My First Caravan

[Rosscow]

Cheers, I hope we enjoy it as much as we think we will!

If not I'm pretty sure I could move it on without too much effort and for similar money.

[LouD86]

hornetrider said:

Rosscow said:

Picked it up for £7k back in November. Complete with 1 year old Sunncamp Ultima 390 acrylic awning, 2 x aqua rolls, wastemaster, several steps, several hook up leads, TV, etc.

1 owner from new, full service history from supplying dealer, lots of history, invoices etc.

I thought it was a pretty good deal

That's a cracking deal, good effort.

Agreed, thats not half bad!! Ive been looking (which is bad when I havent slept a night in it yet) at some Avondale Landcruiser 640's. I remember my parents old one, and love it. I have free storage, which is pretty secure, so its tempting me. However, the towcar would need updating.

Ooooh, whats that, Im taking a 04 FFRR Vouge in px, with a towbar on this weekend? Hmmmmmm

[Rosscow]

Do it!

Just be aware of the MPG - my 3.0TDI A6 Quattro went from about 45mpg on the motorway on the way to pick the caravan up to around 28mpg on the way home

Can't imagine a FFRR will be particularly good....

[nagsheadwarrior]

Careful with Avondales LouD in certain years the ruddy things are water soluble and theyve gone bust so parts are unavailable.

[Rosscow]

Yep, when I looked into it the generally conclusion I came to was not to touch Avondale's with a very long bargepole

Which is a shame, as there are some crackers out there for good money (possibly the reason!)

[LouD86]

Ahhh OK. Wasnt aware Avondale had gone pop. We had a few Ospreys going back 8 years now I guess, well the parents did, and we loved them. Im just having a craving for a large rear bathroom, side dinnete, L Shape front, and twin axle. No idea why though, bigger is better right???

[hornetrider]

Bigger is certainly better!

Caravanfinder is very useful. Pick your layout and it tells you all the vans that fit that layout, and ones for sale matching that configuration. Or something like that! Was very handy when we were looking last year.

[Rosscow]

LouD86 said:

Ahhh OK. Wasnt aware Avondale had gone pop. We had a few Ospreys going back 8 years now I guess, well the parents did, and we loved them. Im just having a craving for a large rear bathroom, side dinnete, L Shape front, and twin axle. No idea why though, bigger is better right???

Which is basically the layout of our Ace:

[Engineer1]

LouD86 said:

Ahhh OK. Wasnt aware Avondale had gone pop. We had a few Ospreys going back 8 years now I guess, well the parents did, and we loved them. Im just having a craving for a large rear bathroom, side dinnete, L Shape front, and twin axle. No idea why though, bigger is better right???

Them fkers went pop a week after I started in the CAD role with them, leading to a crappy few years at the start of the recession looking for work.

[LouD86]

Rosscow said:

Which is basically the layout of our Ace:

Ooooh, that makes for interesting reading. I may have to hunt at yours then

Engineer1 said:

Them fkers went pop a week after I started in the CAD role with them, leading to a crappy few years at the start of the recession looking for work.

Sorry to hear that, not great news really dude. Hope things have worked out now though

[Chicken Chaser]

Good luck with it!

What age is acceptable to tow a caravan??? I'm 32 now, and just completing my camper conversion in my T5. It'll serve us for a couple of years hopefully, but we've got one little 'un now and no doubt there'll be another in the not so distant future.

I do agree that vans/campers are brilliant for kids, I grew up in my parents van and we were away several times a year. Its the logical step to move up to a caravan when the little van gets too small!

[Rosscow]

I'm just coming up to my 32nd birthday, so you're bang on prime newbie caravan age!!!

[LouD86]

Oh st, im 27! So a bit younger than you guys. But I think as long as you enjoy it, age is irrellevant!

[LouD86]

Well, it appears towing a larger caravan isn't going to be such a problem now :$

Ive just got to save more money, and maybe sleep in my old one first, certainly shouldnt really notice it behind the new steed!!

[Rosscow]

Haha, now you're talking!!!

But if that's the MPG without a caravan, your holidays with a caravan are going to be very expensive

What engine/gear box does it have?

That'll tow anything effortlessly. Top effort.

[dirty_dog]

Nice little setup for the money! Cant beat a bit of a weighty tow car though I'm fortunate enough to be able to borrow my parents Emperor 630 (Dealer special spec but I think based on Eldis?) and I bet my Dads Land Cruiser is a good tow car like that Rangie would be.

[LouD86]

Nice van there, and is that a 530d? Awesome towcars

Yeh, that was a little bit of heavy footed driving, I think its come back up to 23 on the way into work today. So thats not too bad. Im thinking 17-18 towing.

Its the Td6, so the inline 6cyl BMW 3litre, not the later unit. But its smooth enough, should pull it well! Now, to save for a bigger van!

[Rosscow]

Yeah, mine is a 3.0 V6 quattro and pulls mine with ease.

[dirty_dog]

LouD86 said:

Nice van there, and is that a 530d? Awesome towcars

Sorry its a 530i Auto Still its got plenty enough power, in manual mode I can just leave it in 5th with the cruise control on and it sits there very happily. I've only taken the van out once but think I need to balance it better as it was much more stable at 50 than 60.

[surveyor]

dirty_dog said:

LouD86 said:

Nice van there, and is that a 530d? Awesome towcars

Sorry its a 530i Auto Still its got plenty enough power, in manual mode I can just leave it in 5th with the cruise control on and it sits there very happily. I've only taken the van out once but think I need to balance it better as it was much more stable at 50 than 60.

Think that will always be the case. Your going to be at the upper limit with that.