Think we are just about there in kitting out our 1st van.
Only getting gas bottle, ehu lead, water pump and step from dealer, have bought an Alko hitchlock (cheapest I could find was £73 from Waudbys) a bargain Nemesis wheel clamp off ebay only a month old. Bagged a load of kit off preloved from a couple who sold it all after one trip due to sudden ill health (Milenco towing mirrors, Fiamma level ramps, wastemaster, aquaroll, mains water kit for an all service pitch, loo chemicals, warning triangle, washing airer, spirit level, UK mains adaptor to plug EHU into garage at home and european adaptor)
This week bought washing up bowl, low wattage kettle and toaster, porch awning, TV storage bag, rechargable hand held vaccum and noseweight gauge.
Do we need a caravan jack and wondered about a Milenco cargo bar? What else have we missed? We already have tables/ chairs, cadac, crockery, cutlery, bedding etc from using the inlaws MH and our tenting days.
OH says he has sorted spare fuses/ bulbs and hes busy reading the CC guide to caravans we were sent when he booked his towing course.
------------- Thistledown Easter
Nantcol June
Domaine du Verdon Castellane and Etoile d'Argens Frejus Aug
tin opener,its a pig to get one at the weekend.i know.
Arrival On Site Setting up on site is easy and should not present any major problems. A quick guide to help
Clever Packing When it comes to loading up your caravan for a holiday it is extremely important that you try and pack things safely. Hopefully these tips will help.
Weight Watching! In order to make sure that your caravan isn't over its weight limit you should be aware of what all the small bits and pieces weigh
Rhonda, have you joined the caravan club?? That could be a birthday present?? Lol.
I've got some magazine back issues if you fancy them.
I think you'll have enough stuff for now & once you get away you'll find a few things you could get.
Would you recommend the towing course? I fancy trying it but Adam tows & he's confident so he thinks it's pointless but i wondered if it might make me feel more safe, I'm even a nervous passenger when towing.
I'd heartily recommend a towing course - opinion is divided among UKCampsite - ers but it was ideal for us. When we bought Bertha I had never towed at all and Mr Chile had only towed farm trailers with a tractor donkeys years ago, so we both felt it would be beneficial. We learned how to manoeuvre (the reversing practice was a godsend) and also all sort of other useful info re safety. We did the CC Practical Caravanning 1.5 day course. Gets you a discount off your insurance as well. And (this is the best bit) one drives, the other dozes, so you can go further!
Hi Rhonda hope you are making a speedy recovery x take a spirit level with you makes levelling the caravan a bit easier. As for the jack we used ours for the first time at Easter - good for the side to side levelling, but Im sure you will manage without it next week. How exciting new van and first trip in just a few days now!! The only other thing which is good (and a bit lazy) is OH uses a cordless drill now to raise and lower steadies and to screw in the rock pegs - just saves a bit of time. Sounds like you are well equipped though - just dont forget the corkscrew, pillows, tea towels or hand towels - I mention these because these are the things we've forgotten in the last 12mths!!
OH is booked onto a CC towing course in June (all booked up til then). We've picked a site only 30-40 mins away with easy access for our first weekend and the van is having a mover fitted by the dealer so no worries about having to reverse which is his greatest fear about towing.
Claire, we've joined already to take advantage of the discount on the ferry crossing/ sites in France (tokens in the post this am ) The inlaws are also members and never look at the mag, they just pass it onto me.
Fiona, OH says we are so broke with all my purchases this month the cordless drill will have to wait for now. I jokingly suggested it could be his 40th birthday present. What caravan jack have you got? We have been looking at the Purpleline kojak one from Towsure but again that will have to wait. Got the corkscrew, tea towels (bought new ones oops) and towels ready. The spare room currently resembles a caravan accessories shop
------------- Thistledown Easter
Nantcol June
Domaine du Verdon Castellane and Etoile d'Argens Frejus Aug
Nothing wrong with getting OH a decent cordless drill for his birthdy - I got a 21v one from B&Q for xmas. I was amazed just how much power it had - Steadies up/down screw in pegs - remove pegs steadies up/down and still power left in the first battery
------------- hawk
"Laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone"
I have the body of a greek god - its in my freezer
I think ours is the purple line Kojack, it was about £60 and has a bit which fits to the chassis. What I can't remember is if we got the scissor jack or the bottle jack though - shows how much notice I was taking when he was jacking the van up at Easter!!!! I even got this app on my phone called caravan levelling - you put you Iphone on the floor of the caravan and it tells you where needs levelling - whatever next!! I got it for a laugh but it did actually work!!
Be warned though, your caravan kit will NEVER be completed, we've said many, many, many times that surely we must have everything now but are still buying stuff. I do have a shopping addiction though.....
Don't forget your fairy lights to make the front of your awning canopy look pretty.
Hi savanne1, An HGV licence,thats a lot of gear, your mover and tow hitch can weigh as much as 40kg,that will reduce your payload.it is surprising how much all the small things actualy weigh, could find yourself way over your max, Congratulations on your new van , You did very well with all the gear, Good luck on your first trip in new and enjoy .
------------- If everything runs smoothly then I must have done something wrong
If in Doubt Check it Out.
Quote: Originally posted by jhsw on 14/5/2011
Hi savanne1, An HGV licence,thats a lot of gear, your mover and tow hitch can weigh as much as 40kg,that will reduce your payload.it is surprising how much all the small things actualy weigh, could find yourself way over your max, Congratulations on your new van , You did very well with all the gear, Good luck on your first trip in new and enjoy .
surely the tow hitch is part of the caravan and not taken off the user payload ???
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: Kit nearly complete (I think)
) The inlaws are also members and never look at the mag, they just pass it onto me.
,thats a lot of gear, your mover and tow hitch can weigh as much as 40kg,that will reduce your payload.it is surprising how much all the small things actualy weigh, could find yourself way over your max, Congratulations on your new van 
