Newbie caravanner
Discussion
Electric hook up cable. Its also handy to have a small spirit level in the van plus a few basic tools. Gas bottles. Cooking, eating and cleaning stuff. Bedding. There's probably tons of other stuff that'll you'll discover after your first night - although I can't believe you're waiting nearly three weeks after delivery to try it out.
Chicken Chaser said:
.
Check your car is suitable to tow the van of choice. www.towcar.info will help you check. Your van will have 13 pin electrics, make sure your towbar has the same.
Good tip, but you can buy a cheap converter for about a fiver.Check your car is suitable to tow the van of choice. www.towcar.info will help you check. Your van will have 13 pin electrics, make sure your towbar has the same.
Has anyone mentioned gas bottle(s), and levelling wedges. You’ll need gas for cooking and potentially heating, and it’s best to have 2 so you don’t have a crisis when it runs out.
You’ll need chocks to go under the wheels to level the caravan at some point.
Some form of water carrier to bring water to the caravan, and a waste master or similar to go under the sink outlet to carry waste water away in.
You probably could do with practicing reversing some where quiet. You don’t want to turn up at your first site and have everyone intently watching your efforts to reverse. It comes easy to some.
You’ll need chocks to go under the wheels to level the caravan at some point.
Some form of water carrier to bring water to the caravan, and a waste master or similar to go under the sink outlet to carry waste water away in.
You probably could do with practicing reversing some where quiet. You don’t want to turn up at your first site and have everyone intently watching your efforts to reverse. It comes easy to some.
Welcome to the 'vanning life!
I spent my entire childhood doing touring caravan holidays, then had a 25yr break, before my wife also bought us one, manly for music festivals but we also use it for general touring camping, as she was fed up with tent camping. We've had one for about 6yrs now, it is great fun.
Some general advice:
Hitching and driving
I always find with a hatchback/estate it is easiest to pop the boot up and reverse back to the hitch looking over your shoulder, so you can see it with your own eyes easily and do no have to rely on other people/mirrors. Practice actual hitching a few times at your storage place.
Don't forget to hook your breakaway cable on (and always carry a spare. a fiver from Amazon - I broke one last year by accident). Likewise always remember to release the handbrake before pulling away. Test all your lights before departing, every time you hook up.
Corners and roundabouts: Just drive in a wide arc around them, making sure you don't cut the corner. You get used to it very quickly.
Plan ahead: Fuel the car on its own before departure, so you don't have to do any unnecessary navigation of tight access filling stations. Likewise make sure your caravan and car tyres are all at correct pressures before you set off. Last summer I didn't, then had to have a pleasant chat with some members of the 'Other Caravan Club' that is often referenced in PH, as them and there feral children had set up camp in the tyre inflator area at Membury Services. Great fun.
Become friends with lane 1! At first it seems ball achingly slow, but you get used to it. Soon you will be like some hypermiler, ekeing out all sorts of momentum to keep you going. Plan your overtakes well in advance, be aware that a lot of HGVs are going to hold you up, and when you see two of them elephant racing side by side at 56mph it can take you a while to get past them as you only (legally) have a few mph in reserve to get round them.
Sat Nav can ruin your day: You can get specific caravan sat nav which will choose appropriate routes, but Google Maps can be an absolute swine for sending you down the narrowest of roads. Do some actual planning of routes using a proper map, if you have time. We are lucky in that our Eriba is only marginally wider than the Honda that we drag it behind, but Google Maps on my phone has taken me down some lanes in Devon/Cornwall/Somerset that would be a nightmare with a regular sized van attached.
Turbulence: Be aware of the air turbulence from HGVs passing you which can induce a snake. You will learn to keep an eye on your mirrors at all times to anticipate such hazards. A stabiliser is a great help, and I've always been of the view that gentle acceleration out of the snake is best. As a kid in the 80s we had a full on lane 1 to lane 3 snake go on, when an HGV thundered past us at well over his limit, it was pretty terrifying. Only saved by my old man's Granada 2.8GL having enough oomph to gently tow us out of it, putting the brakes on would have been jacknife central.
Other road users: quite understandably nobody wants to get stuck behind a caravan. Just beware of idiots putting in dangerous overtaking moves to get past you.
