Hi everyone. My names Tracey and Ive just bought my first caravan at the age of 27!! :-D My boyfriend and I bought it about 3 weeks ago and we're in the process of getting a tow bar hitched up to his mondeo so we can take it for its first run!
Were still getting to grips on the towing laws because we assumed we would both need to take the towing test (both passed after 1997) but after ringing the DVLA they say we may not need to depending on the weight of the caravan?! So confusing!
Whats the best advice you can give me before venturing off on our own with caravan. Anything we will particularly need? Im looking at getting a couple of sun loungers but not really sure what else we will need.
Hi there, bet you are looking forward to many great holidays. What is the maximum weight of your car and the max weight of your caravan for starters and then we can tell you whether you need the additional licence to tow.
hi flintybaby and welcome to the wonderful world of ukcs!!
you'll find out the answers to all you need to know here from your fellow campers and when you get the gist of this site more then there's a 'search' option above, top right for you to find out stuff from already spoken about topics!!
I know nothing about caravans but plenty here do, i just wanted to say hi!!
Im not sure of the weights. We're going to find a weigh bridge and take them unloaded to see what they weigh. (luckily my dad can tow until we know for definate!)
We bought a 2nd hand caravan with an awning so now were dying to test it out!
Hi, welcome to the forum.
You might not need to pass a test to tow but you'd be wise to at least get some instruction from someone who has one. Just knock on someone's door and ask if they can spare half hour one night. Start out with a car park somewhere and practice. It would be better if you can both learn too, just in case one of you takes ill. It also extends your possible camping range. I don't know about anyone else but I find towing a lot more tiring than normal driving. I don't do it much though so maybe it's just because I concentrate so much.
Let us know how you get on, there's plenty here that must be thinking of getting a 'van, me included.
------------- Dogs die in hot cars!
They also die if you leave them in the freezer.
Please keep your dogs at room temperature!
If you passed a car test on or after 1 January 1997 you're limited to vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes maximum authorised mass towing a trailer up to 750kgs, or a vehicle and trailer combination up to 3.5 tonnes MAM providing the MAM of the trailer doesn't exceed the unladen mass of the towing vehicle. You will need to pass an additional driving test in B+E if you wish to tow a caravan or trailer combination which exceeds these weight limits.
BTW the MAM of the car should be in your handbook and the caravan may well have a plate on the A frame or near the door. On this you will see several figures, the unladen weight and the laden weight usually. My Sterling for instance is something like 1480 kg unladen and 1750 kg laden.
The difference between the two figures is how much "stuff" you can put in the van.
Likewise your car will have a kerbweight of somewhere around 1500 kg but you will be able to place something like 500 kg of people and luggage in it giving a MAM of 2000 kg in my example.
You might find it referred to as Gross Vehicle Weight or GVW rather than MAM.
Thanks for all that information Snowy. I will show this to my partner tonight so he can have a look for all the information. That might have just saved us a wasted journey to a weigh bridge! :-)
Hi Tracey and welcome to this great website....the people here are so helpful I find....and a wealth of towing knowledge is a matter of posting a question and sure enough you will soon get a reply.
The simple way to start looking is try the search feature on the forums - you might find lots of info already there from previous posts.
Try this website link from the Camping and Caravanning Club which has links to individual queries and lots of detail even if you are not yet a member! Joining is only £38 a year for a couple and gives you access to lots of full club sites and small 5 van sites around UK.
Link is here - or past into your browser.
http://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/helpandadvice/gettingstarted/newtocaravans/
Kevin
------------- Have wheels, will travel.... with or without the wife!
just dont go rushing out buying every gadget you see or hear of take your time and each trip you will see or find you need this or that. many of us are still collecting item after many years. most of we dont actually need to enjoy the time. table for outside can be a plastic patio set for £30 rather than Lafuma chairs and table sets. lamps can be tea light holders or oil lamps £1 shop and heating oil to run then.
Hi to you and your partner. Welcome to caravaning and the forum. We too are new to caravanning and have been away a couple of times already. My best advice is go to a campsite close to your home. The closer the better for one night, this way you will be able to test it out and if you are missing anything you can nip home or to the shops etc. But best of all, just chill and relax and enjoy your new van.
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: Hi, Im new!!
