We are new to the club and enjoying the opportunity to read and make use of the forum. Thank you to all those who have provided advice and information so far. We are now looking forward to our 3rd season with our PUCK 230 which, as ex campers, suites our needs very well. To keep weight down we only have one (4.5kg) gas bottle but take with us a light weight butane gas stove incase the gas runs out at an inconvenient time and for outside cooking. We've not bothered to fit a battery as we invariably have 'hook up'. I've made a half size table that is also lighter and gives us more room in the cabin - do any of you have any other weight saving ideas? A little aside: We have some good friends who we caravan with and last year after a pleasant evening sitting out enjoying local wine and chatting we retired to our respective vans (our friends have a conventional much larger van). As you do we continued talking between ourselves in our van when half an hour later our friend (dog in tow) knocked on our door and with a grin told us that he had been able to hear everything we were saying - this seems to be one of the few downsides to having a 'poptop' - has anybody else had this experience? Fortunately our conversation had been positive and in no way derogatory of anyone or thing but !!!!! also we do not have particularly loud voices. Anyway, it occurred to us that there maybe times when its advisable to have the top down including when it is particularly cold. Our instruction manual advises against this but again any thoughts or advice? We're looking forward to a good year and hope its good for you to. T & C

We travel light! we replaced the heavy freestanding table with 2 x aluminium folders which fit in the same storage slot once occupied by the freestander

We use 3 ltr water bottles for our drinks, we always use on site facilities so don't take an Aqua roll or waste water container.

We only quarter fill the toilet flush when we arrive on site, and only use the toilet for night time wee wee's

We have an induction hob and a steamer, plus a suitable frying pan and wok.

I don't carry "clutter" so for me no inflatable water pool with gushing jets of hot water (some white box owners take "everything")

I have a gas bottle (can't remember when I last used it!) We also have the hot water system, which I test every year (but again don't use)

We use bluetooth speakers and only have an 8 inch telly (holidays are for waxing not watching Corrie)

We use sleeping bags and these can be coupled

We only put the roof down in exceptional circumstances, and sometimes leave the door open all night (I have a surprise! waiting for an intruder)

That's me I think

Must admit we did have one very fraught and emotional talk late into the night. No idea what the neighbours heard but we moved on next day anyway.

You can line the pop top skirt but you still need ventilation .
We only dropped the roof once during a vehicle rocking gale
with rain to match. There are always people that talk loudly
and others that like to listen but we never pitched close enough
to either, now snoring thats a different ball game.

from tenting days we learnt to whisper or mumble any conversations,
at one campsite after listening to radio all day, rather low, to the point of not being able to hear outside
someone asked what exactly do you do all day, surely you cant read all the time, don't you watch telly or listen to radio go on internet??
was somewhat surprised being the item of discussion, said no don't read all the time, do crafts obviously you missed that hour!!

sadly next door last year at a campsite decided at 1am to have a loud mobile phone conversation he rang who ever it was could hear the ringing, in fact we could hear both sides of the conversation!! because next door came outside so didn't wake his other half,
I think the roof banging down gave him a fright and the call soon ended..

the best advice is to empty the eriba
and stay on drive for an overnight
only add what you need to get you through the days, ie bedding, food, clothing, cooking/ fire equipment, plate knife spoon fork, clothes, and the eriba needs, like waste container, pipe, matches or squeeze flash thing for lighting gas, hook up cable if needed.washing up liquid, cloth tea towel
you get the idea
then add the toys to keep you sane lol
P

P

I think of something someone once told me "if you have something in your garage you hav'nt seen or used for 6 months, then you don't need it!" I tend to apply similar thinking to loading the Eriba