Make sure your car breakdown cover extends to include incidents involving the caravan, and likewise that your car breakdown cover includes recovery of car + caravan.
On site
Reversing is fun! Most people balls it up first time round, you soon get used to it. Motormovers are great if you can afford one, especially if just two of you.
Look for a nice level pitch, use ramps/chock if necessary. Remember the 'legs' are corner steadies only, not 'jacks' as some people call them.
Electric hookups: make sure you have a decent long lead. Some sites have communal hookup points, as opposed to ones right on your pitch. We've got a 25 metre job that has never been found wanting.
Get a system as to who does what jobs on arrival. You soon work like a well-oiled machine.
Khazi: personally I don't mind taking a dump in my own Portaloo rather than traipsing across a field to the toilet block, but each to their own, I have to empty and clean it. There is a spectacularly varied level of Elsan emptying points, I've often contemplated compiling a book on them (only half joking).
Playgrounds: If you have kids, it can be advantageous to pitch near a playground. If not, they can be like the third circle of hell. Plan for that when booking your pitch. We have an 8yo who loves a playground, but I know a child-free couple who have a similar Eriba, they regularly send me pics from their travels to wonderful, peaceful, adult only sites.
Awnings: no mention of one in your post. They can be great extensions of your space, but also total MoFos to erect and probably the cause of many a divorce. Try to view the erection/taking down of one as part of the joys of camping. Personally I'd like to burn ours with fire for the amount of time it takes to set up, but we need the additional space.
Toolkit: a small toolkit including gaffer tape and some strong cable ties. Always come in handy.
Torch: for finding your way around on site.
Fire extinguisher: in all my years I have never seen anyone actually need one, but Sod's Law says if you haven't got one you might need it.
Noise: some sites have (very) early noise curfews with varying degrees of policing it, which can be a hindrance/help depending on your viewpoint. Look at the reviews, I find https://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/ a great resource.
Camping a
holes: My learned experience is that the domestic travel restrictions of the Covid pandemic introduced a significant amount of noisy, overly-confident, thick as pigst aholes to the world of camping, causing trouble on a lot of sites. It is my greatest wish for 2023 that all of these types have flogged their gear on eBay and are all booked to bugger off back to Magaluf this summer. We can only live in hope.
That's about it for my lunch hour, if I think of any more I will add to the thread. There are loads of really good Facebook groups and YouTube channels you can find, mostly run by friendly, helpful people.
Most of all, enjoy it. I would have been happy staying tent camping, but the additional benefits it brings - solid roof and walls, warmth, a comfy bed, a heater, a wardrobe, a proper kitchenette and fridge for my beer, storage space for 'stuff' are all massive pluses over tent camping that have allowed us to extend our season from March to October.
I spent my entire childhood doing touring caravan holidays, then had a 25yr break, before my wife also bought us one, manly for music festivals but we also use it for general touring camping, as she was fed up with tent camping. We've had one for about 6yrs now, it is great fun.
Some general advice:
Hitching and driving
I always find with a hatchback/estate it is easiest to pop the boot up and reverse back to the hitch looking over your shoulder, so you can see it with your own eyes easily and do no have to rely on other people/mirrors. Practice actual hitching a few times at your storage place.
Don't forget to hook your breakaway cable on (and always carry a spare. a fiver from Amazon - I broke one last year by accident). Likewise always remember to release the handbrake before pulling away. Test all your lights before departing, every time you hook up.
Corners and roundabouts: Just drive in a wide arc around them, making sure you don't cut the corner. You get used to it very quickly.
Plan ahead: Fuel the car on its own before departure, so you don't have to do any unnecessary navigation of tight access filling stations. Likewise make sure your caravan and car tyres are all at correct pressures before you set off. Last summer I didn't, then had to have a pleasant chat with some members of the 'Other Caravan Club' that is often referenced in PH, as them and there feral children had set up camp in the tyre inflator area at Membury Services. Great fun.
Become friends with lane 1! At first it seems ball achingly slow, but you get used to it. Soon you will be like some hypermiler, ekeing out all sorts of momentum to keep you going. Plan your overtakes well in advance, be aware that a lot of HGVs are going to hold you up, and when you see two of them elephant racing side by side at 56mph it can take you a while to get past them as you only (legally) have a few mph in reserve to get round them.
