Hi, i've just got back into towing a caravan again after selling my camper van .
I've always covered the camper van up for the winter, but i had always taken the batteries out and put them on trickle charge over the winter.
On the Eriba 320GT , the battery looks as though its permanently fixed in, do most people link the electric hookup over winter if they can ?
Someone also said they leave a heater on frost setting on in their van over winter, i dont really like the idea of that, i never did with the camper, with no problems ?
Just one more thing, does the "chimny" just pull off ?

I leave mine on hook up, I presume that counts as a trickle charge ?

I have an external electric point so I leave my EHU permanently plugged in over winter, approximately every three weeks I turn the electric on for a couple of days so that the inbuilt charger tops the battery up. All you are doing is simulating using the van all year round. I don't take the battery out as its too heavy.

I use to use an oil heater on very low over winter however I find that it isn't required, we just keep all the internal doors open to avoid damp and pull away the cushions from the wall.

As mentioned before the chimney cowl screws off and put a tennis ball on the top.

Just a little tip! If you’re draining the water, blow up a balloon and then fix it over a tap, open the tap and let go the balloon. This will push out the remaining water in the system

Balloon to blow out water from taps etc - brilliant idea! The Eriba manual says to use a max pressure of 0.5 bar to clear water from pipes... but no explanation of how to do it, until now. I shall try tomorrow; timely tip because here in Speyside it's verging on zero tonight with bitter north winds and driving rain/sleet

Battery charging is the one thing I didn't factor in with the AL cover. Looks like I'll either have to slack off the straps and fiddle around underneath the skirt, or perhaps just cut a hole in the cover so I can open the flap and top up the charge once a month.

The cover came with a loose bit of material so hopefully the most useful accessory will be able to fashion something appropriate. Come to think of it there's a few bits for the hitch cover including a sleeve with one closed end for the jockey wheel handle. I guess that could be fixed to the side of the cover and hang down like a green fabric thingy tube for the cable....hmmmm.... should have thought of that before it got cold.

Damn!

Hadn't thought of that Motters.

I have an external water point and the pump connection breaks the electrical circuit so I always have my taps open to drain anyway.

Blowing down the tap does require those of us who are of perfectly average height (short to some folk) to climb up onto the worktop, not very elegant. May try balloon idea to preserve my dignity

To use the EHU whilst the cover is on I have some pipe insulation going around the external power flap. A couple of zip ties keeps it on. This stops the edges wearing through the cover, I have been doing this with my Familia and the specialised cover for the last seven seasons...

Another tip! If you find it a pain getting the fly muck off the front of your Eriba! From my motor cycling days! Spray the front with Mr Sheen and polish. You’ll find the fly sh*t will wipe off without much effort. If you store your van outside this winter and the lock freezes, heat your key with a lighter, put it in the lock and wait for a few seconds, then it will open

If you don’t intend using your Eriba this winter, jack the van up and place on axle stands so that the wheels turn freely. This will save your tyres as they don’t like being kept on one spot for long, as too the wheel bearings. If you do this leave the handbrake in the off position. Drum brakes have a tendency to ‘freeze’ into lock position so when you come to remove it next spring you’ll find it difficult to move.