Leave No Trace – Self Containment Code of Conduct

This scheme, established for the verification of recreational vehicles which comply with the requirements of the ‘Leave No Trace Self Containment Code of Conduct’, provides an opportunity to show the controlling authorities of rest areas and camping sites with no infrastructure, that there will be no negative environmental impact when allowing the responsible use of sites by self-contained vehicles, be they self-drive or towed units.

The scheme requires all participating vehicles to have the capacity to retain ALL waste within the confines of the vehicle, and to leave NO trace whatsoever of their visit to a site.

It should be understood that participation in this scheme is a privilege and does not bring with it any rights. We also need to accept that it is a privilege for authorities to grant mobile travellers access to controlled areas.

To participate in this scheme, please complete and sign the attached Application Form and advise details of your method of payment. You must also sign the Declaration on the reverse side, stating that you agree to abide by the Code of Conduct. This is a key part of the Leave No Trace programme, as it is your commitment to at all times do the right thing by the authorities, and also to do the right thing by your fellow travellers.

Once your application has been processed, you will be forwarded a Letter of Acknowledgement and an internal sticker to be affixed to the window of your accommodation unit.

1. Maximum Stay

   To stay in any Rest Area for a maximum of 5 nights, unless otherwise posted, or for the period that the Accommodation Vehicle can be self contained. (If the vehicle capabilities are 2 days this will become the limit. If the vehicle’s capability is for longer than 5 days, 5 days shall be the limit, unless otherwise posted.)It is obvious that every user of an RV has differing demands of their RV and will use the facilities on board in a manner that suits their needs and travelling habits. For example, some users will require more in the way of water per day than others. The use of public facilities will also need to be taken into account in determining the capacity of an RV. It is therefore difficult to determine an exact amount of water that is required for any RV for a given period of time. If your RV has limited facilities, these limitations must be taken into account when staying in one location. It is incumbent on all users of the Leave No Trace scheme to honour their Declaration and adhere to their RV’s limitations according to the spirit of the Code of Conduct. Remember to use water wisely and respect any local water restrictions.

2. Obtain Permission

   To obtain permission to stay from the relevant authority where applicable, and to obey any posted regulations. (It may be necessary to obtain a permit from the controlling authority. In some instances a fee may be payable. Where authorities have posted signs, these will override any other considerations)Respect any location that may not be sign posted or listed in any publication. Many locations throughout the country, especially in more remote regions, offer the opportunity to stay overnight. Please remember that these locations will only be available if you uphold the spirit of the Code of Conduct. Respect any person of authority that may request you to move on.

3. Unacceptable Use of Fittings

   To not use awnings, chairs or barbeques unless in a designated camping area. (Be aware of my surroundings and only camp in appropriate areas. For example, it may not be acceptable to set up overnight camp in a roadside rest area.)Not all locations are suitable for camping. Many locations may be suitable for just one nights rest. Please use good judgment when you decide to ‘set up camp’. Members of the public are sympathetic to an overnight rest, but are not so sympathetic to those who set up camp in an inappropriate location. Camp fires and laundry hanging from trees are certain to attract unwanted attention. Please only ‘camp’ in locations that are obviously ‘camping’ locations.

4. No Damage to Property

   To not drive in any area or use hydraulic jacks or other levelling devices such as wooden blocks when damage may occur to soft surfaces. Heavy vehicles may damage soft surfaces through inappropriate use of levelling blocks or jacks. (Driving any vehicles on soft surfaces may cause damage.)Many locations are hard based but some are grassed. These areas can easily be damaged. Authorities will be reluctant to allow the use of these locations if users cause damage to surfaces that would require continual maintenance. Users of large, heavy vehicles should be especially cautious where they park.

5. Clean Up After Use

   To always leave an area cleaner than I find it.It is very easy to spend five or ten minutes picking up garbage in a rest area. This single act will do more for your welcome than almost any other act. Please use a pair of gloves and put any rubbish into a plastic bag and place into any bins at the location.

6. Care For The Environment

   To always take care of the natural environment. (If they are permitted, keep camp fires small, and do not collect firewood from inappropriate areas. Do not cut living foliage, pick wild flowers or disturb wildlife.)

7. Parking

   To park my vehicle so as not to obstruct reasonable passage, exit or access to other vehicles or property. Please be courteous and do not park in a manner that impedes the movement of other vehicles. Many rest areas also serve as access points for local properties. Be aware of any tracks or gates. Do not park in rest areas that are used by heavy transports in a manner that impedes their movements. Always try to park to one side so that they can see you as they enter the area. Trucks are an important part of our economy, and the misuse of rest areas by RV’s may jeopardise the privilege to use the site.

