Hello to all - I've been lurking for some time now & I need your help. I can't believe Im actually saying this but we are actually in the final stages of negotiating our first caravan which is 12mths old - can't say too much about it just yet as I don't want to jinx it and it isn't quite ours yet!
With a bit of luck it could be ours by the end of the week - however, we have a 5 day holiday booked from next wed - supposedly in the tent but we are going to a C&CC site & Im sure its a pitch suitable for both.
My Q is - what would be the basics I would absolutely need to buy - I've got all the crockery, pans, tables, lafumas, hook up, loo chemicals etc etc as we liked to camp in style but as I don't have much time to get my head around it all can you help
So far my list is:
Wheel lock Hitch lock (my complete security list has more than this but this would be just so I'd be comfortable leaving it on its own on site) Wastemaster Water hog - do I need hosing Towing mirror - do we need two of these? gas bottle - is it worth getting the lightweight ones i.e will I be able to change it easily Whats the thingy used to bring down steadies (hubbies pretty handy and has a comprehensive list of general tools but I barely know a hammer from a spanner!!) Im going to make bunk bedding myself & I've already got fitted sheets & mattress protectors which Im sure will fit
Insurance
Also can anyone advise what cleaning stuff I can use in the bathroom safely as it has a plastic shower tray.
Im sure I've missed off some really important stuff so any advice very welcome
Wheel lock - if the caravan has a motor mover make sure you get one that fits around it our first one didn't we couldn't get it on the wheel where the motor mover was
Hitch lock (my complete security list has more than this but this would be just so I'd be comfortable leaving it on its own on site) probably got an alko stabiliser fitted at 12 months old? So will need one to fit this.
Wastemaster - yep
Water hog - do I need hosing - should be with the caravan, ours was and it's 19 yrs old
Towing mirror - do we need two of these? Yep one for each side
gas bottle - is it worth getting the lightweight ones i.e will I be able to change it easily - We swapped ours for calor lite and it's great for keeping the noseweight down!
Whats the thingy used to bring down steadies (hubbies pretty handy and has a comprehensive list of general tools but I barely know a hammer from
a spanner!!) - long thin thing with a square bend in the middle (so sorry that the description isn't v technical!!) should be with the caravan or you could get a drill extension one and take a small rechargeable drill!
Levellers or pieces of wood for levelling the wheels
Insurance - we're with the Caravan club or C&CC dreadful I can't remember which one and the docs are still in the caravan from last week oops
Battery; Electric hook up cable (get a 25m one) ; Bottle opener; Whale or Truma pump depends on your fittings; If you get an awning get a kneeling mat...the sort used for gardening. makes banging in the pegs easier on a hard standing!!!! Waste pipe to connect van waste outlets to the waste hog. Maybe need a connector if you have two waste outlets to make two waste pipes run into one; Fire extinguisher; Get some of those orange collapsable crates from B&Q to pack the gear in...very useful; Little vac (optional); Travel clock - if the van does not have one...its amazing how you miss a clock when there isn't one!; Bucket ....at least for emptying the toilet when leaving the site!; Gas spanner for changing gas bottles (some sites sell these); length of hose for connecting to the drinking water tap for filling the Water Hog. Piece of pipe used for plumbing jobs works with a piece of string threaded through one end to hold it on the tap; Chocks; Levellers; spirit level for levelling the van; Outside chairs and table; Bottle of wine; Torch (your water always runs out in the dark (its a caravanning law); Noseweight guage; Torque wrench (maybe for later on - useful for checking your wheel nuts before a journey); Television (suggest an Avtex with built in freeview); Patience;
Have fun
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
Yes, you do need two towing mirrors, unless the towing car is wider than the van. If you want mains electric you will need a EHU cable. There are loads of extra bits and pieces that you may want as you venture out but it may be best just to see how you go and get them as you see fit, such as a noseweight guage, levellers and chocks etc. It's too easy to get carried away in the accessory shops and buy stuff that you find you hardly use and haul around unnecessarily. Don't forget the regulator for the gas bottles and a spanner.
There are cleaning materials available for almost everything. Fenwicks make a kitchen and bathroom cleaner that seems appropriate. have a browse around a few websites for ideas but be careful not to use anything abrasive which will scratch the surfaces. Most of all, have a fun time, don't be in a rush and enjoy the experience. As ex-tenters who made the switch, I'm sure you'll absolutely love the extra comfort and homeliness in your new van.
