Alan's Caravan and Holiday Survival Tips

I received an email today from a chap named Alan Edney. It was an interesting read and worth passing on. You just never know when his advice will come in handy!

Hi Mrs Barnsley

I have read your excellent guide but if I may suggest the following proven tips on caravan survival.

Your guide mentioned with a flat tyre being unable to get a jack under a vans axle. With a tandem depending which tyre is flat you place the spare either behind or in front leaning a solid jack support board against it then simply drive the van onto the spare wheel. This lifts it high enough to set up the jack & when raised one simply pulls the spare clear to replace the flat.

Note if the jack cannot lift high enough to clear the spare park on an area of ground soft enough to dig enough away so the spare pulls clear. It is essential in this case to have the jack positioned about 60 cm in on the axle to prevent collapse.


Petrol vehicles always carry some Wrigley's chewing gum, emery paper & duct tape. The gum is impervious to petrol so if a leak develops in ones fuel tank emery the area clean & press on the well chewed gum. In the 50's a chap at Carnarvon drove around for 8 years with such a repair.

Sometimes one gets a fine crack in a pressure fuel line. Emery clean, apply gum then wrap tightly with duct tape.

I have had on 2 occasions a split in the fuel pipe knurling where it is screwed into the carby. Apply a small amount of chewed gum where the split is in the curl of the knurl & carefully reconnect to the carby.

Diesel engines buy a pack of camphor tablets at the chemist approx $4 & when refuelling cut one in pieces small enough to tip into the fuel tank spout the fill up. This cleans the injectors & is an old truckers trick.

Years ago I checked with a shell specialist & he said it does work & is naphthalene based the same as diesel & one can put 2 or 3 in & it will not harm the motor. I have been using it for over 20 years & once had to remove a corroded alloy head to find the motor was in perfect condition.

WARNING Do not use it on petrol vehicles.

Tourists walking on reefs should always carry a 1 1/2 - 2 metre length of broom handle with some soft rubber tubing over one end to stop blisters. Every step one goes to take always probe with the handle first otherwise one could be stepping on a stone fish whose spines will penetrate sand shoe soles with agonising pain for 3 - 4 days.

Always carry anti histamine tablets in ones pocket for immediate use no good a kilometre away in the caravan.

In shallow sandy creeks sting rays often bury themselves under the sand basking in the sun so a probing broom handle is a good idea. In the 50,s at Carnarvon we walked into a school of small rays which suddenly erupted all around us fortunately we did not get stung.

Always walk on reefs in water not more than 30 cm deep & frequently check behind. Reef sharks 2 metres long can swim in 45 cm of water & a WA lady recently was attacked from behind getting severe leg lacerations from a 1 1/2 metre reef shark. Luckily she had her son with her & was able to beat it off.

Mud crabs with a 1 1/2 metre length of fencing wire make a 60 mm hook at one end & fashion a handle at the other. Probe into the mud crab holes & one can hook it in the elbow of their claw pulling them out for a delicious feast.

DRIVING TIP COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE When sitting on the road waiting to turn ALWAYS KEEP YOU WHEELS STRAIGHT until you are actually going to accelerate into the turn.

If someone runs into the back of your vehicle you will only get knocked straight ahead but if your wheels are turned you can get knocked into the path of a semi trailer coming on the other side of the road & killed.

Happened to a young lass on a postie bike recently in Perth & she was killed. Obviously Aust Post do not train their staff properly. Over the years I have done 3 advanced driving courses, military, fire brigade & public buses plus owned over 20 motor cycles.

Sincerely hope this information may be of help to other caravan users.

Kindest regards

Alan Edney
revedney@yahoo.com,au