Hook-up disaster avoidance

[stuartholmes]

What is your favourite way to be 110% sure of not driving off with the electric hook-up still connected?

I used to always route the wire through the steering wheel but in a few places recently it's not been long enough so use a piece of string tied to the plug & again looped through the wheel. Not elegant!!!

Any other suggestions please?

 

[Derek’soldvan]

I thought I’d be organised & Lidl &/or Aldi did one of those dymo thingy’s, spent ages making little signs, now I don’t site much so this thread isn’t really for me but the one sign that I can see as I drive off & for the first possible 100 miles is the sign that says “fridge, on 12v?” It’s stuck in the middle of the steering wheel, but only if I notice it, I never do, any ideas?

 

[Derek’soldvan]

I do the same but got a bollocking once for forgetting the most important thing

View attachment 726680

Oh dear, you did leave the hook up connected then

 

[Tombola]

Oh dear, you did leave the hook up connected then

beer

 

[Richard n Ann]

I always walk round the van 1 last time before getting in. That's the only thing I have to remember

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[Reallyretired]

Generally I check all outside. Swmbo the inside things.

 

[stuartholmes]

no corks under wiper blade arms,

...corks under wiper blade arms?!?

It's a different world.

 

[stuartholmes]

Walk round, touching every item.
I start in the khazi checking the roof vent mirrors locked cupboard door, then side bed window, wardrobe for, roof vent, overhead lockers, other wardrobe door side window, shower roof vent, kitchen window, overhead lockers, lounge roof, cab roof then out the hab door. Strong slam, step up, check awning, then electric flap, gas flap, side bed window, garage door, round to the back and bike rack, side bed window, other garage door, gas locker, kitchen window, grey water bucket, water flap, drivers mirror, round the front bonnet down, no corks under wiper blade arms, passenger mirror, quick butchers for dog toys / anything else then after final eyeball jobs a good 'un.

You got dog's toys on the list but no dog!!! Hope he doesn't have to run alongside ☺

 

[Swifter]

Lenny HB has a great way of making sure he doesn’t leave the hookup lead plugged in .
He doesn’t own one

 

[cyberyacht]

Forgetting to swap the fridge over is my most frequent omission plus the "Boudicca" impersonation when the warning buzzer was on the blink.

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[Burgo]

...corks under wiper blade arms?!?

It's a different world.

Yes. If we're parked in the summer sun here for a lengthy period I put an old cork lengthways under the end of each wiper arm to stop the rubber blade sticking to the windscreen. Corks work because if you do forget to remove them, or need for some reason to move immediately they won't scratch the body work or cause damage of they come off.

 

[Nanniemate]

Whit a palaver.... quick check in doors and a walk around outside before setting off.... sorted.

then stop 100 yards down the road for the cupboard door you missed , that's my routine

 

[stuartholmes]

Yes. If we're parked in the summer sun here for a lengthy period I put an old cork lengthways under the end of each wiper arm to stop the rubber blade sticking to the windscreen. Corks work because if you do forget to remove them, or need for some reason to move immediately they won't scratch the body work or cause damage of they come off.

And there was me thinking they were to stop the blades freezing to the glass in Finland. Or Scotland!!

 

[Puddleduck]

When ready to leave I always take a walk around the van checking lockers etc so never had a problem.

I've done that and stepped over the EHU lead as I checked external lockers and roof vents!

 

[h8ten]

I saw something similar to these but pre-printed with various reminders and costing a fortune. These are blank and can be written if need be and can be 'snapped' around the steering wheel.

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[Clive Mott]

Drape the hookup cable over the drivers wing mirror. P. S. Done it twice!!

 

[westfielder]

Hilarious Tombola!

We have a little (credit card sized) laminated sticker on the edge of the binnacle

Toilet valve shut
All windows shut
Roof vents down
Wheel clamp off
EHU cable on board
All items stowed and cupboards latched
Sink empty
LOOK BACK AT SPACE

The last bit is to remember to check where we have been parked as we move off, have left shoes, mats and all sorts on sites as we have driven away that were hidden under the van. Also double checks no litter left - I would be mortified!

 

[drpeej]

I've done it once! I was taking the MH down to LNB towbars in Bristol and left home in the dark while my wife stayed in bed.

As I drove out of the drive there was a loud bang and a flash that lit up the whole road.