Sat Nav can ruin your day: You can get specific caravan sat nav which will choose appropriate routes, but Google Maps can be an absolute swine for sending you down the narrowest of roads. Do some actual planning of routes using a proper map, if you have time. We are lucky in that our Eriba is only marginally wider than the Honda that we drag it behind, but Google Maps on my phone has taken me down some lanes in Devon/Cornwall/Somerset that would be a nightmare with a regular sized van attached.
Turbulence: Be aware of the air turbulence from HGVs passing you which can induce a snake. You will learn to keep an eye on your mirrors at all times to anticipate such hazards. A stabiliser is a great help, and I've always been of the view that gentle acceleration out of the snake is best. As a kid in the 80s we had a full on lane 1 to lane 3 snake go on, when an HGV thundered past us at well over his limit, it was pretty terrifying. Only saved by my old man's Granada 2.8GL having enough oomph to gently tow us out of it, putting the brakes on would have been jacknife central.
Other road users: quite understandably nobody wants to get stuck behind a caravan. Just beware of idiots putting in dangerous overtaking moves to get past you.
Make sure your car breakdown cover extends to include incidents involving the caravan, and likewise that your car breakdown cover includes recovery of car + caravan.
On site
Reversing is fun! Most people balls it up first time round, you soon get used to it. Motormovers are great if you can afford one, especially if just two of you.
Look for a nice level pitch, use ramps/chock if necessary. Remember the 'legs' are corner steadies only, not 'jacks' as some people call them.
Electric hookups: make sure you have a decent long lead. Some sites have communal hookup points, as opposed to ones right on your pitch. We've got a 25 metre job that has never been found wanting.
Get a system as to who does what jobs on arrival. You soon work like a well-oiled machine.
Khazi: personally I don't mind taking a dump in my own Portaloo rather than traipsing across a field to the toilet block, but each to their own, I have to empty and clean it. There is a spectacularly varied level of Elsan emptying points, I've often contemplated compiling a book on them (only half joking).
Playgrounds: If you have kids, it can be advantageous to pitch near a playground. If not, they can be like the third circle of hell. Plan for that when booking your pitch. We have an 8yo who loves a playground, but I know a child-free couple who have a similar Eriba, they regularly send me pics from their travels to wonderful, peaceful, adult only sites.
Awnings: no mention of one in your post. They can be great extensions of your space, but also total MoFos to erect and probably the cause of many a divorce. Try to view the erection/taking down of one as part of the joys of camping. Personally I'd like to burn ours with fire for the amount of time it takes to set up, but we need the additional space.
Toolkit: a small toolkit including gaffer tape and some strong cable ties. Always come in handy.
Torch: for finding your way around on site.
Fire extinguisher: in all my years I have never seen anyone actually need one, but Sod's Law says if you haven't got one you might need it.
Noise: some sites have (very) early noise curfews with varying degrees of policing it, which can be a hindrance/help depending on your viewpoint. Look at the reviews, I find https://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/ a great resource.
Camping a
holes: My learned experience is that the domestic travel restrictions of the Covid pandemic introduced a significant amount of noisy, overly-confident, thick as pigst aholes to the world of camping, causing trouble on a lot of sites. It is my greatest wish for 2023 that all of these types have flogged their gear on eBay and are all booked to bugger off back to Magaluf this summer. We can only live in hope.That's about it for my lunch hour, if I think of any more I will add to the thread. There are loads of really good Facebook groups and YouTube channels you can find, mostly run by friendly, helpful people.
Most of all, enjoy it. I would have been happy staying tent camping, but the additional benefits it brings - solid roof and walls, warmth, a comfy bed, a heater, a wardrobe, a proper kitchenette and fridge for my beer, storage space for 'stuff' are all massive pluses over tent camping that have allowed us to extend our season from March to October.
