News & Stories

There are yet some factors which have to be considered when you are planning to shop for annexes:

• The water resisting capabilities
• Fire resisting capabilities
• Weight
• Durability
• Service or repair centers
• Spare parts availability
• Ease of handling
• A sewn in floor
• Availability of the mud skirt
• Availability of weather proof skirt for the caravan

People love caravanning around Australia! After all, who doesn’t like to experience an exotic getaway topped up with the scenic beauty of the Australian continent? A caravan road trip not just unwinds you, but also leads you to discover some fabulous places. However, when you plan a caravanning trip, you need to make sure you have these caravan essentials which will smooth up your trip, especially when you are up for Western Australia. Here is a caravan checklist that would serve you as a ready reckoner for a caravan road trip.

1. Spare Tyres

Rough desert plains, trickling streams, grass fields and even rocky roads, you have to deal through a lot while caravanning. All this is usually not easy to tackle, and this is the very reason why spare tyres are a must-have. After all, they take a lot of brunts and may gradually wear down. Thus, be prepared for a flat tyre or else you’d be left in the middle of nowhere, stranded and confused.

2. Extra Fuel

Australia has a vast landscape covered by plateaus, plains, mountains, valleys and plains! So when you finally decide to explore this vast natural piece of beauty, you would not like to run out of fuel. Make sure your caravan is well stocked with fuel backup!!

3. First Aid Kits & Fire Extinguishers

Preparing for the worst is the best precaution you could ever take. Any outdoor adventure can have mishaps and can leave you in the middle of nowhere. So when you know that you will be spending some peaceful time in remote yet vulnerable places, make sure that you have a first aid kit with all the essential medications. Top these with flashlights, ropes, survival knife, fluid containers, extra clothes and fire starting tools. Not to forget, a fire extinguisher is another essential thing you need to carry. A fire can spark up without warning, and you must have the resources to cease it.

4. Annexes and Awnings

 Remember to take the comfort of your home while you leave for a caravanning adventure. Annexes help you create cozy spaces that provide comfort on your caravanning trips. Make sure that you carry quality annexes and awnings to camp at your favourite landscape. You can contact some excellent quality awnings & annexes providers like Australia Wide Annexes, which also offers an onsite installation service in all locations throughout Australia.

5. Electric Hook-Up Cables

You’d be lucky enough to get electricity at some campsites and to make use of it, you will have to carry your supply of hook-up cables to connect and hook up to the points. After all, electric appliances like boilers, heaters and ovens offer a significant convenience on a camping trip.

So now, before you plan a caravanning trip, make sure what you pack for a caravan trip and consider the above points.

Caravanners who take along annexes and awnings to set up their own personal space out in the wild are faced with the issue of inadequate lighting. The most common light source used in led caravan annexes light and awnings is the usual caravan light. Other than a custom electrical work done for the annexe, there are not many options known to people. You may use a solar powered lantern but I am not sure whether it would provide sufficient lighting.

LEDs work perfectly for caravans and caravan annexes. Not only do they provide sufficient lighting inside the annexe, but they are flexible in terms of placement. Moreover, they consume less energy than other conventional lighting sources. LED strips are pretty sturdy and have waterproof covering on them to prevent sudden damage due to water. Nowadays, some camping and caravanning stores keep premade lengths of these LED strips. These pre-cut strips come with Velcro and fixing straps for convenient placement and faster installation at site.

As per my understanding, a regular annexe should require approximately 5 meters of LED strip lights. You need to measure out the centre bracing rib of the roof of the annexe if you need a centrally positioned light. Or else you could get more length of LED strip lights and line it up along the inside edges. Personally, I would prefer going for a centrally positioned light. Once you have positioned and fixed the light strips in place, you only need to connect it to a power socket.

LED lights are pretty soothing in nature and they consume less power. All of this makes them the perfect addition to your caravan’s annexe. You can even use left-over strips of LED to light up other areas such as wash basins, headrest for beds (to be used as reading lights), etc. There are numerous applications that can be made for this simple yet highly effective lighting source. Remember, if you don’t get the pre-cut version, you can always ask your electrician to make up a lighting kit for you that you may setup whenever you require.

I hope this was helpful to you. Don’t forget to share your opinions, views and ideas with us in the discussions thread below.

No matter how luxurious and spacious your caravan annexe may be, it would be of no use if the interior is pretty hot. It would not be possible for you to sit inside for even a few minutes. The thing with annexes is that they are usually made from water resistant fabrics and these materials can trap heat inside if proper ventilation is not provided for it. Apart from adding ventilation, it would be better if you could get as much shade as possible so that the air inside the annexe gets less chances of heating up.

Here are some valuable tips for maintaining a cool environment inside your caravan annexe.

Try To Erect Your Annexe in a Shade

This is the easiest way to ensure cooling inside the annexe. When you park your caravan, try to find a spot that has some natural cover which would protect the annexe from direct sunlight. This will give less chances for the air inside the annexe to heat up. But make sure that you have enough open space around the annexe so that air may flow without much obstruction.