Would tend to disagree on these items. Its illegal to drive with a noseweight greater than the Regs allow and a guage is easier to carry and use than bathroom scales. You need to get the van as level as possible when setting up, hence levellers and chocks. Fridges may not function correctly if not level and you need the water to drain to the waste hog. Anyway, just my view. You are right about spending loads in the accessory shop but I thought that was mandatory
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
Hubby mentioned noseweight gauge & levellers as he went out of the door so getting those. Caravan guard who are the cheapest quote for insurance (new for old) at the mo say two wheel locks so I think we'll get one goody milenco or alko thats another dilemma and a cheaper 2nd one for now with a different locking mechanism which if nothing else might slow down any would be thieves a little more.
We have ehu leads & extension already. It comes with the leisure battery - got regulators but rightly said mustn't forget them - oh yes the corkscrew & bottle opener essential - particularly on a maiden voyage!
We will have an awning but no breathable groundsheet methinks that may have to wait.
Phil - you should see my 'full list' on excel but my main priority will be just persuading OH that we won't have to spend a fortune just to get away in it next week.
Im thinking of cutting a kingsize duvet in half sewing up each open side & doing the same with a duvet cover to make duvets & covers for the childrens bunks but we do have our camping sleeping bags so we will manage one way or another. Has anyone else done this to make bunk bedding.
Its a time like this I am thankful for being a camper as not only do we have plenty of kit to use even if some of it will just be for now - I am almost certain had we not camped we would never be buying a caravan now which we are thrilled about. Its still not mine yet though
If its of any help and you haven't tried them maybe give Lifesure a ring or email. We compared them for insurance to all the others last year and it not only gave the better coverage for risks but were cheaper. Just spent the last couple of days getting quotes from CC; C&CC; Caravan Guard; Safe Guard; CSMA and others and compared like for like and Lifesure came out well ahead of all the others on price and still provided more cover (even more cover than CC and £50 cheaper).
One company didn't cover damage to the the awning from storm or flood. Another didn't cover the furniture in the awning. Some didn't provide for a new van after the existing was over three years old. We have five years. Those sort of things to look for.
Lifesure only require one wheel lock.
Enjoy your trip. Best thing with Hubby is to take him to an accessory shop, just for a look, and wait......he will buy something.....its a disease which is just too easily picked up!!
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'd stick with the sleeping bags for the bunks , easier to roll up and store than duvets, no need for sheets ,and easier making the beds . One kingsize duvet takes up an entire front locker, but we can get 4 sleeping bags in the other side.
My two kids had single duvets bought when we changed to FC from tent, they went back to sleeping bags as they preferred them. So I have two almost brand new single duvets in Stoke if you want them!!
Aw thanks Andi that so generous of you but I was just thinking their tent set up would be fine on the bunks - they have a sleeping bag with a small character fleece blanket on top with a regular pillow - I should probably leave it alone if it works. I got myself looking at Jonic and thinking of making up proper beds for them when theres no real need.
Fiona, so excited for you. Hope the purchase goes well and you get away. We're away on Saturday for two weeks, so let us know as soon as you get it. We (well I!) still don't regret moving to a caravan, especially when it's wet and/or windy when we arrive to set up. It's also great thinking all you really need to pack are the clothes. Makes it a bit less stressful.
One thing I'll say is that if it's the same layout as ours (or thereabouts) My kids get really hot at night and end up with just a thin fleecy covering them. The time before we went away I still had a heater from winter caravanning and left that blowing cold before they went to bed. My Dad then pointed out that actually you can have the caravan heater blowing cold!
Can't think of anything that's not been covered apart from baskets, baskets and more baskets. My husband goes daft everytime I mention getting any more of them. Fit great in the lockers and we kept our outwell baskets for in the bottom of the wardrobes.
"It's also great thinking all you really need to pack are the clothes."
I must be doing something wrong then!!!!!
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
If getting a nose weight gauge then it is worth getting Milenco one. We bought a cheaper one that was not accurate and the bathroom scales were not accurate either. Our van had a high nose weight and we wanted to make sure it fitting in with our tow bar. Being new to caravaning it felt good to get the nose weight right.
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: What will I need?
It's also great thinking all you really need to pack are the clothes. Makes it a bit less stressful. 
Fit great in the lockers and we kept our outwell baskets for in the bottom of the wardrobes. 