Edited by PurpleTurtle on Wednesday 22 February 16:14
Edited by PurpleTurtle on Thursday 23 February 09:51
Bloody ell how we into 2 pages and not even considered the most important points
1 - Corkscrew and Bottle opener, you don't want to be finding you are unable to open your finest tipple after setup
2 - Coffee machine if you like coffee - I've got a Dolce Gusto in mine and a mocca pot for if we've got no hookup
3 - Make sure the Cadac BBQ is all ready to go
In all seriousness book your first trip not too far from home/storage
Pack a few basic tools like pliars, screw drivers, tape etc etc
Battery operated tyre inflator makes things a lot easier - I use a Makita one, same battery then as the drill to the steadies
Take your time, use decent mirrors and learn to reverse it
Make sure you've got a spare, tyre gunk, extending wheel brace and jack
Brakeaway cable is always first on and last off, no exceptions
Practice getting it on and off the car before you go, much easier to do in storage where its flat and easy - guy rocked up on a site I was on last year and couldn't get his car off in a new car and a new van, it was very tight on the ball- I got it off for him but it took using some ply boarding (which I had in my nose locker) under the jockey and one of us sat in the car boot and some elbow grease on the jockey wheel
1 - Corkscrew and Bottle opener, you don't want to be finding you are unable to open your finest tipple after setup
2 - Coffee machine if you like coffee - I've got a Dolce Gusto in mine and a mocca pot for if we've got no hookup
3 - Make sure the Cadac BBQ is all ready to go
In all seriousness book your first trip not too far from home/storage
Pack a few basic tools like pliars, screw drivers, tape etc etc
Battery operated tyre inflator makes things a lot easier - I use a Makita one, same battery then as the drill to the steadies
Take your time, use decent mirrors and learn to reverse it
Make sure you've got a spare, tyre gunk, extending wheel brace and jack
Brakeaway cable is always first on and last off, no exceptions
Practice getting it on and off the car before you go, much easier to do in storage where its flat and easy - guy rocked up on a site I was on last year and couldn't get his car off in a new car and a new van, it was very tight on the ball- I got it off for him but it took using some ply boarding (which I had in my nose locker) under the jockey and one of us sat in the car boot and some elbow grease on the jockey wheel
Captain Answer said:
Bloody ell how we into 2 pages and not even considered the most important points
1 - Corkscrew and Bottle opener, you don't want to be finding you are unable to open your finest tipple after setup
2 - Coffee machine if you like coffee - I've got a Dolce Gusto in mine and a mocca pot for if we've got no hookup
3 - Make sure the Cadac BBQ is all ready to go
In all seriousness book your first trip not too far from home/storage
Pack a few basic tools like pliars, screw drivers, tape etc etc
Battery operated tyre inflator makes things a lot easier - I use a Makita one, same battery then as the drill to the steadies
Take your time, use decent mirrors and learn to reverse it
Make sure you've got a spare, tyre gunk, extending wheel brace and jack
Brakeaway cable is always first on and last off, no exceptions
Practice getting it on and off the car before you go, much easier to do in storage where its flat and easy - guy rocked up on a site I was on last year and couldn't get his car off in a new car and a new van, it was very tight on the ball- I got it off for him but it took using some ply boarding (which I had in my nose locker) under the jockey and one of us sat in the car boot and some elbow grease on the jockey wheel
Alternative to a Cadac would be a Weber. We take our gas Weber q2200 with us and it usually does most of the cooking. Its our BBQ at home too so it's not just suitable for caravan use.1 - Corkscrew and Bottle opener, you don't want to be finding you are unable to open your finest tipple after setup
2 - Coffee machine if you like coffee - I've got a Dolce Gusto in mine and a mocca pot for if we've got no hookup
3 - Make sure the Cadac BBQ is all ready to go
In all seriousness book your first trip not too far from home/storage
Pack a few basic tools like pliars, screw drivers, tape etc etc
Battery operated tyre inflator makes things a lot easier - I use a Makita one, same battery then as the drill to the steadies
Take your time, use decent mirrors and learn to reverse it
Make sure you've got a spare, tyre gunk, extending wheel brace and jack
Brakeaway cable is always first on and last off, no exceptions
Practice getting it on and off the car before you go, much easier to do in storage where its flat and easy - guy rocked up on a site I was on last year and couldn't get his car off in a new car and a new van, it was very tight on the ball- I got it off for him but it took using some ply boarding (which I had in my nose locker) under the jockey and one of us sat in the car boot and some elbow grease on the jockey wheel
If looking at an awning, go straight to inflatable, don't bother with one with poles unless you want a divorce.
