10 summer 2024 10 summer 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Game solution Rhonda Marshall game-issue10-solution .pdf Download PDF • 43KB game-issue10-solution .jpg Download JPG • 265KB Back to the game Up Up 10 summer 2024 , p 44

9 Spring 2024 9 Spring 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption If your car is big enough to tow your caravan and stop it, and you load the caravan and car properly … Towing your caravan — tips, tricks and weights Wayne Ravelich Let’s get started. Firstly, make sure your caravan is ready to move. Doors, windows & vents are all closed, Satellite dish is down, Legs are up. Now hook up to the tow vehicle. Is the tow coupling (tow ball) the same size as the caravan hitch? There are two common sizes, 1 ⅞ inch and 50 mm. Some American caravans have a larger fitting. Connect your electrics, trailer plug and, if fitted, Anderson plugs and possibly rear camera plug. Don’t forget the chains and/or breakaway lead. If you are new to towing it is not hard to master. Stay in the middle of your lane and DO NOT cut corners. There is a thing called ‘tracking’ that effects trailers going around corners. This means that the trailer can take a different path to the towing vehicle. If you go around a corner slowly with your wheels in the gutter the caravan could be on the verge or footpath. If fast, the caravan could be in the outside lane. Practice makes perfect. The more you tow your caravan the better you will get. Find an open space to practice backing. Here is a link to a great YouTube clip on backing a caravan: ckw.nz/reversing . Backing tip Common directions when backing a caravan are, left hand down or right hand down. This is your hands on the steering wheel. If you want your caravan to go to your right (going backwards) your car goes LEFT to start the turn, left hand down. If you want your caravan to go to your left (going backwards) your car goes RIGHT to start the turn, right hand down. Once the caravan starts pointing in the correct direction, start to straighten the steering wheel. It can take a little practice to get it right but well worth it. Remember it is better to have a couple of tries at reverse parking than do it once and crash into something. Two or three attempts to reverse into that spot will only cost you time. Getting it wrong will hurt your pocket. Stability You are almost ready to hit the road. Have you got all you need for your camping trip? Is it loaded correctly? Heavy items in the caravan/trailer like water and waste tanks should be over the axle and secured in place, If you brake in a hurry they could move forward and change the load characteristics of the towed vehicle. If there is too much weight in the back or boot of the towing vehicle that can also cause problems. We will talk about weight a bit later. The two most common problems associated with bad weight distribution are swaying of the towed vehicle and or light steering in the towing vehicle. Swaying (snaking) If the trailer starts to sway: • do not apply your brakes • instead, remove your foot from the accelerator and allow the vehicle to slow down. Too much weight in the back of the tow vehicle or too high a tow ball weight can affect steering. As the back of the tow vehicle goes down (due to excess weight) the front comes up and the front wheels can lose traction which reduces your ability to steer. Tow ball and caravan hitch weights will be listed, either in the owner’s manual or online. Exceeding these weights can cause the above problems. Passengers We have all joked about putting the passengers on the roof rack. Unfortunately, we can’t do that, we also can’t put them in the caravan while moving. Two trailers And we can’t tow two trailers with a light (class 1) vehicle. Let’s talk weight This Youtube video shows it all, well worth watching: ckw.nz/weight-scenarios Just because your car has a tow-ball does not mean it can pull your caravan. Picture a Mini towing a 10 m Jayco off-road caravan — NOT going to happen. Weight terms There are a number of terms used when referring to vehicle weights. Let us have a quick look at these now. What is the difference between GVM and GCM? • Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) refers to the maximum allowable total mass of a fully loaded motor vehicle as specified by the manufacturer. • Whereas Gross Combined Mass (GCM) refers to the weight of the tow vehicle and trailer hitched together while both are fully loaded (including passengers, equipment, fuel and tools). • Tare weight The empty weight of the vehicle or trailer/caravan. • A vehicle’s towing capacity c an be found on the towbar, owner manual or online. • Ball weight The weight of the trailer/caravan on the tow ball. An example of a caravan VIN plate showing weights (above). Note the ATM is the same as our GVM. The GCM Gross Combined Mass relates to how much you can load your tow vehicle and how much it will tow. Something to remember and is often overlooked, passengers are weight. Mum, Dad, the kids and the dog: ALL count as weight and are part of the payload. I have an American 11 m caravan with a GVM of 3.1 Ton. So, I need a BIG vehicle that can pull over that weight. A Ranger or a Colorado will pull 3.5 Ton, a Rexton will pull 3.2 and is way cheaper, BUT the GCM is a lot smaller, so the Rexton has limited payload. A Dodge Ram has a higher GVM and GCM, a Ram can tow 6 Ton (wow!) and still load the back of the Ram with extras, but not cheap and the weight means you needs a ‘class 2’ licence. The bigger and heavier you get changes the class of driver licence needed. What I am saying is: your tow vehicle has to match your caravan. The bigger the tow vehicle the better, and the longer the tow vehicle is, the better stability when towing. Last couple of points • If you exceed the towing vehicles rated towing capacity, ie the caravan is too heavy, you will have trouble stopping. The towing capacity relates to the size and weight of the vehicle and the capacity of its brakes. • Tow ball weight. We talked earlier about too much weight in the boot of the towing vehicle. Exceeding the towball weight has the same see-saw affect, the back goes down and the front, including wheels go up causing a loss in steering— its hard to go around corners if the front wheels are in the air. In summary If your car is big enough to tow your caravan and stop it, and you load the caravan and car properly, you will have the makings of a great trip away. Happy Camping ◼️ Up Up 9 Spring 2024 , p 13