What I didn't realise is that I had tripped the power to the whole house which did not amuse my wife when she got up a couple of hours later

 

[drpeej]

Re EHU - just remembered the time in France when my wife's hairdryer tripped the electrics for half the campsite.

We stayed at the same campsite on the way back and hoped that they wouldn't remember us.

They certainly did after the same thing happened again!

 

[Rick Axon]

I put the bags for the EHU and grey water hose on the drivers seat (It's fixed and doesn't swivel).

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[Nanniemate]

Hilarious Tombola!

We have a little (credit card sized) laminated sticker on the edge of the binnacle

Toilet valve shut
All windows shut
Roof vents down
Wheel clamp off
EHU cable on board
All items stowed and cupboards latched
Sink empty
LOOK BACK AT SPACE

The last bit is to remember to check where we have been parked as we move off, have left shoes, mats and all sorts on sites as we have driven away that were hidden under the van. Also double checks no litter left - I would be mortified!

I never put anything under the van a lesson that was taught to me when travelling with my parents due to limited space like we didn't have any in the van with mattress, the saucepans from the house were put under the van , My mother cooked on wonky saucepans for years

some lessons given by your parents are never forgotten, but he ran them over more than once , so it became the we are on the road chant SAUCEPANS !!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Towat101]

What is your favourite way to be 110% sure of not driving off with the electric hook-up still connected?

I used to always route the wire through the steering wheel but in a few places recently it's not been long enough so use a piece of string tied to the plug & again looped through the wheel. Not elegant!!!

Any other suggestions please?

We have a laminated checklist, one side is for setting up the other for leaving, I have realised that the item "remove cab window blinds" is a bit redundant as even I might notice if I tried to drive off with them in place.

 

[Ducatian]

My father was an Airline Pilot. Check lists were a way of life in our house.

I use them laminated and slipped in the 'Pilot's' door. Also one of these on the Main key ring to remind me to use the checklist!

 

[TheMachMan]

I never put anything under the van a lesson that was taught to me when travelling with my parents due to limited space like we didn't have any in the van with mattress, the saucepans from the house were put under the van , My mother cooked on wonky saucepans for years

some lessons given by your parents are never forgotten, but he ran them over more than once , so it became the we are on the road chant SAUCEPANS !!!!!!!!!!!

Reminded me of last year putting my wife’s favourite sandals under the step and then moving on.
I did check at our next site to see if they were still there, she wasn’t impressed

 

[Puddleduck]

Mr Puddleduck has come up with a brilliant idea.

Spring loaded socket where the EHU lead plugs into the van, a catch which locks it into place, when the ignition is switched on a solenoid releases the catch and the EHU is ejected.

You can then drive off without damage but it may become expensive in terms of EHU cables.

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[Ian]

I have been so close to driving off with something still attached. I now make it a habit to put any bags, handles, covers etc behind the drivers seat when it's turned round to face the table. It means that as soon as I sit in drivers seat in normal position, if there is anything in the footwell or on the steering wheel then I can put it away safely. This includes covers for power lead ( if used) winding handles for awning & support legs, covers for ramps, peg bags, bags fo chairs etc. It works well now but in the early days my good lady wanted to be tidy & moved them into the garage bit. After a couple of near misses I finally convinced her!! However the sure thing is that if anything was forgotten it would be my fault!!

 

[Snoopy]

Love a good list, cakes, sweets

 

[Snoopy]

Ours sadly was forgetting to switch the fridge over...mmm thankfully granddaughter scoffing ice lollies helped that day.

 

[Glitch]

Mr Puddleduck has come up with a brilliant idea.

Spring loaded socket where the EHU lead plugs into the van, a catch which locks it into place, when the ignition is switched on a solenoid releases the catch and the EHU is ejected.

You can then drive off without damage but it may become expensive in terms of EHU cables.

It exists for emergency vehicles

Auto Eject 15 WP

kussmaul.com

 

[drpeej]

Mr Puddleduck has come up with a brilliant idea.

Spring loaded socket where the EHU lead plugs into the van, a catch which locks it into place, when the ignition is switched on a solenoid releases the catch and the EHU is ejected.

You can then drive off without damage but it may become expensive in terms of EHU cables.

Wouldn't it make more sense to have an interlock with the ignition system that prevents the engine from starting if the EHU is plugged in?

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[Puddleduck]

It exists for emergency vehicles

Auto Eject 15 WP

kussmaul.com

Told you it was a brilliant idea, so good it has already been stolen!!