Brand new to caravanning
Discussion
Hi All
I am in the very fortunate position of just being given a caravan.
I know nothing about the activity of caravanning so I thought I'd ask some people that do.....
As far as I know its a Bailey Ranger but I don't know the model.
Can anybody recommend some good web sites to point me in the right direction please?
I need to start right from the basics including tow bars, car suitability, weights and no doubt a million other things that I wouldn't have thought of.
I'm told its a turn key outfit (haven't seen it in the flesh yet) and all I will need to find is a TV, microwave and cutlery! so any suggestions gratefully received.
One thing I do know is that it means no more nights under canvas so that must be a good thing!
Many thanks
Mark
I am in the very fortunate position of just being given a caravan.
I know nothing about the activity of caravanning so I thought I'd ask some people that do.....
As far as I know its a Bailey Ranger but I don't know the model.
Can anybody recommend some good web sites to point me in the right direction please?
I need to start right from the basics including tow bars, car suitability, weights and no doubt a million other things that I wouldn't have thought of.
I'm told its a turn key outfit (haven't seen it in the flesh yet) and all I will need to find is a TV, microwave and cutlery! so any suggestions gratefully received.
One thing I do know is that it means no more nights under canvas so that must be a good thing!
Many thanks
Mark
On the caravan somewhere will be a plate with weights on it, probably marked MRO and/or MTPLM
MRO "Mass in Running Order" is basically the ex works weight - nothing on board.
MTPLM "Maximum Technical Permissible Laden Mass" is the maximum weight the caravan is designed to take, so this is fully laden - awning, gas bottles, battery, chairs, clothes, the lot.
You may never get to MTPLM, depends how much crap you end up hauling around with you!
The rule of thumb is that the caravan weigh no more than 85% of the tow car weight. This is purely a guideline only.
Ideally for towing you want lots of torque low down, hence the popularity of turbo diesels as towcars. This is not to say you must have one, just makes life easier.
Depending on how long you have had your driving licence you may need to get some classes added - I'm sure someone else will have more detail on that.
Older caravans will have 2 plugs to connect to the car, both 7 pin, one is black, this carries all the stuff for the road lights (brake, indicators, side lights etc) and is known as the 12N.
The other is white, this is so you can power the caravan from the car (e.g. run the fridge whilst travelling), you can also charge the caravan battery across this. Known as 12S
Newer caravans have a single plug with 13 pins that does the lot, if you end up with a new style one on the towbar you can buy conversion leads to 12N & 12S.
Microwave will be 240v mains only.
You can get 12v TVs.
Does it come with an awning ?
Heat and cooking will be gas powered, either butane (blue) or propane (orange), won't make much difference for the moment, just carry on with whatever is in the van.
You'll get a water butt with the caravan, depending on the exact type of kit fitted you'll probably have a pump at the end of a short hose, this will plug in to the caravan and drop in the water butt, newer stuff have a pump onboard and the bit that goes in the water butt is just a filter/pickup.
Do you know how many berth it is ? Pretty much any van has a bed at the front, usually there is some sort of draw arrangement between the two seats, a bit will pull out of here between the seats, it will have slats of wood attached by a fabric strip, pull it all the way out and slide the cushions in to cover it, the backrest cushions are turned flat too to make up the gaps.
Stick some pictures up when you get it and I'm sure we'll sort out everything else...
First rule when you get it home, put the corner steadies down before getting in!
It would be worth doing an inspection for damp inside it and then check for any gas leaks, from your profile it would seem you're a pretty handy sort of chap so repairing anything shouldn't be too difficult.
MRO "Mass in Running Order" is basically the ex works weight - nothing on board.
MTPLM "Maximum Technical Permissible Laden Mass" is the maximum weight the caravan is designed to take, so this is fully laden - awning, gas bottles, battery, chairs, clothes, the lot.
You may never get to MTPLM, depends how much crap you end up hauling around with you!
The rule of thumb is that the caravan weigh no more than 85% of the tow car weight. This is purely a guideline only.
