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id just go for it if i was u or u will forever regret not trying at least and its not too hard to put up awnings single handed once youve got it sussed just put them up in sections

Quote: Originally posted by fife-bloke on 26/5/2009

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go for it bubblygirl im sure the boys will be glad to help their mum.im 100% sure no caravanner will see you struggle either.i certainly wouldnt and im fairly new to it all.

maybe try get someone who knows what to look for when you go to buy a van.this is the mistake we made.we didnt.

hope you have many happy holidays

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Totally agree with Fife Bloke, our kids went caravanning up till they got their own partners and went into tents, or our awning! From the ages of 6 onwards the girls loved to help out, especially when it came to filling the water but, made them feel more a part of the whole family adventure!

You will ba amazed at just how helpful other caravanners will be if you need help with the caravan, awning or any other things you may need help with.

Again as Fife Bloke points out get someone to go with you who has caravan experience when buying a van and take a damp meter with you.

Have a look at the Buying Secondhand, Avoid Caravan Crime
, Arrival On Site, Clever Packing, Weight Watching!, and Essential Equipment. Should give you a good start in the transfer from canvas to tin!

Another final point, instead of spending a fortune on a newer van have a look at some of the older ones, these can often be purchased for a lot less, have all the extras and make a good first van for you first year or so. In our case we never buy anything post 1983, then again I am the person behind Thomson Caravans History and information  website all about the wonderful Scottish Hand made caravans. Sadly they are no longer made but at nearly 30 years old ours is still as good if not better than a lot of todays less well built vans! (OK I am biased but thats to be expected from a Thomson Owner! lol)

Go for it. My mum usually comes with me but as she is also wheelchair bound there is very little she can do to help. I hitch everything up myself. When I get to the site I unhich and push in by hand. My van is fairly small and light so I can manage this myself but 99.9% of the time someone sees me and rushes up to help. I do errect the awning myself. The first time was a bit of a nightmare but once I'd marked the poles so I knew what went where it's fairly easy. I did just get a 2 birth van as I wanted something small and light to tow but if I have the kids with me I just put a bedroom annexe up in the awning. The electrics are simple, just plug in to the van and into the power unit. Use an aqua roll and wastemaster for your water. That way even if the tap and disposal points are miles away you can easily manage them.

We love our van and are really glad we took the plunge.

Glad to hear that you are going to go for it.  You can get a 4 berth 'van at the same weight & size as a 2 berth and your kids will appreciate having their own space and if they lay in in the morning you can still put away the front bed whilst they sleep. 

Do get one with a motor mover or have one fitted. 

Good luck and happy holidays

Can you go it alone? 'Course you can, plenty of us do.

I would go for an older lightweight 4 berth, rather than a 2 berth. When I was widowed the teens were only 8 & 11 and I downsized from 5 berths to 2 because I thought the 5 berth would be too big for me to handle on my own, and that we could all sleep in the big double bed. It didn't work and I soon found myself back down the dealers changing to a 4 berth, which wasn't any more difficult to do on my own than the 2 berth. The kids soon learn to help with the "jobs".

A motor mover would make you totally independent.