1st caravan- tips and tricks please

1st caravan- tips and tricks please

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Discussion

crikey

Original Poster:

1,700 posts

218 months

Tuesday 28th May 2013
quotequote all
We've had a trailer tent for a few years but decided we wanted to make life a little easier for ourselves. So we've taken the plunge and bought a caravan smile

We won't be picking it up for a week or 2 and the dealer will be taking us through it when we pick it up, but we are completely new to caravanning so would appreciate any advice/tips/tricks.

therealpigdog

2,592 posts

204 months

Tuesday 28th May 2013
quotequote all
Always know how much gas you have left before heading off to the arse end of Scotland.

If you are spending an afternoon hunting for gas in Scotland, you may as well buy a gas spanner whilst you are there.

After spending a morning hunting for the missing gas spanner, and an afternoon shopping for one - even if you do remember that you put it in the glovebox for safe-keeping, keep schtum and stick to the original story that it must have fallen out of the locker.

And remember a corkscrew and bottle opener - but you probably knew that anyway.

pja

270 posts

232 months

Tuesday 28th May 2013
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Don't let anyone else st in the chemical toilet....... Ever! It's bad enough when it's your own!


Happy82

15,078 posts

176 months

Tuesday 28th May 2013
quotequote all
pja said:
Don't let anyone else st in the chemical toilet....... Ever! It's bad enough when it's your own!
Bah! The thud when you give birth down a Thetford is a lovely sound.

Microchips

4 posts

163 months

Wednesday 29th May 2013
quotequote all
Make sure you're actually licensed to drive it - they don't mention this in the Showroom! You either need B+E on your licence or you venture into the horribly complicated maths involved in towing on just a B licence: https://www.gov.uk/towing-rules

I always keep a spare breakaway cable in the just in case

A lot of good info here: http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/expert-advice/getting...

hornetrider

63,161 posts

212 months

Wednesday 29th May 2013
quotequote all
Some good tips I've gleaned as a recent convert:

Small spirit level on the worktop to help you level the van on arrival.

Depends on the layout of your van, but a mattress topper as an extra level of comfort to a made-up double bed. You can roll it up with the duvet for easy removal/storage.

Short bit of 4x2 and a bathroom weighing scales to check your noseweight.

Industrial type polystyrene as lightweight support blocks.

Store your beers in the fridge for the trip - ensuring you have a nice cold one to open on arrival smile

magooagain

10,791 posts

177 months

Wednesday 29th May 2013
quotequote all
If you intend to add an awning to the van,then make sure you have the right hieght step to reach the top rail when attaching it.

crikey

Original Poster:

1,700 posts

218 months

Wednesday 29th May 2013
quotequote all
therealpigdog said:
Always know how much gas you have left before heading off to the arse end of Scotland.

If you are spending an afternoon hunting for gas in Scotland, you may as well buy a gas spanner whilst you are there.

After spending a morning hunting for the missing gas spanner, and an afternoon shopping for one - even if you do remember that you put it in the glovebox for safe-keeping, keep schtum and stick to the original story that it must have fallen out of the locker.

And remember a corkscrew and bottle opener - but you probably knew that anyway.
laugh

crikey

Original Poster:

1,700 posts

218 months

Wednesday 29th May 2013
quotequote all
hornetrider said:
Some good tips I've gleaned as a recent convert:

Small spirit level on the worktop to help you level the van on arrival.

Depends on the layout of your van, but a mattress topper as an extra level of comfort to a made-up double bed. You can roll it up with the duvet for easy removal/storage.

Short bit of 4x2 and a bathroom weighing scales to check your noseweight.

Industrial type polystyrene as lightweight support blocks.

Store your beers in the fridge for the trip - ensuring you have a nice cold one to open on arrival smile
FIL is donating his nose weight measuring thingy, spirit level I have in my camping toolkit, mattress topper I'll have to sort out.

Beer in fridge, way ahead of you smile

crikey

Original Poster:

1,700 posts

218 months

Wednesday 29th May 2013
quotequote all
magooagain said:
If you intend to add an awning to the van,then make sure you have the right hieght step to reach the top rail when attaching it.
Hadn't thought of that, I think I'll be ok but I'll check.

crikey

Original Poster:

1,700 posts

218 months

Wednesday 29th May 2013
quotequote all
Microchips said:
Make sure you're actually licensed to drive it - they don't mention this in the Showroom! You either need B+E on your licence or you venture into the horribly complicated maths involved in towing on just a B licence: https://www.gov.uk/towing-rules

I always keep a spare breakaway cable in the just in case

A lot of good info here: http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/expert-advice/getting...
I'm licensed smile

I'l have a read through that.

crikey

Original Poster:

1,700 posts

218 months

Wednesday 29th May 2013
quotequote all
Thanks for the guidance all.

I'm thinking of doing one of those caravan driving courses, although I've towed a fair bit in my time so I'm wondering about the value to me. What do people think if them ?

Wacky Racer

38,984 posts

254 months

Wednesday 29th May 2013
quotequote all
Always make sure your towcar is up to it.........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAfZ1N56qjY

hornetrider

63,161 posts

212 months

Thursday 30th May 2013
quotequote all
crikey said:
Thanks for the guidance all.

I'm thinking of doing one of those caravan driving courses, although I've towed a fair bit in my time so I'm wondering about the value to me. What do people think if them ?
I haven't bothered. Not to blow my own trumpet but if you're even halfway competent behind the wheel it's a piece of piss.

ColinM50

2,651 posts

182 months

Thursday 30th May 2013
quotequote all
Spare Wheel. Make sure you have an inflated and working spare wheel. And make sure it's a good one. Anyone who tells you you can get away with a tube of tyre inflater thingy is off their head. If you get a puncture on a van, ALL the weight falls on to the punctured wheel and it's destroyed in seconds. Had four punctures over the years and not one has been even faintly repairable.

First one I had was just coming out of Rennes in France early hours of Sunday morning and no spare. Had to sleep in the van till Monday when the shops opened and I could buy a new tyre.

So I'll just say again GET A SPARE WHEEL and check it.

crikey

Original Poster:

1,700 posts

218 months

Thursday 30th May 2013
quotequote all
I'll have to check if it comes with a spare wheel, ta.

geeks

9,738 posts

146 months

Thursday 30th May 2013
quotequote all
Spare wheel
Carbon Monoxide Detector/Alarm
Smoke alarm
Fire Extinguisher
Fire Blanket
Leg winder
Spare bulbs
Gas spanner
Head torch (if you arrive onsite at dark you'll need it for winding the legs down)
Beer
Fold up chairs
Kettle

crikey

Original Poster:

1,700 posts

218 months

Friday 31st May 2013
quotequote all
Spare wheel - need to check
Carbon Monoxide Detector/Alarm - check
Smoke alarm - check
Fire Extinguisher - check
Fire Blanket - really ?
Leg winder - check
Spare bulbs - need to check
Gas spanner - need to check
Head torch (if you arrive onsite at dark you'll need it for winding the legs down) - check
Beer - check
Fold up chairs - check
Kettle - check

geeks

9,738 posts

146 months

Friday 31st May 2013
quotequote all
crikey said:
Fire Blanket - really ?
Well its your call really. We have one as well as a fire extinguisher just in case... for the sake of 5 quid why not!?

crikey

Original Poster:

1,700 posts

218 months

Friday 31st May 2013
quotequote all
geeks said:
crikey said:
Fire Blanket - really ?
Well its your call really. We have one as well as a fire extinguisher just in case... for the sake of 5 quid why not!?
I'm hugely risk averse but I've never considered one before, we don't have one at home.