Before you head out onto the open road, there are some important safety tools you should always have on board. Alexia Santamaria asked the team at Apollo for their best advice to ensure a safe, easy trip.
It finally feels like warm weather is on the way, and many people are turning their minds to summer plans. After another challenging year, the thought of a motorhome holiday by the beach with the smell of barbecue, the promise of melting ice creams and hours spent swimming or relaxing by the water with a good book is pretty damn appealing. But before you hit the road – or even think about hitting the road – it’s crucial to make sure everything is order, most importantly anything that involves safety.
One of the biggest risks in a motorhome is gas. “People have so many gas appliances now: gas cookers, gas barbecues, gas fridges,” says Duncan MacMillan from Apollo. “These are all great but of course they all carry risk if they leak, especially when everyone is asleep.”
A good gas detector is your best friend when you’re travelling in your home on wheels. If anything leaks, the detector will sense it and alert you immediately so you don’t risk anyone getting sick, or worse still, an explosion. The Apollo team undertook some serious international research before settling on the Safe-T-Alert LPG & Carbon Monoxide Detector as their model of choice. “We looked around but in the end this one came out top of the range. When it comes to people’s lives we need to feel confident that we are selling the safest option around.
“The Safe-T-Alert gas detector is built to the highest standards and specifications and has been approved and tested by both the RV Industry Association and National Fire Protection Association in the USA,” says Duncan, “It’s a dual-duty alarm that detects LPG gas leakage and carbon monoxide. Even when mounted lower in the vehicle, the carbon monoxide detector can pick up any gas circulating in the motorhome. It truly gives total peace of mind that you are safe in your home on wheels.”
These alarms are 12 Volt powered, meaning there is no need to worry about dead or dying batteries – let’s face it, there’s not much sense in having a detector that’s not actually detecting anything because the battery has gone flat! But even so, it’s important to remember that after five years of use, any gas detector needs to be replaced with a new one. “The sensors become less reliable or just don’t work after that, mostly because of a gradual build up of dirt and grime that finds its way into the circuit board over time,” says Duncan. “So it’s important to make a note of the date of purchase or installation and to replace your gas detector after five years.”
On a far more superficial and aesthetic note, another advantage of The Safe-T Alert LPG & Carbon Monoxide Detector is its trim ring. “Lots of people feel like they need to keep buying the exact same model so they don’t make new holes in their walls. The trim ring, which is available as an optional extra, covers all previous holes so your walls will still look good,” says Duncan. Additionally, the Safe-T-Alert detectors and trim rings are available in either black or white so you can choose which shade best suits your vehicle’s interior.
If you haven’t used your motorhome a lot over the last few winter months, there are a number of essentials you’ll need to check out before you pack that last bag in and hit the road to summer bliss – and gas (and smoke) detectors need to be at the top of that list. When you’re cruising along those gorgeous New Zealand roads (and all their attendant potholes!), vibration can cause hoses to leak, and it’s of paramount importance that you know you have the equipment to detect any gas-related issues as soon as they occur. “Safety is everything,” says Duncan. “Always make sure you have good detectors in place so you, the people you care about and your pets can travel and sleep peacefully and safely when you’re on holiday.”
For more information about Safe-T-Alert gas detectors and our full range of 12V products visit our website or call our friendly Apollo team on 09 424 1427 or
www.apollotv.co.nz
