Newbie caravanner

[LandieMark]

My advice as a newbie caravanner myself is don't underestimate how securely everything needs to be stored while travelling - especially on twisty roads.

I don't get no number 2s in the crapper. I've stayed at a few small sites without a toilet block, so haven't had a choice.

[Chicken Chaser]

Antony Moxey said:

It wouldn’t. OP: look up Cadac Carri Chef 2 - it’s all the outdoor cooking you’ll ever need, so much so that when we’re away we rarely cook in the van at all any more.

The Weber makes for a better BBQ than the Cadac, I also have the Weber cast pan which I can use to fry, knock up a one pot or flip upside down and use as a pizza oven base..

[geeks]

LandieMark said:

I don't get no number 2s in the crapper. I've stayed at a few small sites without a toilet block, so haven't had a choice.

Same here, yeah emptying out isn't the most pleasant thing but it take a minute or two, you empty, rinse and get on with your day, frequent emptying can make it less unpleasant.

[Squishey]

blueg33 said:

Op - sorry to say this

I live in the West Country - in teh summer caravanners should, im my opinion, be shot!

Please don't be a fkwit and try and get car and caravan combo down tiny narrow Devon Lanes

We do plan to go to the West Country but I don't plan on taking it down any narrow lanes. I'll definitely research my routes. I'm keen on sites that are not far from main roads as the site and caravan will be a base to travel from rather than where we'll be all the time.

I will also pull over if I notice a queue behind. I really don't want to be one of those!

Re. second hand stuff - we're all over it. We've saved more then a week's site fees buying second hand locks alone. I've got my eye on an awning too.

I'll go and have a look at the site entrance when I'm up that way at the weekend - good shout.

[richardxjr]

Awnings. We rushed and got a ruddy great full size air awning for our first trip. Heavy. But useful inner tent for older lad to sleep in.

Now he doesn't holiday with us we bought a simple Sunncamp canopy for much cheapness and only 10kg then sold the awning on for a profit. A simple light brilliant thing!

Wanted somewhere safe to keep my new expensive e-mtb so found a used Kampa air porch awning. Put it up once and already I don't really like the faff /bulk of it and am amply insured for the bike now without having to use it.

So we're sticking with the simple canopy. It takes up no space at all in the front locker and we can deploy it at will if necessary. Otherwise, particularly on short trips, it's really refreshing not to have to put anything up at all.

I wouldn't rush buying one tbh. See other set ups on sites first.

[stevemcs]

Antony Moxey said:

It wouldn’t. OP: look up Cadac Carri Chef 2 - it’s all the outdoor cooking you’ll ever need, so much so that when we’re away we rarely cook in the van at all any more.

We have both, Cadac runs off the caravan, webber allows fire.

When hitching up try lifting the car up - jockey wheel on the floor and wind it until you see the car lift.

Gaslite bottles are great, the 10kg weighs about the same as a 6kg calor.

Matches, plastic glasses, torque wrench, jack matress topper - we use a Panda topper (not the animal)

[Stevemr]

The absolutely most important thing in my opinion is weight you are carrying in the van and nose weight. I think there is some incorrect information given on here re nose weight. Check the specs for the van and for the car, I think it’s likely to be 80-100 kgs, for a Bailey, but check for your model. I use a milenco nose weight measure before every holiday. I am towing a bailey Pamplona twin axle with a Kia sorrento and it makes s big difference if the weight is to light.
Even more important check the weight of how much you put in it, payload allowances are really low.
On our twin axle we were able to upgrade it by about 70 kgs when we bought it.
Before our first big trip we loaded it with everything we planned to take, and took it to a weigh bridge, we were 100kg over our enhanced limit! So we had to have a major rethink about what went where!
Police can check weights, supposedly it can invalidate insurance as well.

[Squishey]

Tow bar fitted today:



No bar:



I have already sanded the paint off the ball and given it a clean with solvent.

My list of stuff to acquire has gradually gotten shorter and shorter, I've just got my list of stuff to buy from the caravan shop to go.

My pre-departure list is at hand. My anchor cap is ready and waiting. Drawstring jeans are very comfy!

We take delivery on Tuesday next week and our first weekend out is booked for a couple of weeks after. I really can't wait.

[lost in espace]

Check the wheel nuts are all tight regularly. Ask me how I know....

[Squishey]

lost in espace said:

Check the wheel nuts are all tight regularly. Ask me how I know....

This is the one recurring piece of advice. I'm going to make sure I have a torque wrench in my toolkit and remember to check wheel nuts before I leave and before I return.

Does anyone know if the "first come, first served" campsite at Thuxton for the truck racing is likely to be busy, per chance?

[DirtyHands]

There is plenty of good advice in this thread.

I'm a caravan engineer and here's mine..

