A few more odds and ends to absorb so Tips 3 coming up!!
Before moving off check list
It is important that you check these things before driving anywhere. Easy to forget something which could have disastrous results.
Check your vehicle water, brake fluid, windscreen bottle, oil and coolant levels fairly regularly, particularly on older vans.
Check your tyre pressures from time to time and keep an eye on the tyre sidewall condition particularly if the van stands for long periods of time in full sunshine.
Check all your lights, including brake lights regularly. Check everything is loaded carefully and as evenly as possible. Close and lock all internal cupboard doors. Check your charging power selector switch is switched to "engine" mode and your fridge is switched to 12v. Make sure you lock the fridge door! Lock the TV in position if it is not stowed in a cupboard, Make sure all outside hatches are closed AND locked, make sure any TV aerial or open satellite dish is retracted and most of all make sure any roof hatches are either secured or, if required (and of the right type), opened slightly to the rear so that they do not get caught by the wind. Beware of side winds on high bridges or open countryside. Ensure your awning is securely and tightly stowed away and the winding handle is inside the van, not still attached to the awning!! Remember to unplug your electric cable!! Sounds obvious but YES I have driven away from home with it still attached. No, the house stayed put but I got a nasty burn mark on the van as the cable separated from the socket!! Remember to shut off the gas supply. Vans, particularly old vans do rattle. Make sure that as far as possible you try to prevent everything rattling inside your cupboards etc. Kitchen roll paper can help, larger items like pots and pans might need a tea towel or wedging in. There are some good "anti rattle" devices on the market that can prevent plates and bowls moving about.
Right, that's about it, apart from giving your windscreen a good clean and ensuring your Satnav or maps are at hand and you have your lite bites and drinks handy, you are about ready to go. Before leaving home, check the front door is locked and the neighbours cat is not locked inside!! Nothing worse than having that unsure, dreadful feeling when you are miles down the road! If leaving a campsite, check carefully that you have left nothing behind, If your pitch is clear and tidy at least you know whatever you think you may have lost is somewhere inside the van!
A few driving tips that I have always found handy
Check your mirrors are aligned correctly. You may not have a usable interior mirror, and even if you do, like a minibus, you need to use both external mirrors all the time. Remember you are driving something that is longer, wider and in particular, higher than what you are use to. Know your measurements and have them displayed (Imperial and metric) behind your sun visor for quick reference. When driving, make sure you keep an eye out for low branches, overhanging hedges and trees. When we meet up again I will tell you a story about these hazards! Watch out for large oncoming vehicles, for other motorists who think their little mini is the size of a bus and who stop to allow you to pass but in the narrowest bit of the road! Where possible try to build up a bit of speed before ascending a hill and remember to go down a steep hill in whatever gear you would have used to climb it. Use "cadence braking" if going down a long hill, don't let your brakes overheat by keeping them applied all the way down. Use your gears regularly, don't let your revs drop too low if you can avoid it, change up early so that you maintain high revs when climbing hills. I always try to allow others to overtake me on smaller roads by pulling in when it is safe to do so BUT only if they are obviously wanting to pass and will travel quicker than me. Nothing more annoying if you do all that and they then slow you down.
Do you remember the old days of the AA man waving or saluting other members of the club? Well we do a similar thing with motorhomes and campervans! Some will wave, some may not, it's a matter of choice. I sometimes wave to oncoming campers on duel carriageways but realise they might not see me or are busy so don't wave back. No problem one way or other but it is kinda nice when you both wave to each other (even if they don't talk to you on a campsite!!)
Driving abroad
If you travel abroad remember to fit beam deflectors immediately you get off the ferry, It's the law!!
Not sure if you have any experience Mike but I love the roads over there. Lovely long, relatively straight, lightly used, reasonably repaired roads, and that's the smaller roads. (Thanks to the Romans!!) The motorways, some free to use, others, Toll roads, are brilliant but can be expensive if driving long distances, however you will get to your destinations quicker. On smaller roads beware that if the junction is unsigned then the priority is from the right. Remember also that all towns and villages have a 50kph (31mph) speed limit (if not signed at a different speed) starting from the town name sign and that that restriction normally ends as you pass the same town sign with a diagonal line through it. Most signs are universal but beware of written signs. In my "Old Soldier" days serving in Germany we had to learn by heart those written German signs, two are fixed in my memory......Farnbarnwechel...Change of traffic lane and Ausfaht......Exit!!
It would also be useful to have a sign or a note on your dashboard reminding you to "Drive On The Right", and another for when you get back in this country.