8. Caravan Parks

   To not park overnight or camp within line of sight of a Caravan Park unless in an approved overnight rest area. Caravan parks are an important part of the RVing way of life. It is essential that we support caravan parks whenever it is possible. However, we need to realise that not all caravan parks support stopping in locations other than in a commercial park. Please do not provoke any adverse response by parking where this may happen.

9. Litter Disposal

   To dispose of all rubbish, and grey and black water in an appropriate manner. (All grey and black water MUST be retained in holding tanks or suitable sealable containers at all times, unless permitted to drain grey water onto the ground by a controlling authority.) This is the key to the Leave No Trace scheme. When you leave a site, ensure that you only leave tyre marks. Wherever practically possible, use public dump points and rubbish bins. Before setting out to remote areas, ensure that grey and black water holding tanks are empty. Where there is absolutely no alternative, please refer to the CMCA Bush Camping Code.

10. Vehicle Sticker

    To display the Leave No Trace vehicle sticker on the front passenger side of my self-drive vehicle windscreen, or for towed units, on the window closest to the entrance door, and to remove it prior to my disposing of the vehicle.

11. Support The Locals

    To purchase fuel, food or supplies as a form of thanks, whenever feasible.As you travel this country, be aware that the various authorities have made many locations available to you, to encourage you to stay in their area. A simple way of showing your appreciation to these authorities is to patronise business in the area. Authorities will support your visits, especially if their constituents are happy and supportive of the facilities that the authorities have supplied.

ACCESS – Australian Caravan Club Environmentally Safe Scheme

1. The ACCESS Code of Conduct

   The ACCESS Code of Conduct has been developed as a Club initiative to assist Members to understand their rights and also the privileges they enjoy in independent camping. Central to the Code is the concept of self-containment as defined later. As important, in many respects, are other elements of the Code which require that members act as responsible citizens wherever they utilise roadside rest areas, authorised stopovers or other independent camping areas, whether or not self-containment is a requirement of the campsite or rest area.

2. The Rights of the Travelling Public

   The requirement, of the travelling public, for overnight rest areas and the desire of many to occasionally spend short periods camped away from commercial camping facilities is recognised and supported by the ACC.

3. ACC Supports the Local Authority

   The Australian Caravan Club Ltd (ACC) supports the right of State and Local Government authorities to impose realistic conditions on the use of overnight and short-term camping sites, by all sectors of the travelling public. It is realistic to require that travellers respect the facilities provided and, where there are none, that they conform to basic requirements for containment of waste and limitation of impact on the environment.

4. The Self Containment Concept

   The ACC defines a self-contained member caravan, or camper trailer, as one which, amongst other things:

   • is equipped to meet the washing and sanitary needs of the occupants for a given period, depending on the caravan or trailer design and utilisation,
   • carries fresh water for personal consumption, cooking and ablution
   • contains appropriate storage for waste water, both “grey” and “black until these can be properly disposed of at an authorised facility, and
   • provides temporary storage of kitchen and other waste.

5. Guidelines for Self-Containment

   While some member caravans or trailers may have a fixed self-containment capability, others can be made self sufficient and self-contained for varying periods. These capabilities may be temporarily or permanently upgraded, depending on the proposed use of the caravan or trailer. Some member’s caravans or trailers may have no self-containment facilities. The ACC cannot therefore require a universally applicable period of self-sufficiency.

   The following guidelines may be used in calculating self-containment capability:

   • Fresh water 10 litres per person per day
   • Grey Water 5 litres per person per day
   • Black Water 5 litres per person per day
   • Cassettes 3 litres per person per day
   • Domestic garbage A sealable container (or garbage bag) which adequately contains waste and odours, until it can be correctly disposed of.

6. Regulation of the Code of Conduct

   The ACC, in establishing the ACCESS Code of Conduct, intends it to be implemented through self-regulation. A formal process of “certification” is seen as providing a snapshot of capability at a particular time. Certification, per se, is a declaration of capability and not necessarily of intent. The ACC believes that the requirement for members to assess capability and review the Code of Conduct, on each occasion that they wish to operate away from established facilities, will constantly reinforce the value and importance of this environmental initiative. The Code covers matters beyond “containment”.

7. Responsibilities of Members

   The ACC imposes on Members wishing to utilise rest areas, authorised stopovers or other camping facilities, (where the regulating authority demands self-containment), a requirement to recognise, and accept the ACCESS Code of Conduct. Where containment is required by the regulating authority, Members are to comply with specified conditions. Members who accept the ACCESS Code of Conduct, are to display the ACCESS sticker on the door of the caravan (or similar position on a camper trailer) as a notification to authorities of a capability and intent to comply with camping conditions and minimise impact on the environment. A completed copy of the ACCESS Code of Conduct (in effect an agreement between the ACC Member and the relevant authority) should be available for viewing if required.

