approximately 3 bar, but this depends on the type of vehicle, the type of tyre, and what’s being towed. Never inflate tyres beyond their maximum inflation spec, which is written on the tyre wall.
Chery on top
Peter Singleton writes:
I’m looking for any information on the 2011 Chery Tiggo 2.0 TXE. I’ve found out that it has a GVM of 1750 kg and a tare of 1375 kg. What caravan would be recommended? Is there anyone out there who is towing with this vehicle?
We’ve never received a Chery vehicle for a tow test, let alone a Tiggo. The traffic rules state that your braked caravan must have a GVM no greater than the tare of your towcar. This means that with the Chery Tiggo you describe, you will be able to legally tow a braked caravan that has a GVM no greater than 1375 kg. But also factor in what the manufacturer lists as a maximum towing capacity.
Any readers who tow with a Chery Tiggo can drop us an email to tell us more about the vehicle. Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Sleeping solution
Devon Carr writes:
I’ve included some photos of the Disc-o-Bed that we’ve fitted in our caravan, which has completely solved the sleeping arrangement dilemma we faced.
To make the ‘bunk’ I fitted two sets of leg extensions: the raised height is 400 mm (2 x 200 mm) per side. The new bed sits on top of the dinette bed, the cushions of which hold the legs in place and prevent the top bed from moving around.
I’ve ensured that the legs don’t stand on top of the lids of the dinette seats, so we’re still able to access the hatches under the seats with the bed in place.
Thanks to the Swing’s pop-top, along with the narrow width of the rear overhead cupboards and the vertical rear wall, it’s possible to sit on the bed without bumping your head.
I’m not so sure whether this will work in a different caravan, such as a Jurgens with the dinette bed in front, as the front wall is inclined backwards for reduced wind resistance while being towed.
Although one doesn’t generally need a mattress with a Disc-o-Bed, we have used a pool lounger mattress to make it a bit more comfortable.
In the photos you’ll also notice the ‘bed entertainment system’. This is something else I’ve added so that the kids can watch a movie in their beds, especially when the weather’s bad. I use the portable car DVD system and hang it up on the bed.
I’ve also added an additional plug socket in the rear of the caravan in the dinette seat next to the fridge. The main distribution board is situated in this hatch, so it was very easy to run the wiring for this new plug. It makes the caravan safer and neater, because now there’s no need for multi-plugs and extension cables in the caravan when the DVD system is hooked up, and we can use electric blankets for the kids in winter.
To further customise our caravan I have added shoe storage by running a length of 8 mm elastic cord along the sides of the island bed base. Essentially we pull the cord away from the wooden base, slot the shoes in and then release the cord. The shoes, slippers or slops are held vertically by the cord against the bed base, and there are no more loose shoes on the floor to trip over.
All these simple improvements have really made a huge difference to our caravaning holidays.
Yours is just the kind of email the Caravan Clinic likes to receive: it’s full of useful titbits of advice that are easy to put into practice. I encourage other readers to submit their practical caravaning solutions. Send an email plus your high-res photos (each photo must be 1 MB or more in size) to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Contribute to caravan clinic
Do you have a question that’s related to caravaning, towing or camping? Perhaps you have some advice or a tip you want to share with other readers. Send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , and don’t forget to include your photos.
(This edition of Caravan Clinic was published in the November 2011 issue of Caravan & Outdoor Life)