2 Summer 2022 2 Summer 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Pannekoeken for breakfast ©2022 Bette Cosgrove Pannekoeken for breakfast ©2022 Bette Cosgrove Pannekoeken for breakfast ©2022 Bette Cosgrove Best brunch option ever, and a traditional favourite! Pannekoeken for breakfast Bette Cosgrove Every trip we make a breakfast fruits pancake. Usually apple pannekoeken. You need: Your favourite pancake mix: We often get the great pannekoeken mix from De Moelen, Foxton whenever we pass by and keep it permanently in a sealed container in our campervan. Or grab the Edmonds buttermilk or gluten-free shake-up pancake mix from supermarket. You can be flexible and add milk (or alternative milks like oat, soy, rice, coconut, or almond) or just use water. Check the pancake-mix container for how much liquid you need. If we have fresh eggs (free-range, bought along the way) we add one. Beat or shake up until well mixed. Slice in one fresh apple / pear cut in tiny pieces; or mashed banana; or berries if you have them. Mix your fruit of choice in, but just lightly. Make one, full-pan-sized fruit pancake per person: fill the pan with mixture. We use a small non-stick pan with a lid on our single ring gas burner as it's easy to wipe clean when done. Flip when bubbles appear and put a lid on when cooking the second side. We usually have coconut yoghurt in our fridge to serve with this, or open a tin of reduced cream if you have it. Best brunch option ever, and a traditional favourite! Photos ©2022 Bette Cosgrove Up Up 2 Summer 2022 , p 24

