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.

Table of Contents

1. Diesel Interior Heaters
2. Carbon Monoxide
3. Direct Oxygen Deprivation
4. Heating in Confined Spaces
5. The Diesel-Powered Heater
6. The Webasto Heater
7. The Webasto Heater in Action

Diesel Interior Heaters

How to heat a motorhome is an ongoing source of enquiry, particularly with a CMCA Rally in Tasmania in many people’s plans. Curiously, not a great deal appears to have been written about this subject and, as a result, many turn to Internet forums for advice.

These forums can be wonderful sources of information, but sometimes suggestions are made that are downright dangerous. Caravan and motorhome heating is a sadly common example.

Time after time one encounters potentially lethal advice. Here are a few examples: heat your vehicle by inverting a clay flowerpot or steel saucepan over an open gas ring; turn the gas oven on with the door left open; use a charcoal-burning cooking pot as a space heater. All are extremely dangerous – especially the last.

Heating a small enclosed space by burning something presents two main dangers. The first and most serious is carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a colourless and odourless gas (slightly lighter than air). It is formed whenever any carbon-based substance (which is most substances) is burned with an inadequate supply of air. Even when there is adequate air, carbon monoxide is produced if the burning reaction is only partly complete.

Carbon Monoxide

Even in small amounts, carbon monoxide is deadly to all warm-blooded animals. A 0.2% concentration can kill within 30 minutes. I can find no local data, but 300 Americans are killed and 10,000 need major medical treatment [because of carbon monoxide poisoning) each year. A high proportion of those are campers, 'travel trailer' and motorhome users.

Carbon monoxide kills like this. Haemoglobin in the blood normally transports all-essential oxygen throughout the body. Unfortunately haemoglobin is massively addicted to picking up carbon monoxide. If there's any around, haemoglobin will grab 250 parts of carbon monoxide for every one part of oxygen. This rapidly deprives the brain and everything else of that vital oxygen.

There are only minor indications: headache, nausea, fatigue - and then unconsciousness. If you were asleep at the time, the odds are against your ever waking up again. Carbon monoxide is rightly called the 'silent killer'.

Direct Oxygen Deprivation

The second hazard is direct oxygen deprivation. Just by breathing we contaminate the air. We take in about a half a cubic metre of air every hour and convert about 4% of that into carbon dioxide. As a result the exhaled carbon dioxide level rises and the available oxygen level falls. The latter can however drop from its normal 21% or so, to as low as 15% before symptoms (such as fatigue) set in. Whilst rarely, if ever, a problem in a home, oxygen deprivation through this cause can be serious in an unventilated space - heated or otherwise. This was tragically demonstrated in England when a number of 'illegal' migrants were asphyxiated inside a sealed truck.

Heating in Confined Spaces

It is essential to keep the potential for danger in mind when planning a heating system for a caravan or motorhome. In Australia at least, our Gas Installation Code legally closes the door against the worst offenders (but not against foolish Internet advice). "Where a [gas] air heating appliance is installed in a confined space the circulating air shall be ducted and be separated from air for combustion and draught diverter dilution’. This effectively rules out mostly anything run from gas – including catalytic heaters.

Yet despite constant mortalities, America seems less concerned. There, it is legal to use catalytic heaters (at least in most States). Historically, the British too had a seemingly cavalier approach to heating. Many British-made caravans were fitted with coal and even charcoal burning stoves (some older readers may remember the coal and charcoal burning Piver stoves that were installed).

Electrical heating is the simplest, safest and cheapest form of heating, but it necessitates a 240-volt mains supply. But for heating away from the 240-volt umbilical cord, there are few heating devices more effective and practical than the diesel powered units that are rapidly gaining favour in caravans and motorhomes worldwide.

