We are excited about our 1st time out with our caravan next week after making the big leap from our little tent lol........ So what advice can you give us as we venture out into the big wide caravan world ??????
we came back from our first trip on monday and loved it. the on;ly thing I can say is check your rout and dont trust the sat nav. on your first proper towing trip you dont want to be taking the scenic route like we ended up doing up and down contry lanes lol
once you have your weighet sorted go throw a check list for packing and enjoy yourself. take a pad and papper with you becoues we found we had taken things we didnt need and there were some things we could have done with taking but if you wright them down when you notice there solved for next time.
hope you love it as much as we do never thought we would love it as much as the tent
------------- Dyslexic not stuped
It's nice to be important but its more important to be nice
When we first started we found the most useful thing for giving peace of mind was the Avondale sheet (came with the van) that gave a list of things to do and check before setting off ! It really helped as we had trouble remembering everything ! We kept it in the glove compartment of the car and checked it all just before setting off. We've had to add a few things along the way - such as "don't forget to secure the bathroom sliding door and the shower door" ... etc ! On it's reverse side it has the things to do when arriving at the site - all very comforting !
There may be one on here somewhere. Plus we found this book extremely useful : Caravanning Handbook. Great bed time reading !
Before you move the van have a good look round you may spot things like
Corner steadies still down
Wheel lock still on
Handbrake still engaged
Caravan door open.....if its shut try the handle to see if you locked it....don't set the alarm it'll just be going off at every corner
Roof vents and windows still open
Water still connected
Electrics still hooked up!!!!
Corner steady wrench lying on the floor
Remote for the motor mover sat on the wall
Sandwiches about to be run over
Above all, as has been said, take your time, make sure you have done everything and when you have just ask "What have we forgotten?" Let the folks behind worry about what getting past, don't worry for them. (You will find that you have more of an open road with unobscured views when you pull a van!). Give yourself plenty of room to get round corners and roundabouts....big turns.........and if you forget the bottle opener you're rubbish...
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 like to do a walk around, let the mrs get in the car then ill start at front of me car, usually with hazard's and side light on, check indicator's and buld's on car, make sure mirror's are on tight, check tyre's look visually ok, check breakaway/stabilser/hitch is applied correctly/handbrake off/jockey wheel stowed safely, check sidelight's on van, indicator's and number plate all ok, all window's secure, aerial pointing right way, rooflight's down and secure, door shut and locked, caravan tyre's ok, wheel lock's removed, drain tap open, nothing hanging off, nowt on the floor, then pull forward and drive for a few yard's, get out and recheck the coupling/breakaway/handbrake/jockey wheel. Might be a bit OTT but i don't want to leave anything to chance.
As relative newcomers ourselves with a whole 8 months under our belts it was a steep but very enjoyable learning curve
One piece of advice i can offer you that was invaluable to us is once you are all set up on your pitch and having a well earned brew or beer do a bit of people watching,
Take note of other caravanner's set up routine, reversing , levelling, how they put their awning up etc etc.
Have a walk around and a bit of a nosey of how things are laid out.
We picked up countless tips and pointers doing this .
Quote:
Take note of other caravanner's set up routine, reversing , levelling, how they put their awning up etc etc.
Have a walk around and a bit of a nosey of how things are laid out.
We picked up countless tips and pointers doing this .
Most of all enjoy
thats an good tip, watch and learn from other people.
When i did my first trip i asked people advice at the site we stayed at and everybody was happy to share their advice and experience and 'experience' because you get better the more you go out
also watch the Top Gear caravan special and do the opposite, :)
Thankfully for my first trip - when I arrived 5 hrs later than planned. The warden who showed us to our pitch offered to pitch my van (great in the pouring rain and on grass) with his tractor !
I have done the C&CC 1 day towing course, and have done a bit of reversing practice in some of the empty bays at my storage site. But the best of advice - has to be take your time, use a check-list to start and probably safe to say never stop learning (yourself and from others)
"One piece of advice i can offer you that was invaluable to us is once you are all set up on your pitch and having a well earned brew or beer do a bit of people watching, Take note of other caravanner's set up routine, reversing , levelling, how they put their awning up etc etc. Have a walk around and a bit of a nosey of how things are laid out. We picked up countless tips and pointers doing this ."
Ah yes, Its almost an art form being a nosey caravanner
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
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: First time out.......
