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!

[Lordglenmorangie]

Well done that man

[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!

[Foppo]

Well done also enjoy your trip to Belgium.Looks a nice outfit.

[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.

[Spare tyre]

Looks good, what's going on in Belgium? Ive always found their roads hectic. If you have time check out holland, they are massive caravan fans there.

Did you just wire up lights or did you do the full electrics

Enjoy

[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.

[smashie]

Don't forget towing mirrors. I see you have not yet mentioned those (apologies if you have them) They are a legal requirement.

[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

[hornetrider]

LouD86 said:

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

Jesus. My towbar cost me that.

[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

[Hurdsey]

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

[GAjon]

Hurdsey said:

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

Right opposite Berts barbers shop on Constable street!

[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

[Hurdsey]

GAjon said:

Right opposite Berts barbers shop on Constable street!

Got it in one, well done, before that they were on Lees st, just by the railway bridge.
Back in the sixties they also had a factory on Fairfield rd in Droylsden, making static vans.

[Hurdsey]

LouD86 said:

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

Like you said small world. My Dad was born in Knutsford.

[Rosscow]

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.

[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!

[Rosscow]

LouD86 said:

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!

Will have a couple of local-ish jaunts in it before taking it down to Cornwall and Devon in the summer for a couple of weeks.

We went all over Europe in my parents caravan up until I was about 15. Great times!

It is a big old lump though (this pic is identical but not our 'van)



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

Edited by Rosscow on Thursday 27th February 08:20

[hornetrider]

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.