After much thought on layouts,makes,personal wants and advice on here we have purchased our first caravan!
We have a ABBEY AVENTURA 320 2005 ,4 Berth coming Thursday.
We need to buy everything for the caravan as it came with nothing except a good price tag:-)
If anyone can offer any advice on anything regarding starting up i would be very thankfull.
Also if anyone is very bored,lol i could do with a list of every essential i need.
I have already spotted what i think is a bargain! A 75AH numax Leisure battery for £39! Would this be okay for ehu sites(Because thats all we will be using).
I personally would buy a 120ah battery wont run down as quick.The basics you need is fresh water bottle roller if pos,saves lifting,waste bottle roller,and in case you want to go to other sites an electrical cable,oh and a battery charger suitable for charging leisure batteries.Dont buy new search guntree and the local ad papers.
Here's mine in no particular order & probably not all essential or exhaustive:
Hitchlock
Wheel clamp
Noseweight Gauge (milenco is BS approved)
Aqua roll or water hog
Waste master or waste hog
Step if it isn't included
Driving Mirrors
Socket doo dah for lowering & retracting steadies + cordless drill to make life easier Torque wrench Waster water hosing & t-splitter if you have two waste outlets EHU with RCD
EHU adaptor if you want to use electricity from house
Chocks/Levellers
Spirit Level
Gas bottle
Fire extinguisher
We also cleaned out the water system before using it for drinking.
Then you have things like insurance, breakdown assistance to include your caravan
FionaW1971 is so well organised. My own list of stuff we carry
10m Extension cable (hook up)
110amp battery
25m Extension cable (hook up)
5 collapsable crates for packing (B&Q)
Aquaroll
Aquaroll cover
Aquasource water Mains supply pipe
Awning (Bradcot)
Awning bag
Awning Carpet
Axle Stand
Bathroom Cleaner
Battery Charger (Halfords)
Big Foot steadies
Bucket
Calor gas x 2
Caravan Insurance
CC Membership
Chocks
Clock
cloggies
Corner steady support blocks
Digital Television & case
Dish drainer
Driving Mirrors(Milenco)
Extension Bar for torque wrench
Fire Blanket
Fire Extinguisher
Green Flag
Hitch lock
Kampa Dampbuster + refill
Kettle
Kitchen Utensils
Large Water Carrier (Jerry)
Levellers
Motor Mover
Noseweight guage (Milenco)
Plug connection for extension cable
Porch Awning
Rock Pegs
Rotary Drier
Small Water Carrier
Socket for Torque wrench
Spare towball cover
Spirit level
Steps
Table and two chairs
Tap connector for aquasource
Toilet chemicals
Torque Wrench (Halfords)
Tyre Inflator(Michelin)
Tyron Assist
Tyron Bands
Vacuum Cleaner
Ventilator covers x 2
Voltmeter
Waste Hog
Watering Can
WD40
Whale Watermaster pump
Wheel lock
Winter Wheels
Y Tube for waste water outlet
If you have, or will get, a motor mover then a 110 (at least) amphour battery should be obtained.
Enjoy the experience
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
"What do you use your winter wheels for when you're camping, Phil?"
Of course! Don't want anyone pinching the van. Mind you, cornering is a nightmare!
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
Special thanks to Phil and Fiona for your kind lists!
A massive help.
nearly sent you the full costs as well but thought it may depress you. As Mr RC says in his signature.....an expensive way to have a cheap holiday...anyway, you get more benefit spending it than saving it nowadays!!!! Enjoy the shopping
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
------------- I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy every minute of it. But even some days it doesn't feel like its worth chewing through the leather straps
you might also want to think about a mains kit for your water barrel if you stay on fully serviced pitches, like a ball-cock that screws into the side of the barrel. Additional length of waste pipe to reach to drains. (caravaning made real easy)
Cadac and gas pipe for for external point if you have one, nice way of cooking on sunny days.
Little suction things for hanging tea towels (tea towel holders)
Some of that none slip matting stuff for your shelves, stop ya baked beans putting a hole through your cupboard.
Multi purpose tool kit and first aid kit (especially with kids)
Door mat for inside van (somewhere to leave ya shoes on)
ohh SWMBO says spare coat hangers for wardrobe. (very annoying when you unpack your nice ironed clothes and there is none - and not many site shops sell them)
TORCH definately get a good one!
Real of TV coax - good length, some sites have poor reception and do have tv points - but with no coax! off too the site shop too pay over the odds. Or its certain death if kids miss x factor! Or Sat dish if your really into ya telly.
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: Oh Noooooooooo! Ive gone and done it!
