Hi after years of camping we have now bought a new Baileys Persuit which we are leaving on a seasonal site.We will need to buy all the starter equipment and locks for insurance purposes but havn't got a clue what to buy or how to use the equipment.Can anyone advise us of what we will need and a good book on how to set everything up please
Hi Join the club, i am also new and like you say its a daunting experience. The cheapest purchase is the caravan, its all the other add ons like awning, insurance, storage, security, start up kit the list goes on and on........
A good book for novices is the 'Caravan Handbook' (edition 1) and the Caravanning Handbook (edition 2) by John Wickersham. It explains everything you need to know about caravanning in general which includes water, gas, 240 volt mains electric, cassette toilets, awnings and the list just goes on.
Thank you all for your help,its a new caravan £15,500 and the dealer said they can knock off £250 but if they do the cash discount can't throw in any equipment but said they will do some extra discount on the accessories,do you think this is a good deal?I will look into purchasing the books tango55
Quote: Originally posted by Little Stars on 12/5/2014Thank you all for your help,its a new caravan £15,500 and the dealer said they can knock off £250 but if they do the cash discount can't throw in any equipment but said they will do some extra discount on the accessories,do you think this is a good deal?I will look into purchasing the books tango55
Firstly, make sure that the dealer is including a brand new leisure battery (with warranty) within the purchase price and not trying to include it in the generous £250 offer. You wouldn't purchase a car without a battery and the same applies to a caravan as you will need it for operating the water pump, internal lighting and exterior awning light so without a battery the caravan is not fit for purpose so it comes under the sale of goods act anyway. Regarding the items you will require there are two ways of looking at it and that all depends on whether you want brand new items or willing to search for second hand. If you want all brand new goods it will come to a lot more than £250 but if you are willing to buy quality used items costing less then that's the choice you make yourself. The very basic items you will need are: A wheel clamp, hitchlock, single or double caravan steps, a pair of ramps and wheel chocks, a water barrel (Aquaroll), waste water tank (wastemaster) and waste pipes to connect to the drainage ports, a 25 metre electric hook up lead and of course a water pump which should be included anyway.
The Pursuit comes with a step, a water pump and a mains lead.
You will almost certainly need two locks for insurance purposes. A hitch lock (the Alko one is easiest) and a wheel clamp/lock. As it is a new vehicle I would suggest you get the Alko Secure Wheel Lock. Its a bit fiddly to fit until you get used to it, but very light. If you put it on your order now, it will be fitted by Baileys and will cost about £50 less than buying it afterwards.
Only £250 off with no part ex is a bit mean. I got £1000 off mine on an obviously smaller model, and they give a 10% discount on all accessories in the first year.
Sorry Tango, but they don't come with a battery, and forget the Sale of Goods Act, that will not wash as you simply hook up to the mains to get 12v power. A battery is not essential.
You will need to buy a gas bottle though.
Incidentally my van did not arrive until about a month after the due delivery date, so unless yours is already on the dealer's forecourt you may have a wait.
Of course it's not compulsory to have a leisure battery connected but the advice is to always fit a leisure battery whether you are on EHU or not otherwise there is no voltage control which means that the volts can fluctuate thus leading to blown fuses and possible damage to the charger. If this isn't the case, why is it stated in all the caravanning books I've read? I would rather replace a duff battery than replace equipment for ignoring the facts. Anyway, if I was parting with over 15 grand I would expect a free leisure battery anyway.
Of course there is, the 12v (13v actually whether a battery is fitted or not) supplied by the mains circuit in the Pursuit is fully regulated. As with most power supplies these days the regulation is far better than 1mv.
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 to caravaning advice please