To keep up the warranty on your caravan you'll need to get it serviced every 12 months in a time window of 60 days before and 30 days after the 'original' purchase date of the caravan (thats the date the first owner collected the caravan).

Don't be mislead by big dealers they don't have to service the caravan to keep the warranty. The service can be carried out by any member of the approved workshop scheme. I'd recommend using a mobile service as you'll almost always receive better service.

Finally book your service with your chosen engineer at least 3 months in advance, we are in demand and at peak times are often fully booked for 2-3 months in advance.

Enjoy your caravan

[stevemcs]

I tend to book the service on ours in Feb/March for June, although this year it seems to have got a little more expensive at £289 for a single axle van.

[tedblog]

DirtyHands said:

There is plenty of good advice in this thread.

I'm a caravan engineer and here's mine..

To keep up the warranty on your caravan you'll need to get it serviced every 12 months in a time window of 60 days before and 30 days after the 'original' purchase date of the caravan (thats the date the first owner collected the caravan).

Don't be mislead by big dealers they don't have to service the caravan to keep the warranty. The service can be carried out by any member of the approved workshop scheme. I'd recommend using a mobile service as you'll almost always receive better service.

Finally book your service with your chosen engineer at least 3 months in advance, we are in demand and at peak times are often fully booked for 2-3 months in advance.

Enjoy your caravan

The van purchased is a 2016 year Bailey, they only have a 6 year body shell warranty.
You.d have it serviced every year for peace of mind not to keep the warranty.

[tedblog]

Squishey said:

Tow bar fitted today:



No bar:



I have already sanded the paint off the ball and given it a clean with solvent.

My list of stuff to acquire has gradually gotten shorter and shorter, I've just got my list of stuff to buy from the caravan shop to go.

My pre-departure list is at hand. My anchor cap is ready and waiting. Drawstring jeans are very comfy!

We take delivery on Tuesday next week and our first weekend out is booked for a couple of weeks after. I really can't wait.

Looks like they have fitted a 7 pin socket? If they have get that changed to a 13pin.

[Jordie Barretts sock]

Or at least a white socket to power the van fridge, battery, etc.

What you have there is next to useless for a caravan. Just the towbar and rear lights.

[rix]

Well we picked up ours last weekend, and after a shakedown overnight tria on a sitel near the dealer, ms rix declared that we need another go out in it this weekend too. In a chilly early March...

Hopefully the pre/post faffing about will become smoother and towing more routine the more we get out in it... Had a mild disaster last week when the jockey wheel collapsed when moving the van back to storage, so that's a learning point - it felt tight, but I'm reckoning it was not fully home in the clamp beforehand - something to watch!

Edited by rix on Friday 3rd March 22:10

[stevemcs]

It gets easier once you get yourself into a routine.

[Captain Answer]

rix said:

Well we picked up ours last weekend, and after a shakedown overnight tria on a sitel near the dealer, ms rix declared that we need another go out in it this weekend too. In a chilly early March...

Hopefully the pre/post faffing about will become smoother and towing more routine the more we get out in it... Had a mild disaster last week when the jockey wheel collapsed when moving the van back to storage, so that's a learning point - it felt tight, but I'm reckoning it was not fully home in the clamp beforehand - something to watch!

Edited by rix on Friday 3rd March 22:10

That's a nice van, looks big for a single axle!

You are all mad/brave IMO being out this early - I ain't going till the CH heating is no longer needed at home

Off down to storage tomorrow hopefully to fit the new front window, currently its a ply board blank as it got damaged last year

[Squishey]

Jordie Barretts sock said:

Or at least a white socket to power the van fridge, battery, etc.

What you have there is next to useless for a caravan. Just the towbar and rear lights.

Definitely 13 pin:

[Squishey]

rix said:

Well we picked up ours last weekend, and after a shakedown overnight tria on a sitel near the dealer, ms rix declared that we need another go out in it this weekend too. In a chilly early March...

Hopefully the pre/post faffing about will become smoother and towing more routine the more we get out in it... Had a mild disaster last week when the jockey wheel collapsed when moving the van back to storage, so that's a learning point - it felt tight, but I'm reckoning it was not fully home in the clamp beforehand - something to watch!

Edited by rix on Friday 3rd March 22:10

Always a good sign if the Mrs is willing to brave the chill. Mine is already looking to book anything and everything on our free weekends!

I'm hoping the pre-departure faff should be minimal. We've got a couple of weeks between delivery and our first night away so we'll have the chance to load up and have a few hitch and set up dummy runs. I also plan to drag it around for a few miles before we leave.

I need to have a good read of the manual over the weekend just to familiarise myself with it all.

Re. servicing. We tend to be the types to get things serviced on the button - cars, caravans, boilers, etc. I'll speak to the dealer when we get it and see if they offer a mobile service. I know the storage place have an area that mobile mechanics can use for repairs/servicing on site which is handy.