PurpleTurtle said:
Welcome to the 'vanning life!
I spent my entire childhood doing touring caravan holidays, then had a 25yr break, before my wife also bought us one, manly for music festivals but we also use it for general touring camping, as she was fed up with tent camping. We've had one for about 6yrs now, it is great fun.
Some general advice:
:snip:
Wow, thank you so much! Loads of good stuff there.I spent my entire childhood doing touring caravan holidays, then had a 25yr break, before my wife also bought us one, manly for music festivals but we also use it for general touring camping, as she was fed up with tent camping. We've had one for about 6yrs now, it is great fun.
Some general advice:
:snip:
Captain Answer said:
Bloody ell how we into 2 pages and not even considered the most important points
1 - Corkscrew and Bottle opener, you don't want to be finding you are unable to open your finest tipple after setup
2 - Coffee machine if you like coffee - I've got a Dolce Gusto in mine and a mocca pot for if we've got no hookup
3 - Make sure the Cadac BBQ is all ready to go
In all seriousness book your first trip not too far from home/storage
Pack a few basic tools like pliars, screw drivers, tape etc etc
Battery operated tyre inflator makes things a lot easier - I use a Makita one, same battery then as the drill to the steadies
Take your time, use decent mirrors and learn to reverse it
Make sure you've got a spare, tyre gunk, extending wheel brace and jack
Brakeaway cable is always first on and last off, no exceptions
Practice getting it on and off the car before you go, much easier to do in storage where its flat and easy - guy rocked up on a site I was on last year and couldn't get his car off in a new car and a new van, it was very tight on the ball- I got it off for him but it took using some ply boarding (which I had in my nose locker) under the jockey and one of us sat in the car boot and some elbow grease on the jockey wheel
And here too, thank you.1 - Corkscrew and Bottle opener, you don't want to be finding you are unable to open your finest tipple after setup
2 - Coffee machine if you like coffee - I've got a Dolce Gusto in mine and a mocca pot for if we've got no hookup
3 - Make sure the Cadac BBQ is all ready to go
In all seriousness book your first trip not too far from home/storage
Pack a few basic tools like pliars, screw drivers, tape etc etc
Battery operated tyre inflator makes things a lot easier - I use a Makita one, same battery then as the drill to the steadies
Take your time, use decent mirrors and learn to reverse it
Make sure you've got a spare, tyre gunk, extending wheel brace and jack
Brakeaway cable is always first on and last off, no exceptions
Practice getting it on and off the car before you go, much easier to do in storage where its flat and easy - guy rocked up on a site I was on last year and couldn't get his car off in a new car and a new van, it was very tight on the ball- I got it off for him but it took using some ply boarding (which I had in my nose locker) under the jockey and one of us sat in the car boot and some elbow grease on the jockey wheel
The reason for the gap between delivery and our first outing is due to me being a shift worker - unfortunately my days off don't always align the the wife and boy's. I've booked out first 2 night stay for the end of March. It's only about an hour (without caravan) away and a journey I regularly make so can concentrate on getting used to towing.
I've started to make a couple of lists based the very helpful advice given here - one for what to buy and one for what to bring!
We haven't got an awning yet unless the caravan dealer finds a second hand one which he said he'd chuck in. We'll definitely be going for an inflatable as trying to pitch a simple 3 pole tent with the wife at Silverstone resulted her sulking in the car and me doing a labour exchange with the guy on the pitch next to us!
I've got a 10kg lightweight gas bottle on order from Flogas. Not sure what we're going to do about a BBQ as yet.
Edited by Squishey on Thursday 23 February 10:22
Squishey said:
And here too, thank you.
The reason for the gap between delivery and our first outing is due to me being a shift worker - unfortunately my days off don't always align the the wife and boy's. I've booked out first 2 night stay for the end of March. It's only about an hour (without caravan) away and a journey I regularly make so can concentrate on getting used to towing.
I've started to make a couple of lists based the very helpful advice given here - one for what to buy and one for what to bring!