Open Up Those Windows and Doors

If you keep the doors and windows closed, the warm air will circulate inside and increase the temperature. It would be better if you open them up and allow proper ventilation for the annexe. You can use meshes when you are in an area that has a lot of bugs or insects so that you can allow ventilation while keeping the menacing bugs out. There are annexes that have large sized windows and doors. It would be really beneficial to acquire such annexes as they allow better ventilation.

Avoid Keeping Any Heating Medium Inside the Annexe

You would want to cook food in the comfort of your annexe but that would not be such a good idea. By heating up a barbeque inside or by cooking inside, you would only raise the internal temperature and you would increase the risk of fire if the heat was not managed properly. If you have to cook inside, then make sure that the windows and doors are open and you have adequate safety measures with you.

Use Annexes Made From Materials that Support Cooling

Technology has blessed us with advancements in fabrics and materials wherein it is possible to get annexes made from materials that support cooling. These materials prevent the internal temperature from being raised excessively and also allow proper ventilation and this helps to maintain a more or less cool environment inside the annexe.

When you are out on a trip with your family or loved ones, the one thing that you miss the most is the comfort of your home. Your personal space is something that cannot be replicated by any hospitality service. Caravan annexes are great for carrying your home with you wherever you travel. But unlike cleaning conventional houses and accommodations, it takes a good understanding of the materials and the appropriate cleaning method for maintaining the quality of the annexe’s material. It is important to clean your caravan canvas annexe in the correct manner as it is subjected to dirt, grime, bird droppings and harsh weather conditions, all of which can negatively affect the material.

If you are not sure about the correct cleaning approach, then the following tips could help you get started.

Detach Removable Parts

It is obvious that you cannot clean your caravan annexe properly if it is assembled completely. So the first that you need to do is remove the parts that can be detached and unzip the annexe so that it opens up. This makes it easy to clean the material and exposes the internal surface where dirt could have accumulated over time. By detaching the removable parts, you can also check for possible damages as these would have to be repaired before it is cleaned. By separating the parts, you can also dry the individual components in a better manner. All you need to do is to leave them out to dry.

Clean Excessive Debris

Bird droppings, earth, sand or vegetable matter should never be allowed to remain in contact with the annexe’s material. This can worsen any damage that has already be made. Make sure that you remove these from the fabric with a soft cloth. But be gentle when removing such debris as it may have stuck to the material and forceful actions could affect it. The best way to prevent this is to regularly dust the annexe and hose it so that all such debris is removed without reduced chances for accumulation of grime.

Select Compatible Cleaning Agents

While soap and water may do the trick for you, but you often come across some stains that are hard to remove. For cleaning such stains and other hard to clean places, you need to identify the right cleaning agents like Camco RV Awning cleaner, which are compatible with your annexe’s fabric. After all, you would not want your beautiful annexe to be tarnished due to reactions brought about by incorrect cleaning products. Petrol, oil, solvents, kerosene and other similar fluids should be completely avoided.

It’s Time for Intensive Cleaning

Now that you have done the preliminary cleaning and the annexe is prepared, you need to clean intensively. You need to use cold water and a soft cloth for removing water based stains. In case this does not remove the stain completely, then you can use a mild solution of soap in lukewarm water.

Use a soft brush or a sponge for scrubbing the strain off the material as forceful scrubbing could damage the exterior. Most annexes are made from waterproof fabrics such as canvas and vinyl. You should be careful not to damage the finish of the surface during the cleaning process.

Some stains can be really hard to remove even with the soap and lukewarm water solution. In such cases, you need to use non-abrasive household cleaners, diluted rubbing alcohol or diluted bleach for removing the stubborn stains. But as a precaution, you should immediately wash the portion of the fabric with clean water, following which the fabric needs to be left out to dry properly.

Check for grime or dirt build ups in hard to reach corners and other places that often go unnoticed. It is important for these areas to be cleaned as if untreated, these places could be subjected to gradual damage which would weaken the strength of the annexe’s structure.

Check Again

Once the intensive cleaning has been completed, just wipe the surface clean with a soft cloth and then leave it out to dry. Do not roll up the fabric when it is wet as this could damage the material. Spread it out and leave it to dry naturally under the sun. Upon drying, the fabrics can either be rolled up or they can be installed again in the caravan. But before you use the annexe again, make a last minute inspection to check for possible damages or dirt that may be have been missed out. If required, perform the necessary repair work before usage.

Some Points to Remember

Cleaning your caravan annexe is not a big task, but you need to be careful so that you do not damage the finish and quality of the fabric. Here are some important points to remember while cleaning the annexe.

• Clean your caravan annexe periodically
• Use only certified and compatible cleaning agents
• Use soft cloths with gentle scrubbing for removing stains. Excessive force should never be applied.
• Never roll up your annexe when wet. Leave them out to dry by spreading them out.
• Make sure to keep a check on the accumulation of dust, bird droppings and other solid particles. Remove them as soon as possible as the longer they are left in contact with the material, the more damage they can inflict on the exterior.

Related Post: How To Clean Caravan Awnings.