Accessories
The majority of products shown below can be obtained from Dario Caravans & Repairs , 1 Pinn St, StMarys S.A. Ph. 8277 4388
Hydraulic Jockey Wheel & Caravan Jack
One of the best accessories we have for the van is the Hydraulic Jockey Wheel( Trail-a-mate ). It makes hitching and unhitching your van so easy, especially if your van is low at the front. How many times are the rear wheels of your van in a drain and the "A" frame of your van is almost on the ground after you reverse onto your site? Some sites are so awkward, most people carry an extra jack to assist them. With the Trail-a-mate Jockey Wheel, there is no need. It also doubles up as a wheel jack. I have only used ours as a jack once, but I could have changed the wheel in a "Dinner Suit" that's how easy it is. They cost a bit, but how much is your back worth? Spread over many years you could be on the road, it's not a lot. We have had ours about three years, and every time I set up on site, I thank the day I bought one. A friend of ours has a 22 ft tandem van and it's really heavy. The Trail-a-mate lifts his van with ease. For more information, email us or ring direct to the manufacturer on Phone/Fax (08) 8278 5107
Rollout Awning Saving Clamps ( Anti-Flap )
An excellent product for vaners with rollout awnings, is the Awning Saver Clamps. These clamps fit to your awning supports and then clamp onto your awning material. They are very easy to fit and are quite inexpensive ( about $29 a pair ). They stop that annoying flap, flap when all you want is peace and quiet while you enjoy your book or a glass of red ( or both ). They also protect your awning from tearing at the van end. In Adelaide they are available from Darios of St Marys on 8277 4388
PS....... I have just been advised by Dario of Dario Caravan & Repairs that it is best to fit the clamps one third of the way down the support from the van. This will give your awning more support and protect it from wind gusts. In windy conditions I have begun using two sets. It's cheaper than a new awning.
Towball Anti-Theft Lock.
More and more caravans are been stolen every week in Australia. Some have been stolen from peoples own driveways, some even from parks. This lock is so easy to use and it is inexpensive. It is impossible to hook up a van with this lock in place. Just place the lock in your ballcup, slide the bar through the slots and place a good quality padlock in position. In Adelaide they are available from Darios of St Marys on 8277 4388.
Towbar Lock.
The Towbar Lock is an easy-to-use security device to stop someone from stealing your towbar hitch. As the picture shows, it replaces the pin that holds your hitch in place. A key locks it in place. Hitches are not cheap, and it is most inconvenient to try and obtain one if your travelling away from large towns. The cost of the lock is very reasonable.
Non-Slip Matting.
A marvelous addition to any caravan is the Non-Slip Matting. When I was first told about this product, I just didn't believe that it was so good. I bought a piece 500mm by 2000mm to try it. I placed it in acupboard and placed our electric kettle on it. After travelling about 400 kms the kettle had not moved. We then bought several metres by 1 metre wide and lined our cupboards. It is far cheaper to buy it by the metre than in those small packs. Darios of St Marys have it in several colours and sizes.
Also from Darios we bought,
Annex Flooring.
Most good, grassed caravan parks won't allow you to have a floor in your annex unless it is the proper product. Plastic or canvas floors will kill the grass after a couple of days. This product is made of a heavy mesh which allows the grass to breathe and not suffocate. It is easy to cut to the floorsize of your annex and when laid makes your annex snug and cosy. It is light to carry and easy to clean. It's available from Darios of St Marys on 8277 4388.
Couple-Mate Guide.
The Couple-Mate makes it very easy to connect your car to your van. The angled metal guides the ball coupling over the ball of your towbar by reversing into it. No more hassles hooking up. The angled plate can then be easily removed and stowed until required. It can be fitted in a few minutes. Available from Darios of St Marys on 8277 4388.
Wheel Chocks & Levelling Blocks.
These plastic chocks are very light but strong. The orange chock is the standard while the yellow chock comes with an extra heavy wire loop which means when you reverse your van onto it, makes it impossible to steal. The bottom picture shows the ideal levelling block for when you have that site that's not quite level. They are sold in pairs for a reasonable price. They can be obtained from Darios of St Marys on 8277 4388.
Portable Power Packs. "Outback" Sustainable Portable Power.
Locally designed and manufactured, Blue Apple products form a range of portable power packs for a wide variety of users. For example, the "Outback" is designed for heavy duty use, able to start some petrol and diesel engines up to 50 times before being re-charged. The Holden Suburban has a big 5.7 litre petrol V8, which the "Outback" could start up to 15 times before re-charge. With a 24 amp. hour capacity, and capable of being re-charged in your vehicle using the standard 12 volt adaptor, it would be an ideal partner on your future camping and fishing trip. It weighs just 8.4 Kgs and not much bigger than a "six pack", and if you only had to use it once or twice on a trip "outback", it would be good value. For any information or enquiries, talk to Max at Darios of St Marys in Adelaide on (08) 8277 4388.
Electrical Plug Safety Lock.
One of the simplest but beautifully designed accessories is this safety lock. It is ideal for any vehicle that tows a van, trailer, boat or horse float. Once your van is connected to the electrical socket, this device locks the two plugs together. No more worrying that your plug has come out of the socket. The safety lock was designed in Sth Australia to eliminate problems with van or trailer plugs constantly coming apart in transit. This resulted in damage to plugs and wiring. The problem was not only frustrating for drivers but became costly as wiring and plugs frequently had to be replaced. The safety lock is easy to fit and can be fitted to the top or bottom of plugs in about 15 minutes. All you need is a screwdriver. The Safety Lock is available from Darios on 8277 4388 or give Trevor or Terri a ring on (08) 8248 3274. It's priced about $15.
Electrolux Roof-Top Air Conditioner.
We, as pensioners couldn't afford to have our house air conditioned ( about $8,000 to $9,000 ) but we could afford to have our van air conditioned with a roof top Electrolux from Darios of St Marys. Now on those really hot nights we sleep in the van, nice and cool and we have the added benefit of being able to take the van away anytime during the year, hot or cold weather. We chose the Electrolux because of it's reputation, low profile and sleek looks on the outside and very little intrusion on the inside. The air ( hot or cold ) can be directed into the dinning area or sleeping area, or both, as you wish. The unit is extremely quiet when running.
Watch out for more new accessories coming soon on this Webpage. If you wish to contact us, our Email address is,
Happy caravanning, Joden