My First Caravan

[LouD86]

Its been a while, but having used the parents van before, I decided to start myself.

I'm only a youngster, so its a cheap first purchase, to see if I use it enough to warrant paying more next time. So, I present to you,

1984 Lynton Laser 14/2








A nights work in the workshop;



And the result



Happy chappy. That whole outfit currently owes me less than £600! Not a bad start!

[LouD86]

So far, the caravan had no equipment, so I raided the parents spare/old stuff stash for;

Fiamma Leveling Blocks & Chocks
Fiamma Feet Blocks
Isabella Porch Awning
2 x Aquarolls
Wastemaster
Cleaning Gear
Bulldog Hitchlock
2 x 7kg Propane Bottles (Both full, win!)
Aalco Step
110A Leisure Battery
Flexi Solar Panel

And then last nights trip to Asda furnished me with a Melamine Dinner Set, Plastic Tumblers, and all the little odds and sods needed! Fair to say, apart from another quick clean inside, its ready for its maiden voyage, 8th March to Belgium!

[LouD86]

Its quite a light outfit, the caravan is 18.70CWT, which is a sensible weight, 7ft 4" wide aswell, so nice and steady towing. Was a slow tow back, as I didn't have my stabiliser bracket fitted, but done that today, and it should have a bit more noseweight aswell now, makes for better progress Ive found in the past.

[LouD86]

The full electrics are done, so I can charge the battery, keep the fridge running etc. Quite important in my mind! May aswell get the job done properly.

In Belgium, I like Brugge, and I thought well Holland is 2 hours away, Brussells an hour, gives me a chance to make the odd day trip, but a nice location with good food and visiting places to base myself.

[LouD86]

Smashie, I did forget on the day, but a raid in the parents garage (its a gold mine for caravan stuff) turned out a set of very expensive dampened mirrors, new in the box! Ill be fitting those this weekend, I realised it was a tad naughty towing without, although I could see pretty much all I needed to

[LouD86]

Think my towbar was £38 quid, and I got my hands dirty with the help of a couple of friends!

Im sure if I enjoy this, and go for a twin axle next (which will need a bigger car) the costs will start to escalate

[LouD86]

Hurdsey said:

Nice van, I used to make em, Lyntons were based in Sunny Manchester.

What a small world! Im impressed, not a spot of damp at that age, its certainly screwed together well. I did notice from the Chassis plate that it was a Manchester van, from Knutsford myself orginially, so close by

[LouD86]

Rosscow said:

Nice!

Like Hornetrider above, my towbar cost me £600!!!

I also bought my first caravan last year, but we went straight in at the deep end with a 2008 Ace Jubilee Equerry twin axle (my excuse is the dog and our 2 kids so we need the room!).

Can't wait for Spring to really arrive.

Thats in at the deep end. The parents have sunk well over 20k on theirs, but use it a lot, and I grew up away in it most weekends. This is a trial to see if I use it enough.

You off anywhere nice? Brugge next Friday for me!

[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

[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???

[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

[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!!

[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!

[LouD86]

tenohfive said:

LouD86 said:

Happy chappy. That whole outfit currently owes me less than £600! Not a bad start!

Great idea. They should issue them as standard with new Renaults really - now you can cook your dinner, relax on the sofa and generally take it easy whilst you wait for the AA to arrive.

How very true!! Fingers crossed, its done 14k in my ownership so far, and needed nothing but tyres!! She is a strong ol gal, having said that, the previous owner put nearly everything right in 100k

[LouD86]

Well, car and caravan are packed, everything is ready. All I have to do now is 8-1 at work tomorrow, and I'm off. I can't bloody wait, maiden voyage, straight to the continent!

[LouD86]

Well I got home around 7pm this evening, managed to somehow swing it into position outside mine (its not easy I tell thee), unpacked, cleaned it, and back to work with it tomorrow, into storage again. But an amazing time away, ill post some details Sunday afternoon

[LouD86]

Well, a little gallery;

Leaving the overnight Campsite heading for Dover Port



Arrival on site, first things first, porch (This hasnt been used in 14 years, my first attempt at putting one up alone



Mine up, Gazebo up, time for a beer, the others were still struggling!!



Plenty of alcohol was consumed, and good food eaten (My van was the social van, the largest of our outfits)



Bloody early 5am start for Amsterdam - one of the only pictures showing both outfits



Load the boot up ready to come home



Sitting steady



One hell of a week away. The caravan was perfect, nothing reared its ugly head, and considering the price, the fact we didnt try a night first, didnt try the awning, or plug it into mains, I think I was damn lucky. And the trust 200k+ scenic towed it like it was a box trailer, superb!

[LouD86]

Nice, always good to have a clean up. Ive had to put mine into temp storage, and the outside got filthy on the way up the track. Before i'm away next, I must get it home and clean it again.

Where you hoping to go? Ive got a long weekend at Easter booked, and then off to Belgium again in December. Holland has been booked for next year for a week too, towing with the Series though, Landrover Rally eek

[LouD86]

I passed the test back when I was 18. The parents paid so I could tow their caravan. Subsequently, I now have my HGV, so its not really a problem.

With my new (very old) Series 3 Landrover I bought a few months ago, and the RR, Im looking at selling up, and getting something a lot larger. I have been looking, and going to view one today, a 6 berth twin axle Avondale. Its tempting for the price, lets see what its like when I get there.