Outdoor Cooking.

we have a cadac safari chef bbq for cooking, don't use special toilet roll just the normal supermarket own brand but do use the bio tabs instead of blue in the cassette which breaks everything down.

I've  used  a  George  for  ages,  also  a  REMOSKA  (  some  swear  by  them,  others  swear  at  them  )  but  I  only  cook  in  the  motor  van,  outdoor  cooking  aint  for  me  !  Now  I've  treated  the  'van  to  the  smallest,  lowest  power  cheapest  Microwave  I  could  get  'cos  its  only  a  small  van 

I  agree  with  MichaelT  --  the  cheapest  s/market  own  brand  toilet  paper  and  the  Aldi  Or  Lidl  GEL BIO PODS  as  used  in  washing  machines  --  but  they  must  be  Gel  &  BIO  --  so  much  easier  &  cheaper    !

Tightwad  at  Crewe  { aka  Brian   A B M }

 

P.S. Trawl  thro  this  site  for  the  information  that  is  on  here  --  and  if  you  have  any  Questions  ask  away  --  some  helpful  people  are  on  here  from  time  to  time  !!

We have just migrated to ASDA own, not tried them yet but will report back.  £4 for 30 pods from memory..

I love cooking outdoors and use a Cadac Safari Chef ( the small version) I've done all sorts on this including my own home made flat bread! My neighbours thought I was nuts!

Like others have suggested, cheap supermarket toilet roll- I use Aldi's extra long 6 pack costing next to nothing. It breaks down fine!

Enjoy your motor home when you pick it up. Suggestions for sites would be helped by giving your location, but wherever you go you'll have a great time!

Gill

Its a while since I have been but I quite like Haycraft near Swanage. Steam railway handy for getting into Swanage and good walking nearby. Another one is Crossways, again there is a train station available and a pub all within easy walking distance. Lots to see from both sites if you travel a little bit further afield, perhpas by bike?

I prefer a charcoal BBQ for outdoor cooking but I also do have a Cadac Grill.

peedee

I'm a Cadac fan myself, but there are other makes.  A plus is that you just wash it as normal giving it a deep clean when you get home.  Also not using an electrical cooker/surface removes the risk of using too many amps and we all know where that leads us!

Cadac Safari chef for us too, nice and compact fits under one of the bench seats. I also use an electric frypan (multi cooker) its a 1500w so can be used even on 6amp sites if you don't have other high amp user things on. A George Foreman type grill is also used in and outside of the van and in the colder months a small slow cooker goes away with us.  

Take your time in buying all these things as quite often folk rush out and buy stuff thinking they will need it then it lays in the garage for evermore not being used.

As said by others any toilet roll is fine, don't be conned into buying the special stuff from a dealer its not required. 

The Gel Bio pods that has been referred to are great to use in the bottom toilet cassette, rather than the expensive and messy Blue liquid that they tell you, you have to have, you don't. Just put a little water in the cassette (a cupful) then drop in a pod, this will keep the toilet fresh and break down any solids and paper, it keeps the cassette really clean to. If you have a flush tank (not all vehicles have them) you will be told to use pink liquid in it, you don't need to. Some folk use fabric conditioner (a little) others use a bit of Zaflora disinfectant. Basically anything you like the smell of, or just plain water.

Don't be afraid to ask questions on here, you will always get answer. 

Paulsy, not wanting to dampen your excitement, but you have been given the best advice already,  "Don't rush out and buy". 

So many of us ( me included) have fallen into that trap and end up with "must haves" taking up room in the garage.

As far as Toilet paper etc. is concerned, you have been given sound advice above, also the use of cheap Bio Pods is highly recommended. I use them and also use  Zoflora in the flush tank. you may not have a flush tank so that is less expense.

My one "must have " is an external thermal screen cover from Silverscreen, Taylor made are  also as good. Don't make the mistake of buying cheap ones as they don't last. Internal ones tend to give a lot of condensation on the screen when removed, this can be a pain. We use ours all year round as they keep the  heat in, in the winter and help to keep the heat out in the summer.

If, as you say, you are starting from scratch, have you considered your gas needs? I use a Safefill  bottle, initial outlay was £145, but have almost  recovered that in refill costs as they are about one quarter of what you pay to exchange an empty cylinder for a full one. Being translucent, you can see the amount of gas you have so can top up before going away. With the initial cost to purchase a new Calor (or other) bottle plus the deposit, you will be half way to the price of a Refillable system, plus the system is yours to either use or sell on whatever your choice. With a rented bottle you pay sky high refill costs and you will never reclaim the full deposit that you paid. Even if your gas usage isn't high, your refillable will stay with you for the years  to come, saving you money.

One last thing to consider at the moment, (not to overburden you with too much info all at once), consider your payload, don't buy everything plus  the kitchen sink and then make yourself overweight when you put all your clothes food drink etc. in, it's easily done and could prove costly to your wallet and Licence. Take it steady and most of all enjoy your van.......

As far as outside cooking is concerned I use a Cobb BBQ. I prefer to use charcoal and it also means I’m not tied to a gas supply and can take the Cobb on picnic etc.

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