1 Spring 2022 1 Spring 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Lake Rotokare Situated in a secure wildlife reserve Lake Rotokare is known as ‘the rippling lake’. Being able to camp in a wildlife reserve is a unique experience — but you must ensure your vehicle is completely free of unwanted guests. You can hike around the lake, go trout fishing or kayak on the lake and tents are welcome. Meet Rotokare’s Founder Kiwi #39: Benny! Meet Rotokare’s Founder Kiwi #39: Benny! 
 After a bumpy start to life, Benny was safely hatched at the National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa and brought to her new home at Rotokare. The Taranaki Kōhanga Kiwi at Rotokare project has been working to establish 40 kiwi as founders in the reserve, permanent breeding residents for the population. Pakawau Beach Camp Looking through my windscreen at Pakawau Beach Camp. Only 10 minutes to Farewell Spit and 20 minutes to Takaka, this beach-side camp is a great base for exploring Golden Bay. Pakawau and Lake Rotokare STOP and STAY Stop and Stay: Lake Rotokare & Pakawau Beach Editor Each issue we feature a couple of places Recommended camps and stopovers e.g. country pubs, private properties, cottage crafts, caravan parks, reserves and more. Go to stopandstaynz.org to find your next campsite. FEATURED THIS SPRING Lake Rotokare in Eltham, Taranaki and Pakawau Beach Camp in Golden Bay. Lake Rotokare, Eltham, Taranaki Situated in a secure wildlife reserve Lake Rotokare is known as ‘the rippling lake’. Being able to camp in a wildlife reserve is a unique experience — but you must ensure your vehicle is completely free of unwanted guests. You can hike around the lake, go trout fishing or kayak on the lake and tents are welcome. • BYO water. • A cash donation to support the work is appreciated. Meet Rotokare’s Founder Kiwi #39 : Benny! After a bumpy start to life, Benny was safely hatched at the National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa and brought to her new home at Rotokare. The Taranaki Kōhanga Kiwi at Rotokare project has been working to establish 40 kiwi as founders in the reserve, permanent breeding residents for the population. At number 39, Benny’s got us inches away from our goal! "Thank you to all the responsible campers at Rotokare this summer for: - Checking their vehicles and watercraft for stowaways and invasive weeds before entering Rotokare - Taking their rubbish away with them — Using our toilets and facilities kindly and considerately. We are a freedom camping site largely maintained by our amazing volunteers! If you have enjoyed your time at Rotokare, please donate to our Givealittle page to support site maintenance and ecological restoration at our beautiful sanctuary." ‘We loved camping there recently. Saw fernbirds, heard kiwi, and discovered that pateke are active at night. So cute.’ ‘I camped there overnight recently. There were quite a few motorhomes and about 4 campers. I took cash for the donation box especially, as I read that on the website.’ 365 Sangster Road, Eltham, Taranaki 06 764 8500 www.rotokare.org.nz Pakawau Beach Camp, Golden Bay Only 10 minutes to Farewell Spit and 20 minutes to Takaka, this beach-side camp is a great base for exploring Golden Bay. There is golf, a restaurant, a salmon farm, a distillery as well as great fishing for snapper close by. 1112 Collingwood-Puponga Main Road, Pakawau www.facebook.com Pakawau Beach Park 03 524 8308 Stop and Stay Go to stopandstaynz.org to find your next campsite. The online directory is hosted and maintained by the All Points Camping Club. Add your recommendation — fill out the online form Want your property considered? Fill out the online form (there is no charge).
 Send us an email if you find any errors. info@allpointscampingnz.org Up Up 1 Spring 2022 , p 29

2 Summer 2022 2 Summer 2022 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption How many freedom campers are there? Bette Cosgrove and Miriam Richardson Nobody knows. The Ministry has made some guesses. 'Certified self contained' freedom campers MBIE, the government ministry charged with providing the Minister of Tourism with facts, does not know how many freedom camping vehicles there are. They do not know how many private vehicles, that are currently certified self contained, would become ineligible because their toilets are not fixed (if the law changes, as proposed). They have estimated (because they do not know) that there are 73,000 vehicles currently certified, all of which have usable toilets, but they do not know what kind of toilet. [ ckw.nz/mbie-numbers MBIE estimates the rental fleet at 5,000 vehicles, and they do not know how many of those have fixed or non-fixed toilets either. Responsible, but uncertified freedom campers MBIE does not know how many New Zealanders use their vehicles to freedom camp. How many freedom campers shit in the bushes? MBIE do not know. They have an estimate from a small survey, of how many don't use their onboard toilets, but they did not ask, so they do not know, how many of those used public toilets instead. See Talking to four van loads of international tourists for some real life information on this. How many NZ travellers, not camping, get caught short and use the bushes as a loo? MBIE do not know, and I don't think they have even considered this, nor the inadequate provision of public facilities across the country. They, and we, can pretty safely assume that travellers that don't expect to camp probably don't carry a toilet (fixed or unfixed) with them. All in all, an appalling lack of facts All in all, the lack of facts underlying the proposed legislative changes is pretty appalling. These changes will affect New Zealanders for generations to come, and are being rushed through, regardless of a profound lack of facts. Up Up 2 Summer 2022 , p 4

