We are newbies too! Been camping in our tent for the past 3 years and loved it. Kit had grew to the point where we were looking at 3 - 4 hours pack up time folding, dismantling, playing fit it in jenga etc so it was DH who wanted to move to a caravan. I was initially resistant but now realise it was a great decision!!
Had one outing in the van so far for 4 nights over Easter and loved it. Major learning curve learning how everything works but am sure will (hopefully!) get easier and we feel a bit more confident about our next trip. Still a bit (Ok.... a lot!) on edge while we our towing but luckily my husband takes it in his stride and I am sure I will learn to relax more. Kids loved it!!
Main reason for making the move was longer season / being less weather reliant and the fact that it is easier to move from site to site and of course the faster pack up time. I was astonished how quick and easy it is to pack up and go in a caravan!!
Here's to some great adventures for us all hey!!!
Ps. Plus a big thank you to all the experienced folk on here who provide some brilliant help and advice
We started tent camping in 2006, then in 2011 we bought a TT after hubby suffering a few sleeping issues in the tent. We loved it, but it took a long time for setting everything up in this and the previous tent as like others took sooooooo much stuff away with us(transit van full to the brim!) we also found since having the TT we were using it less for any weekends and also coming away early as didn't want to pack away wet and have to reopen it all at home to get dry. Then at the end of summer 2012 we had a scorching weekend and went away with friends they were in their caravan, we arrived first took a fair old time to get set p, they arrived plugged in filled water and were sat on a loungers, again going home, we spent the morning packing away they say lounging around. That confirmed we must go down the caravan route so in October we picked up our new swift challenger 636 (had to be a big one as we have 4 kids!) and had our first weekend away shortly after. We couldn't get over how easy it was on arrival, we almost felt lost as had nothing to do! We even managed the Easter weekend away in freezing temps as we could pre book without a worry about the weather.
We have a big isabella awning ready for our long stays and look forward to 4 weeks in France this summer. It's been a great choice, more expensive but love it!
we started in wobbley tents as a bit of a joke really about 6yrs ago, my OH always said she'd never go camping, so i bought a cheap tent and persuaded her to at least try it, to my surprise she loved it and really took to camping , then i joined ukcs about 4yrs ago,
after some good times in the tent ,she who must be obeyed ,decided we were too old to be sleeping on the floor in tents and that we should get a tin tent , we did and the rest, as they say, is history we're now on our second tin tent. ( neither caravan cost us more than £600.00 but both were in excellent condition and had been well looked after)
we were at the nec spring show too this yeart , we didn't buy though much as i wanted too, especially when one eager salesman offered us a one off show day £1200.00 trade-in price for our current tin tent
i like to think we're all newbies really, irrespetive of experience, we can all learn something new from each other as, opinions, trends , legislation and kit can change so quickly these days
Post last edited on 13/04/2013 21:53:59
------------- no tin tent outings booked as yet ,just another cruise in Sept' booked so far
After just 2 outings with a trailer tent it was decided by SWMBO that a van was needed. We've only had one outing so far but are looking forward to a lot more trips this year - social calendar permitting!
------------- Some days you are the dog,
some days you are the tree.
Hi. We swapped the trailer tent to a tin tent last August. Comfort, and ease of set up were the main deciders for us.
Can I just say, so glad you said "Swapped" rather than "Upgraded"?
We were away in the van last week, and had a massive family debate on which set up we preferred, the tin tent, trailer tent or the Outwell tent we had... All have pros and cons... Me? I loved the Bear Lake, but the van has added comfort and warmth that can massively extend the holiday season for us - no way we would camp in November half term, but we used the van for a week in the Lakes...
Awaiting (impatiently)to buy my first caravan at the end of the season..... After many years of camping and one very wet week in the Lake District, we have decided to take the plunge and buy a 6 berth caravan.... I'm so excited!
------------- Castle Bay, portpatrick (campervan)*Seton sands, port seton (static)*Southerness (static)*Faskally, Pitlochry*Tummel Valley (static)*Tantallon, n Berwick*Turnberry caravan park (static)*Lakeland, cumbria*Milton of fonab, Pitlochry*Strathyre, wild camping*Killin, wild camping
Quote: Originally posted by tetchy100 on 15/4/2013
Was you at Lakeside this weekend just passed alphonso? I saw someone there with a great big mast and a derby county flag!
I was indeed! Although I was about two pitches away from the Derby County flag... Nice site, with a little tlc could be a really really good site... (Review to follow Admins I promise).
I'd be flying a Manchester flag if I had a mast btw. I have settled in, rather than hailing from, Derby.
Was you 1 of the kind people who helped take our awning down that had blown onto our roof? We thought the park was quite nice if a little expensive bearing in mind you have to pay to get into the swimming pool, we only went there because we wanted somewhere close to home for our first trip away in the van!
Lol Tetchy. Was a pleasure to meet you. I did indeed help with your awning, took several of us, maybe ten?, to sort it out. I was also pitched up right next to you. The site warden helped untangle the awning from your tv ariel - is it ok? Was there any permanent damage to your van?
I'm a newbie to the site, but not caravaning, been at it for over ten years, survived rollong one!
just passed on an Avondale 6400 5 berth double axle to get a smaller compass now the kids have gone. always ready to learn so enjoying the site, a bit more active than CC I have to say.
happy 'vaning guys.
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: How many newbies!