We haven't got an awning yet unless the caravan dealer finds a second hand one which he said he'd chuck in. We'll definitely be going for an inflatable as trying to pitch a simple 3 pole tent with the wife at Silverstone resulted her sulking in the car and me doing a labour exchange with the guy on the pitch next to us!
I've got a 10kg lightweight gas bottle on order from Flogas. Not sure what we're going to do about a BBQ as yet.
No worries, won't be out in mine until at least April - I've got a roll-out awning on the side of my van, but I rarely bother with it tbhThe reason for the gap between delivery and our first outing is due to me being a shift worker - unfortunately my days off don't always align the the wife and boy's. I've booked out first 2 night stay for the end of March. It's only about an hour (without caravan) away and a journey I regularly make so can concentrate on getting used to towing.
I've started to make a couple of lists based the very helpful advice given here - one for what to buy and one for what to bring!
We haven't got an awning yet unless the caravan dealer finds a second hand one which he said he'd chuck in. We'll definitely be going for an inflatable as trying to pitch a simple 3 pole tent with the wife at Silverstone resulted her sulking in the car and me doing a labour exchange with the guy on the pitch next to us!
I've got a 10kg lightweight gas bottle on order from Flogas. Not sure what we're going to do about a BBQ as yet.
Edited by Squishey on Thursday 23 February 10:22
If its somewhere you know and you've not done it yet go look at what the entrance is like - I often decide my route based on which way I want to come from as sometimes the swing in from the opposite side is needed (my van is 27ft total so I like to make sure I got the room)
Welcome!
After hitching, raise the van using the jockey wheel until you see it lift the car up.
Check the wheel bolt torques and tyre pressures before every journey.
Replace tyres at 10 years old MAX! And the valves.
If it's got an underslung spare, the holder will likely be seized; cut it off (saves weight) and stow the spare under the bed or in the car.
After hitching, raise the van using the jockey wheel until you see it lift the car up.
Check the wheel bolt torques and tyre pressures before every journey.
Replace tyres at 10 years old MAX! And the valves.
If it's got an underslung spare, the holder will likely be seized; cut it off (saves weight) and stow the spare under the bed or in the car.
Edited by richardxjr on Thursday 23 February 14:41
Squishey said:
Wow, thank you so much! Loads of good stuff there.
No probs - this is a friendly, helpful section of PH Squishey said:
We haven't got an awning yet unless the caravan dealer finds a second hand one which he said he'd chuck in.
It can pay to keep an eye on eBay. When people trade in or sell their caravans they either include the awning in with the deal, or try to flog them second hand, where the market demand is probably more limited than they expect,bargains can be had. .I managed to win an auction for a lightly used bespoke awning for our Eriba for 86 quid, retail new on it was £1100! It cost me £45 to get it ParcelForce delivered from Leeds to Reading but was still an absolute bargain. More generic awnings for your sort of 'van are considerably less than that.
Much as I moan about the awning, they are a great place to store wet shoes and coats and all the other gear that goes with having a kid. Even if you just go for a small porch style one, it deals with the issue of where to put those items when the British weather does its worst.
I find, despite having a six berth twin axle van, an awning is a mixed blessing. Long ago ditched the full awning, it was just too much faff for even a week in one place. I have a porch awning now that goes up in 15 minutes if I want it. But for a weekend/few days, I don't bother with it.
Jordie Barretts sock said:
Sorry mate, but there no a cat in Hell's chance I'd tow a caravan on 10yo tyres! That's insane!
Five years maximum and only if you are completely satisfied they are still OK.
Fair enough, I checked with caravan club and it's 5 years recommend and 7 years max.Five years maximum and only if you are completely satisfied they are still OK.
But make sure they do the valves too! Unbelievably the dealer I bought from put new tyres on but saved 50p by not putting new valves and 4 years later I get to the storage barn and 2 deflated tyres. Both valves cracked.
Just posting to say I'm literally living this thread right now. Bought our first van at Xmas and currently on our second outing to Whitewater in Stockton on Tees but with my parents who have been doing it for 10plus years. Everything that everyone is advising is literally what my dad is constantly banging on about to me. All precious advice though and will definitely make the whole journey smoother by taking it on board. Welcome to the caravan World!
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