The Caravan Accessories catalogue is really great as it is easy to read A4, well bound and runs to 150 pages. Yes folks is has a good easy to use index. There was a minor scuffle in our household when it arrived as to just who was going to have first read! Here are a few of the "goodies" that would be great in your A'van!

Page 2 and 3 has a camlock antenna mast, a universal A-frame aerial mounting clamp, the new co-ax thru wall van kits for your lead similar to Explorer and a really strong looking cable TV outlet similar to the 12 volt sockets we have done DIY stories on. Page 14 has a wonderful range of gadgets for holding glasses, cups, plates etc., even a waste bin! Page 19 has the new aluminium telescopic and twist to lock tent poles - these are fantastic! Page 32 and 33 has all the electrical gear needed to do just about all the DIY electrical projects listed on this site including the fridge mods, Page 45 has a dandy little 12 volt mini fan heater using just 150 watts. This could be handy to just take the chill off the air on freezing cold winter mornings. Another handy gadget is a 12 volt surface mount accessory socket. It is in a small rectangular box and would fit in all those places where there is no room for the conventional type. Page 50 and 51 lists all the spare parts for A'van Alko axles with good clear exploded diagrams. Of particular interest to keen DIY enthusiasts is the excellent drawings of electric brakes on pages 52 and 53. We did not know for instance that Alko make a wonderful accessory called a Bearing Buddy. This allows you to grease the hubs without removing anything. Page 54 covers brake controllers, including breakaway kits. This has an interesting picture of a Kelsey Hayes Micro Controller with a remote control! Wow!

A visit to the showroom at 33 Rocky Point Road, Kogarah NSW (right at the Sydney end of Rocky Point Road where it joins the Princes Highway - park in the side streets) will really stress the "plastic". A good spot for lunch is further down the road to the left of the bridge. The website is at www.caravanacc.com.au and you can email enquiries to sales@caravanacc.com.au. As you can see we are in raptures over this book and yes it will cost us quid's, but you can't take it with you. We have bought a heap of gear from Caravan Accessories and being totally truthful still haven't fitted everything we bought last Christmas. If you are a CMCA member as well, you qualify for a discount if you flash your card. We absolutely recommend them to fellow A'vanners.

Bob Eustace