The Diesel-Powered Heater

These devices draw air from outside into a tiny sealed furnace that can be housed almost anywhere in the vehicle. Diesel oil is injected and ignited in this furnace. The ‘burnt’ air is then expelled to atmosphere. Air within the area to be heated is blown across the outer skin of the furnace and ducted to wherever desired. The burning gas is thus totally sealed from the air that is heated within the vehicle.

My first experience with this technology was considerably less than happy! I imported a Finnish diesel-powered unit that worked fine for two or so weeks. But thereafter it would generate no heat – only huge volumes of evil-smelling cold and wet grey/white ‘smoke’. For reasons that are still unclear, the thing had a hugely complex computer control system. The whole and quite large unit proved totally unfixable without being returned to its maker on the other side of the world. I fought it over three or so years – and finally gave up. (The unit was briefly described, but fortunately not recommended, in the first edition of ‘The Campervan and Motorhome Book’. The mention was deleted in editions thereafter).

I next became aware of the Eberspacher range of diesel heaters. These are highly respected in Europe, the USA and Canada, but do not seem to be widely promoted in our market. Few Australian caravan, campervan and motorhome owners seem aware of them. I was wary of buying a product that lacked widespread distribution and decided to give this one a miss. Then, whilst at the Casino Rally I was intrigued to see Webasto’s generally similar unit installed and working in a demonstration motorhome.

The Webasto Heater

The smallest unit in the Webasto range is the size and weight of a large can of soup – and weighs little more. It is far simpler and hugely more rugged than the unfortunate Finnish device, and is very much better made (quite stunning in fact!). This unit produces ample heat, even for big motorhomes.

Learning of my previous experiences, Webasto’s Roger Phair kindly offered to make one available to me for long-term evaluation – probably with some trepidation as I describe things as I find them. But he need have no qualms!

The main heater unit is best floor mounted as both the intake and exhaust are on its underside. A separate very small electrically-driven pump, hose and filter may be connected to a separate diesel tank – or can be tapped into the main vehicle tank (as we did with the OKA). A small electric control panel may be mounted wherever convenient within the vehicle.

The hot air vent can be taken wherever desired via approximately 50 mm flexible hose. We made up a small duct from a couple of adjustable vents left over from the OKA’s coach beginnings.

Whilst we elected to evaluate the Webasto air heater, the company (as with Eberspacher) also have a water heating version that feeds radiators throughout the vehicle. Via an additional heat exchanger (calorifier) it can also supply hot water on demand.

The Webasto Heater in Action

Where we live on the Indian Ocean north of Broome, winter is not known for being cold. But inland it’s a different matter entirely. There, temperatures can drop quickly below freezing after sun-down. But even then, on its lowest heat setting, the Webasto keeps the OKA’s interior at a comfortable (for us) 27 degrees whilst using about a fifth of a litre of diesel an hour.

Unsilenced, the exhaust can be a trifle intrusive to those outside the vehicle. It would not be noticed in most situations, but a few users report that neighbouring campers have asked that the unit be turned off at night. A quick check with Webasto however produced (an optional) tiny and very effective silencer (Derringer would be proud of it!).

Speaking of ‘comfortable temperature’ the US ASHRAE 55:74 standard defines it as ‘that condition of mind which expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment’. That self-referencing definition is praised in associated academic comment as being a ‘model of clarity’. I’d hate to see their example of an unclear one!

It’s too early to advise on longevity, excepting to note that the Webasto unit is very ruggedly made and, as it is designed for much colder and more generally arduous American and European winters, it should have an even longer life in our milder Antipodean climate.

The product is already being offered as an optional extra by at least one leading Australian caravan maker.

For further information see http://www.webasto.com.au/

Further information regarding associated matters can be found in the author’s associated books, particularly ‘Motorhome Electrics – and Caravans Too!’; and ‘The Campervan & Motorhome Book’

Copyright 2002-2007  All Rights Reserved
Collyn Rivers Caravan and Motorhome Books www.caravanandmotorhomebooks.com
Email collyn@caravanandmotorhomebooks.com