8. Availability

   Members wishing to participate in the ACCESS scheme must apply to the ACC Secretary using the ACCESS Application Form, which is available on the ACC Web Site and from the ACC Secretary. An administrative charge of $5 will be made for this service and this amount should be forwarded with the application. On receipt of the completed form, the ACC will record Members’ details in Register of ACCESS Applicants and return a copy of the Code of Conduct and an ACCESS sticker to the member.

We looked around a few yards and finally bought a duel fuel Mitsubishi Pajero. We had the vehicle mechanically checked over and after a clean bill of health drove of with our new tow rig.

Highway Driving

Driving on LPG we used 16.17 litres per 100 kilometres, this equates to 6.18kms per litre.

Highway Towing

Driving on LPG we used 19.54 litres per 100 kilometres, this equates to 5.11kms per litre.

City Driving

Driving on ULP we used 17.10 litres per 100 kilometres, this equates to 5.84kms per litre.

So far, we haven’t done any towing whilst driving on ULP.

As we would like to stay overnight in National Parks and/or bush camp we decided to fit a 12 volt battery and have access to some 240 volt appliances (TV, Satellite TV Decoder, Laptop, Battery Chargers, etc.) that are in the caravan.

Photo Gallery

The following gallery details the project from start to finish.

[View with PicLens]

Download Information

The following files are available for downloading which we found useful.

[download id="1"]

It aims to promote communication and improved road safety by giving vanners a recognised channel for on road chat and information. By signing caravans with stickers nominating Channel 18 (UHF or AM/CB) front and rear, it allows truckies to know where to call up vanners, say Hello and to overtake safely. In being able to speak with one another, this diffuses some of the dramas that can occur when, without this direct contact the vanner and the truckie can both be guessing and or making assumptions as to what the other is going to do. Channel 18 was chosen to avoid the UHF repeater channels of 1 to 8 and the return channels of 31 to 38. Please do not use UHF 35 as it is the return channel for the emergency channel 5, when a repeater is in use. It is illegal and could interfere with an emergency.

Truckies have utilised CB, and now more so UHF radios for many years and whilst mobile phones have lessened their importance, they can still provide an enormous safety benefit. We can now extend this to caravans by making contact when needing to overtake and improving road safety for both groups.

Many vanners are new to CB/UHF so give them a fair go and please be aware that bad language, particularly on UHF with its 10 kilometre range goes much further than those who hear it, in further tarnishing our frail and battered public image. Here is a chance to show we are human and safe and courteous drivers who do wish to share the road and see all get home safely to families and loved ones, us included. Now it is up to us as truckies to use this safety benefit. Please give it a try and make our workplace safer and better respected.

Safe Travelling, Rod Hannifey, Road Transport and Road Safety Advocate.

Data can be downloaded for free using the interactive map selection process. Users are required to register with the Office of Spatial Data Management (OSDM) – this is easily done through MapConnect. After accepting the agreement in the registration, an email will be sent to the registered user to allow access to the data downloads.

For further information please contact :
Rod Hannifey, Road Transport and Road Safety Advocate,
http://www.truckright.myco.com.au/
mobile: 0428120560 or e-mail rod.hannifey@bigpond.com

1. Planning of your equipment purchase, unit compatibility and suitability is essential.  Do your skills need upgrading for a new or bigger unit? Next is a plan of trip “must do’s” and “maybe’s” as part of route, destination and timeframe requirements. Only you know how flexible your time is and what is most important to the trip. This is better done early, rather than afterwards realising you have missed something worthwhile.
2. Seek knowledge from magazines, tourist brochures, clubs and other vanners.
3. Confirm this with others and by your own experience. By joining a caravan or four wheel drive club, you may find others who have been there and done that and most are happy to tell of their experiences.
4. Equipment and extras. Do you need to purchase and or upgrade tow bar, hitches, mirrors and other ancillary equipment? Consider fitting a CB or UHF.
5. Trip Preparation Make a checklist. The bigger the trip, the bigger the checklist needs to be. Use it when you do your check weigh below.
6. Ensure secure loading and correct weight distribution Check weigh your unit fully loaded, well before you plan to leave, to allow you to make adjustments if necessary and ensure everything fits and stays put, till you get it right. Keep heavy items lower down and secure any loose items. Confirm compliance with all operating requirements, van and vehicle maximum weights and towball weight, 10% recommended. Last thing before you plan to leave, is a service for tow vehicle and van.
7. On road skills Practise with a few short trips, at least one with a friend or more experienced vanner. Consider a caravan course. Plan regular breaks and walk around your vehicle at each stop to check tyres and towing equipment. If you are holding up following traffic, move off where safe, to allow them to pass.
8. Trucks Respect the size and weight of trucks. Share the road. You are holidaying, they are working, and each is done at a different pace.
9. Caravan CB Join in. Fit a CB and or UHF if you haven’t already. Put stickers on your van, front and rear, for Channel 18. Talk with other vanners and truckies and improve on road safety and communication. Promote the concept if you agree. Your names on the back, further promote on road contact and information.
10. Enjoy your self If you find a problem, seek others help to solve or lessen it and then, share your knowledge and experience with others, to help them overcome pitfalls you have found. Travel safely at your own pace, but consider all other road users. Not everyone shares your lack of time pressures.