Ideally for towing you want lots of torque low down, hence the popularity of turbo diesels as towcars. This is not to say you must have one, just makes life easier.
Depending on how long you have had your driving licence you may need to get some classes added - I'm sure someone else will have more detail on that.
Older caravans will have 2 plugs to connect to the car, both 7 pin, one is black, this carries all the stuff for the road lights (brake, indicators, side lights etc) and is known as the 12N.
The other is white, this is so you can power the caravan from the car (e.g. run the fridge whilst travelling), you can also charge the caravan battery across this. Known as 12S
Newer caravans have a single plug with 13 pins that does the lot, if you end up with a new style one on the towbar you can buy conversion leads to 12N & 12S.
Microwave will be 240v mains only.
You can get 12v TVs.
Does it come with an awning ?
Heat and cooking will be gas powered, either butane (blue) or propane (orange), won't make much difference for the moment, just carry on with whatever is in the van.
You'll get a water butt with the caravan, depending on the exact type of kit fitted you'll probably have a pump at the end of a short hose, this will plug in to the caravan and drop in the water butt, newer stuff have a pump onboard and the bit that goes in the water butt is just a filter/pickup.
Do you know how many berth it is ? Pretty much any van has a bed at the front, usually there is some sort of draw arrangement between the two seats, a bit will pull out of here between the seats, it will have slats of wood attached by a fabric strip, pull it all the way out and slide the cushions in to cover it, the backrest cushions are turned flat too to make up the gaps.
Stick some pictures up when you get it and I'm sure we'll sort out everything else...
First rule when you get it home, put the corner steadies down before getting in!
It would be worth doing an inspection for damp inside it and then check for any gas leaks, from your profile it would seem you're a pretty handy sort of chap so repairing anything shouldn't be too difficult.
Edited by Crafty_ on Sunday 31st August 21:01
Edited by Crafty_ on Sunday 31st August 21:05
Ok, so I've found out more details.
It's a Bailey Ranger 500/5 apparently.
I emailed the factory earlier this week and I got this reply.
The MRO is 1044kg this is the dry weight of the van as it leaves the factory.
The MTPLM is 1268kg this the maximum permitted weight .
I think my current car would be ok (ish) to pull it but will have to try it and see.
I'm genuinely looking forward to trying it out for the first time.
It's a Bailey Ranger 500/5 apparently.
I emailed the factory earlier this week and I got this reply.
The MRO is 1044kg this is the dry weight of the van as it leaves the factory.
The MTPLM is 1268kg this the maximum permitted weight .
I think my current car would be ok (ish) to pull it but will have to try it and see.
I'm genuinely looking forward to trying it out for the first time.
Don't forget the pics!
At least you can try it out without changing cars.
One thing I forgot to mention is that newer caravans have tow hitches with stabilisers built in, they take the form of little pads that get pushed against the ball when hitched up and limit movement. They work well BUT it is very important to keep the ball on the car absolutely clean - no grease, silicone etc. If you've already got a towbar on the car thats been used before de-grease it and maybe even give it the once over with a light sandpaper, especially if there is a little surface rust on it. If the pads in the hitch get contaminated they are junk and must be replaced.
Stabiliser hitches will look something like:
At least you can try it out without changing cars.
One thing I forgot to mention is that newer caravans have tow hitches with stabilisers built in, they take the form of little pads that get pushed against the ball when hitched up and limit movement. They work well BUT it is very important to keep the ball on the car absolutely clean - no grease, silicone etc. If you've already got a towbar on the car thats been used before de-grease it and maybe even give it the once over with a light sandpaper, especially if there is a little surface rust on it. If the pads in the hitch get contaminated they are junk and must be replaced.
Stabiliser hitches will look something like:
Edited by Crafty_ on Friday 5th September 14:49
Crafty_ said:
Don't forget the pics!
At least you can try it out without changing cars.
