Tell a Friend – Camping & Caravan Direct

For anyone who spends time under canvas or towing a tourer, the small consumables are what keep a trip running smoothly. Replacement parts and sanitation fluids rarely make it onto a packing list until something leaks, blocks or runs out, and that is usually the moment you are furthest from a stockist.

Waste and water fittings

Plumbing faults are among the most common mid-trip nuisances. A straight sink waste fitting with a 1¼-inch to ¾-inch reduction is the kind of adapter that solves a mismatched pipework problem without a trip to a dealer. A 1½-inch replacement plug covers the same ground for waste outlets, and both are the sort of item worth keeping in a spares box rather than buying in a hurry.

Toilet chemicals

Cassette toilets need a two-part routine: a treatment for the waste tank and a separate additive for the flush water. Twin packs that combine a blue waste treatment with a pink flush additive in one-litre bottles are a practical way to restock both at once, and they suit the capacity most portable and caravan toilets use.

Gas fittings

LPG connections rely on well-matched threads and hose sizes. A half-inch BSP male to 10mm hose nozzle is a standard fitting for connecting a regulator or appliance to gas hose, and it is the sort of small brass part that is easy to lose and awkward to improvise. Always check that replacement fittings match your existing regulator and hose specification before installation, and have gas work inspected if you are unsure.

Keeping spares on hand

The pattern across all of these items is the same: they are inexpensive, small and easy to overlook until they are needed. Carrying a modest stock of waste fittings, a spare plug and a gas nozzle, alongside toilet chemicals, means a minor failure does not cut a trip short.