10 summer 2024 10 summer 2024 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Beautiful, free, handy. STOP and STAY Lake Poaka Miriam Richardson This is a free DOC camp between Twizel and Tekapo. It is a large flat area, with spectacular mountain views. There is a single long-drop toilet. You don’t need to be self-contained, and tents are ok. No dogs. No open fires. Max 4 nights See the gallery for more photos You turn off SH8 on the Lake Pukaki side of the Pukaki Canal onto the gravel access road, along the banks of the canal. Take it slow, it is rough and rutted. Ignore the first road down from the canal bank as it is very steep and soft. Carry on to the next, easy-access road, which brings you down at the western end of Lake Poaka. There are tracks which let you choose any location around the lake. Get your camera out. You can walk, swim or cycle. Handy to the Ruataniwha Conservation Park.Fishing depends on a permit, but if you are fishing the Pukaki Canal, it provides a handy camping spot. DOC: ckw.nz/doc-poaka | ckw.nz/doc-ruataniwha Photos: Autumn ©M Richardson Up Up 10 summer 2024 , p 43

3 Autumn 2023 3 Autumn 2023 BUY AUTHOR INDEX AUTHORS Click on image for full view and caption Ten hours into a power cut Cheine Matheson Ten hours into a power cut with this cyclone .... THEN I remembered I've got full batteries in Mavis! Cheine Matheson ©2023 Cheine Matheson Up Up 3 Autumn 2023 , p 7

Autumn 2023 ISSUE 3 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption SOG®: Fresh air in your toilet Corinne Lindemann-Roth Are you tired of using chemicals and having smells come from your Thetford or Dometic cassette toilet? Have you ever wondered whether there would be a more environmentally friendly way of using your caravan toilet? If so, a SOG® system is the solution for you! Nobody is a fan of unpleasant odours, especially not when on holiday and definitely not in confined living spaces such as those found in motorhomes and caravans. Now imagine being able to go to the toilet in your motorhome or caravan and be welcomed by nothing but the freshest of air! For owners of a SOG system, this dream is nothing but an everyday reality. Through the use of an electrically powered ventilator, SOG is able to remove any odours coming from the toilet and is also able to completely eliminate the need for toilet chemicals. This makes SOG good for both the environment and your wallet. The SOG system comes as a kitset which can easily be installed either by yourself, if you have the correct tools, or otherwise any RV workshop. These kitsets can be retrofitted to any existing Thetford or Dometic cassette toilet and come in three different vent location versions, depending on the van and space available: door, floor or roof installation are possible. Made in Germany, the SOG® System has been around in Europe for close to 30 years. Protect the environment and your wallet in the long run. You can find all of the information and all the SOG kitsets as well as the spare parts such as filters, fan motors etc. on Moutere Caravans website and online shop. mouterecaravans.co.nz/sog-system Up Up 3 Autumn 2023 , p 16

Autumn 2023 ISSUE 3 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption Rarangi DOC campground: Stop and stay Miriam Richardson By the sea, only twenty minutes from Blenheim, Marlborough, Rarangi is an easy flat drive. It has hard-stand sites, grassy sites, plenty of room for tenting, flush toilets and cold showers. You dont have to book, there are 55 sites and you can use a DOC campsite pass. Children under 5 are free, over 5 are $5, and everyone over 18 is $10 a night. The beach is stony, with views down to Marfells Beach and Cape Campbell. You can swim and fish at the beach. There are walks up into the hills, and round to the smaller bays. Lovely spot. http://ckw.nz/doc-pass | http://ckw.nz/rarangi Check out our Stop and Stay listings for recommended places to stop and stay on your travels around the top of NZ. Only the best. www.stopandstay.org Up Up 3 Autumn 2023 , p 33

8 Winter 2024 Winter 2024 ISSUE 8 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption GO TO Autumn Gold Glendhu Bay, Lake Wanaka M Richardson Glendhu Bay, Lake Wanaka. ©2024 M Richardson Another Glendhu Bay photo More on Glendhu Bay motorcamp Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 17

Autumn 2023 ISSUE 3 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption Mavis at the Pahoia Beach Park Cheine Matheson Here's Mavis hosting the family at Pahoia Beach Park. A must visit place for animal lovers. Bay of Plenty. Cheine Matheson Photo ©2023 Cheine Matheson Up Up 3 Autumn 2023 , p 16

8 Winter 2024 Winter 2024 ISSUE 8 BUY PDF CONTENTS Click on image for full view and caption GO TO Autumn Gold This thing is huge Tony Kissell An elephant seal down in the harbour this afternoon. This thing is huge, 6–8 times bigger than a normal seal. Oamaru, April. ©2024 Tony Kissel Up Up 8 Winter 2024 , p 31