One thing I forgot to mention is that newer caravans have tow hitches with stabilisers built in, they take the form of little pads that get pushed against the ball when hitched up and limit movement. They work well BUT it is very important to keep the ball on the car absolutely clean - no grease, silicone etc. If you've already got a towbar on the car thats been used before de-grease it and maybe even give it the once over with a light sandpaper, especially if there is a little surface rust on it. If the pads in the hitch get contaminated they are junk and must be replaced.
Stabiliser hitches will look something like:
Good point! I carry a spray can of brake cleaner and some rags and give it a good spray and rub every time before I hitch up. Just don't get any on the paintwork! At least you can try it out without changing cars.
One thing I forgot to mention is that newer caravans have tow hitches with stabilisers built in, they take the form of little pads that get pushed against the ball when hitched up and limit movement. They work well BUT it is very important to keep the ball on the car absolutely clean - no grease, silicone etc. If you've already got a towbar on the car thats been used before de-grease it and maybe even give it the once over with a light sandpaper, especially if there is a little surface rust on it. If the pads in the hitch get contaminated they are junk and must be replaced.
Stabiliser hitches will look something like:
Edited by Crafty_ on Friday 5th September 14:49
wilfandrowlf said:
Ok, so I've found out more details.
It's a Bailey Ranger 500/5 apparently.
I emailed the factory earlier this week and I got this reply.
The MRO is 1044kg this is the dry weight of the van as it leaves the factory.
The MTPLM is 1268kg this the maximum permitted weight .
I think my current car would be ok (ish) to pull it but will have to try it and see.
I'm genuinely looking forward to trying it out for the first time.
If you passed car test after 1996 and have not taken a B+E test then you have one extrs law on top of all the usual towing lawsIt's a Bailey Ranger 500/5 apparently.
I emailed the factory earlier this week and I got this reply.
The MRO is 1044kg this is the dry weight of the van as it leaves the factory.
The MTPLM is 1268kg this the maximum permitted weight .
I think my current car would be ok (ish) to pull it but will have to try it and see.
I'm genuinely looking forward to trying it out for the first time.
That extra law is that if towing a trailer over 750 kg plated MAM / MTPLM on a B only licence then the vehicle GVW added to the MTPLM / MAM must not total more than 3500 kg
3500 minus 1268 = 2232 so 2232 is the maximum your vehicle GVW can be on a B only licence
R0G said:
If you passed car test after 1996 and have not taken a B+E test then you have one extrs law on top of all the usual towing laws
That extra law is that if towing a trailer over 750 kg plated MAM / MTPLM on a B only licence then the vehicle GVW added to the MTPLM / MAM must not total more than 3500 kg
3500 minus 1268 = 2232 so 2232 is the maximum your vehicle GVW can be on a B only licence
Good point, I passed my test in 1986 (eek, That extra law is that if towing a trailer over 750 kg plated MAM / MTPLM on a B only licence then the vehicle GVW added to the MTPLM / MAM must not total more than 3500 kg
3500 minus 1268 = 2232 so 2232 is the maximum your vehicle GVW can be on a B only licence
Ive been driving for 28 years!!) so I'm guessing none of that legislation applies?superlightr said:
some help pls. - motor movers can they be retro fitted to caravans? ie things to help move and position a caravan? any tips / advice on these?
They can be retro fitted, some of them just clamp on - you don't even need to drill holes. I found a video of one being fitted here: http://www.purpleline.co.uk/products-enduro-instal...There are lots of different types around, the only thing I can suggest is get one with "soft touch". The first generation of these things had high torque motors, so when you pressed the button to move the caravan it would always start with a jolt, which can be a bit disconcerting and if you were near an obstruction could be a bit scary.
Most of them are serviceable, so you can replace the grip rollers if they wear out etc.
R0G said:
wilfandrowlf said:
Good point, I passed my test in 1986 (eek, Ive been driving for 28 years!!) so I'm guessing none of that legislation applies?
You are correct as you have B+E Ive been driving for 28 years!!) so I'm guessing none of that legislation applies?Gassing Station | Tents, Caravans & Motorhomes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff