Despite contemplating it for several years, i have just purchased our first ever caravan, a 1998 Sterling Europa 460MB and we are both very excited and looking forward to some adventures.
Spent a great deal of time looking all around, and underneath the caravan before buying it and it appears to be in really good condition and has been really well looked after.
It has a 3 way electrolux fridge, a Stoves cooker, A carver?? water heater/pump and gas fire, a Status aerial and a nice looking end bathroom with a whale ?? shower and seperate sink
I need to buy an hook up cable and adapter so i can plug in at home and get used to how everything operates.
I also dont have a spare wheel so i need to buy a 175/13 in the correct fitment.
Planning to take it to the peak district for a few days for its first outing, as i dont want to go a million miles from home and find out that something does not work properly.
I have a Mitsubishi L200 with only the one electric socket which powers the trailer brake lights and indicators. The caravan has the second grey cable to charge the caravan battery, so i need to know how to wire up the second socket?? do i just piggy back into the existing socket, or do i have to run new leads from the battery in the front of my pickup??
I would be greatful if people could recommend some good caravan sites in the lower part of the peak district, somewhere reasonably quiet where we can enjoy some nice walks.
One tip... Before plugging the gas and electric in fill the water tank. Make sure you get hold and cold flowing water with no splutters which is trapped air escaping.
If you forget you can trip out the water heater. Some models have a reset switch. But some may need a fuse soldering in.
If your tow vehicle onle has one socket then you can either get the S socket wired in which will charge the battery and run the fridge whilst towing. Or just not use it.
I never use mine. My caravan battery is always charged before we go so no need.
Checkout the campsite search ini the menu at the top of this page. Thousands and thousands of campsites.
Hi there and welcome to the Tin Tops!! As Grampian said, you don't have to have twin electrics on your tow bar, the main reason for having two is that you can have your fridge turned on while your travelling. We only have a single socket and don't have a problems, just put any chilled items in a good cool bag and they'll be ok for most journeys!!
Thankyou for recommending the Woodland caravan site, i have just looked at it, and it does look very nice, so will definately try it out at some point.
I have spent several hours today "playing" with the caravan. I have wired up my new hook up lead and plugged it into my house electrics, i have the 240v lights and sockets working, i have tried a test plug in the sockets and all appear to be earthed and wired correctly. I have the 12v lights working from off the battery, but i have come across one issue. The caravan has the ESM eletrical supply module made by plug in system ltd with the three breakers in the front and the 12v transformer in the back off it, i am getting 240v in and out of it, hence all the lights and sockets working, but i am getting nothing out of the 12v transformer to trickle charge the battery. I believe this has probably been like this for some time and the previous owners have just charged the battery before they set off and then agaib when they have got home. So i have now taken this device out and given it to an old school very knowlegable electrician friend of mine, so hopefully he can fix it, or i could possibly buy a cheap trickle battery charger from halfords / argos and mount in under the seats, so when i get to site and hook up i could then switch it on and then trickle charge the battery.
I am wondering if anyone else has had this issue with these devices???
I wanted to also ask for recommendations on clean water carriers - I would preferably like ones that rolls which i can sit next to the caravan and drop my pump into for water for the taps and shower. How many litres in size do people suggest ??
Quote: Originally posted by caravan mark on 29/7/2014
I wanted to also ask for recommendations on clean water carriers - I would preferably like ones that rolls which i can sit next to the caravan and drop my pump into for water for the taps and shower. How many litres in size do people suggest ??
Thanks again
Mark
We use a 40 ltd aqua roll and find it useful, lasts about a day and a half with washing up, kettle filling and teeth brushing etc and not too big for the kids to fill and move too if we can persuade them to help. We tend to use the site showers, with 4 of us it's just easier, though everyone has a different view on this.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: New first time Caravan owner - Excited