Very easy mistake to make, particularly as you pull out of garages and supermarkets etc whatever side of the channel you are on! Remember, you will need to rely on Liz to help you at times when driving a RHD vehicle abroad.
There is much more to driving abroad and if you have no experience then best to get a book on it. Different countries seem to have different standards and styles. Make sure your horn works, the Italians can't drive without using it constantly!!
Lastly for now a couple of other tips that have come through that fog of a memory of mine!!
Using your awning
When you wind out the awning only open it a couple of feet, just enough for you to be able to reach and fold down the legs. Once the legs are down, extend them a little so that the weight of the awning is supported. Move the legs out to the front then wind out more awning until you have the amount of cover needed. If you wind it fully out make sure you keep some tension in the cover. If you have a middle section support then fit it whilst your legs are shortened, makes it easier to reach and tension. If you think it might rain heavily then lower one leg compared to the length of the other, this will ensure the water rolls off quickly on one side and does not pool and cause damage to either you or the awning itself!! If you suspect wind is on the way then peg the legs down and if necessary use a storm strap, not only will it help to keep it attached to the van but it should help to stop it flapping and making a noise. Some people take their awnings down at night, me I prefer to keep it up, storing chairs and picknic table under it unless I have any doubts about the weather. If the wind is going to be strong or gusty then wind it in. Awnings WILL do serious damage to the van if you are not very careful.
Using a Remoska
A Remoska is a very useful electric cooking pan. It slow cooks brilliantly including complete chicken, potatoes, veg etc. It only uses 400w of power so is superb for use where the power supply is only 6A. I think you can get them on eBay now otherwise they can be purchased from Lakeland
And finally......Some tips about using the loo!!
When emptying the cassette, take care when removing the filler / measuring cap if cassette is really full, keep it pointing upwards or you may just get your own back!! Be careful not to drop the cap down into the abyss! After emptying, pour fresh water in and take care giving it a good shake. You may well need to rinse a few times before ending up with clear water. Take care putting the chemical in as it stains like mad and remember to add some diluting water to the cassette, not too much or you will be back emptying it before you know it!! Be careful of splasback when emptying the cassette and keep your mouth shut, just in case! Some peope wear rubber gloves, I prefere to just wash my hands properly rather than have what could be contaminated gloves hanging about.
And lastly......and this is a little gem........ Before using the loo for a "number two", open the trap and lay some toilet paper across the bowl, then when you "lighten your load" your offering will end up being wrapped up in a nice little parcel before plunging into the depths, leaving your toilet bowl nice and clean.....!! Well that's the theory anyway!!
A few further tips and ideas have come to me since the last email. No particular order...
When starting out on a long trip boil a Vacuum flask of water before you leave. This makes having a cuppa much easier if you stop on route, no gas to turn on and waiting for water to boil.
The Camping and Caravanning club offer an old codgers reduced nightly rate scheme once you have been members for awhile. Check out the website.
Purchase and carry some Grip Tracks. These are lengths of plastic strips for placing under wheels to help with traction in soggy, wet or muddy areas should you need them. You can make your own out of suitable materials such as carpet strips...(Wilton or Axminster are best!!). Make sure you have lengths of twine to attach them somewhere on the van so that they are pulled just behind the driving wheels when you get going, that way you won't need to stop until you are on a firm surface or have to walk all the way back to pick them up.
Leave fridge door ajar when not in use. Fridges get musty and moldy if closed up and not powered up.
Carry a small foldable step with you, it has loads of uses....Small table to have in front middle of cab to carry phone, map, essentials. (Use non slip mat surface), Useful for seeing into and reaching into high cupboards, or rooflights if you are a short arse!, Useful fo standing on to clean outside of windscreen etc. It can be a spare coffee table in the awning or a spare seat, or a foot rest and takes up very little room if you get the fold flat / heavy duty type.
Tuning digital TV and using Satelite system
I'm sure you realise that these days of modern digital terrestrial signals are very limited so you may well have to retune your TV on arrival at a new site. If you can't get a digital signal using your own on board aerial you might need to use a directional aerial mounted on a pole or use a connecting cable to a socket if that is provided by the camp site. If you rely on your self tuning Satellite dish mounted on the top of the van then ensure you pick a pitch that gives you clear line of site to the Satellite transmitter, SSE direction and low on the horizon. I have spent hours watching ( and trying to help) friends and other motorhomes who spend hours trying to lock on to a satellite signal, sometimes changing pitch three or four times ( or more) in their desperation!! Sometimes it pays to have a cheap Lidl portable satellite dish and tuner that can be moved about without moving the whole van!!
And that's about it - what a great start to the steep learning curve we all go through at the begining of our motorhome journey - Thank you Old Soldier 
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