The following details have been obtained from the Techni Ice website.

Table of Contents

1. “Re-usable dry ice?”
2. How do I activate my new Techni Ice reusable dry ice pack / gel pack sheets?
3. 12 Volt Fridge/Freezers

The new release of 4 ply Techni-Ice stays frozen longer than ever before! Techni Ice reusable dry ice packs / gel packs 4ply comprises of 2 non-woven textile layers, which encapsulate a specially formulated cross-linked polyacrylate polyalcohol co-polymer refrigerant combined with a post treated trade secret formula.

An additional 2 heavy duty plastic layers, containing a one-way microperforation technology are bonded to the textile layers. This ensures that this new model can withstand the harshest of operational climates with performance that can only be described as revolutionary.

“Re-usable dry ice?”

A remarkable leap forward in ice pack technology utilising a cross-linked polyacrylate polymer that can be frozen right down to minus 190C (that’s more than twice as cold as dry ice!).Techni Ice reusable dry ice packs / gel packs is often frozen in blast freezers to minus 80C when used in dry ice applications.

How do I activate my new Techni Ice reusable dry ice pack / gel pack sheets?

Techni Ice reusable dry ice packs / gel packs start as a flat sheet and absorbs water through a special perforation technology in the surface of the product.This is achieved by scrunching the sheets between your hands whilst immersed in warm water for a few minutes until the air bubbles have escaped.The hydration process will now begin and the cells will swell ready for the products to be used both cold or hot.

The water enters through the surface and activates the polymer, which then swells the sheet into 24 individually sealed cells Which enables the product to be flexible when frozen and cut to size.

Techni Ice reusable dry ice packs / gel packs can be used hot, cold or frozen can not only keep your food and drinks icy cold for days on end in the cooler but is also very effective at reducing battery consumption when placed in 12 volt fridge/freezers due to its eutectic qualities, which minimise thermostat activity.

Techni Ice reusable dry ice packs / gel packs retail packaging come in packs of one, three or six sheets ready to hydrate and use in outlets Australia wide.

12 Volt Fridge/Freezers

Techni Ice reusable dry ice packs / gel packs can be used by placing one or two sheets in a 12V fridge/freezer to effectively reduce battery consumption and increase general efficiency due to the eutectic quality of Techni Ice compounds.

When Techni Ice reusable dry ice packs / gel packs are used in this manner it can also be left in the fridge/freezer whilst the power is turned off overnight to further reduce battery consumption whilst still maintaining basic refrigeration.

This also enables the Techni Ice reusable dry ice packs / gel packs to be placed in a separate ice box for use when away from the vehicle or boat, etc.

The course consisted of eight evening sessions (3 hours) plus a weekend practical (6 hours). The course is conducted by Tom. Tom invites experts in their field to present some of the topics covered.

The topics covered include:

• Selection of car and caravan
• Towing vehicle modifications
• Towbars and hitches
• Maintenance
• Suspension, brakes and tyres
• Electrical and LPG safety
• Communication
• 12 volt systems
• Caravan design and layout
• Loading and hitching
• Towing techniques
• Manoeuvring
• Regulations
• Storage (when van is not in use)
• Accessories
• Caravan parks and campsites

The cost per person was $170.00 or $310.00 per couple. Further information for anyone reading this post who resides in Adelaide can be obtained from Tom by contacting him on (08) 8377 2650.

Towsafe Training have been conducting caravanning courses for more than 20 years and have extensive experience in all facets of the industry, providing current, relevant and unbiased information.

As with any installation there were a few problems which needed to be sorted out.

The most serious was to locate the Pioneer CD/Tuner so that the fold down front could be folded down to enable the CD to be inserted. Unfortunately the front can only drop down about 80 degrees before the volume knob hits the console. This fortunately still provides sufficient room to insert and eject the CD.

The Jackaroo is an XS model which is the mid range model. It is an automatic and has a cruise control which will hopefully assist somewhat with maintaining a reasonable fuel consumption. We picked up the Jackaroo Friday afternoon and took it for a drive to and from Adelaide on Saturday, travelling around 500kms all up.

The Jackaroo (whilst not towing the caravan) is currently returning 6.8kms per litre or 14.72 litres per 100kms. After we have done our first trip towing the caravan we will post updated fuel consumption figures whilst towing the caravan.

Check out Our Car Photo Album for more images of our Jackaroo.