Hello everyone, I'm not new here as I am a previous camper under canvas and contributed in the other forum but on Saturday we purchased our first caravan and I am a panicking list writing moment which has made me realise what a financial committment we have made. We have bought it from a dealer called Newport Caravans and it is a 2004 Elddis Avante 462 2 berth. I negotiated some accessories and an awning in the deal and have been sweating at night thinking of all the equipment we have to buy and my credit card limit. It is being serviced and valeted before we collect it and has a 12 month warranty so I am a little less frantic but I am worrying about water ingress already before even using it for the first time. My questions may seem silly so I apologise in advance but having scoured the web for pictures I thought I would bow my head in shame and come to you guys for help.
1. What are the AA batteries in the Thetford cassette outdoor locker for?
2. I have a wastemaster coming with the van, do I need to buy some sort of t -piece pipe to connect it to the van or are they in the box.
3. It has a status aerial, I have a spare freeview box, at the front little chest of drawers in between the seats there is what looks like a aerial socket, what cables do I need to connect it all up? Coaxial? Confused as there are male to male ones and male female ended ones.....
4. It is CRIS registered, do I have to pay to change it over to me?
5. Does everyone only clean the windows in the caravan with the specialist cleaners available or can I use my Mr Muscle glass cleaner?
6. Should I be thinking about having it resealed anytime soon as it is 7 years old.
7. If I want to try it first time on a serviced pitch what pipes to I need as the pitch says it has grey water connection, a tap and a tv connection.
8. Do I need an Aquaroll fill up pipe?
9. Are jack pads and corner steady pads the same thing? thinking specifically about these as currently there is nothing on the caravan and my drive has recently been tarmac'd so I'm worrying about the van creating big dents.
10. Insurance, I understand it isnt a legal requirement? I want to insure it definately, what type of cost should I be expecting?
11. Is there anything you think I should get checked or changed whilst its in being serviced?
12. Are there any pieces of equipment or tips you can give me that you wish someone had told you, I am looking at rows and rows of stuff in the accessories shop and I have no idea what any of it is and what I need and dont need. Here is the list of the stuff they are supplying which I think covers the major stuff:
Double Step
Electric Hook Up Cable
Aquaroll
Watermaster
Water Pump
Awning
Leisure Battery
Full Gas Bottle and regulator/connectors
A Frame Cover
2 x bottles of Toilet Chemicals
I hope there are still some people reading after my boring long message and thanks in advance for any assistance,
Donna
1) the thetford toilet full light. 2) you will need two pipes for the waste going into the container. 4)yes about £12. 5) i use normal window cleaner. 3) normal tv cable is fine,the connectors you will need to sort out. if reception is good a freeview box will work ok.6) no have a damp check at each yearly service.8) yes you need a filler pipe and fittings.9) pads are better to have.they are only steadies not jacks.not a lot of pressure at the corner.10) insurance is a must (read of one taken first night and not insured lost all there money) if it runs away on site and dents another van.while towing it is covered by your car insurance.(have you told them you have got one??) 11) the service is done by a set list of things to do,include a damp test £30.
Clever Packing When it comes to loading up your caravan for a holiday it is extremely important that you try and pack things safely. Hopefully these tips will help.
Weight Watching! In order to make sure that your caravan isn't over its weight limit you should be aware of what all the small bits and pieces weigh
Essential Equipment The quick list of the essential kit you need to remember for every trip out in the caravan!
Post last edited on 07/02/2011 15:13:46
------------- the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
Cost £10 to change CRIS registration to yourself. Status aerial is a waste fo time as it is useless and is an unsightly ornament on top of a caravan.
Join the CC and do the insurance through them and you can spread the payments.
As for the rest find our as you go along, its more fun!
You will probably have a lot of equipment you used for camping that can now be used in the caravan. If not, look at places like Poundland, Aldi, Netto, Lidl etc for cheap cutlery, plates etc. We use sleeping bags early and late season and duvets in summer.
I would suggest you make your first trip close to home and just go and find out what you might need and don't already have - then make two lists, one of must-haves and one of would-likes. At least then, if you find you have forgotten something essential, you can nip home for it!
As you bought from a dealer, you will have security under the Sale of Goods Act anyway so I would not panic too much about problems with the van at this stage. Just check everything first time out. I have always found our dealer to be very helpfull if I have had a problem. He knows that we will come back for our next van that way.
Hi Donna, there will be better experienced people than I to answer all your questions. But as a recently a recently converted tenter to caravanner I can completely understand how scary it is when you start making a list of everything you need for your first caravan. I made myself a spreadsheet and bought all the absolutely necessary items for our first trip and then each pay day we treated ourselves to a few bits and pieces here and there until we had pretty much bought all we needed. Im sure you have plenty of camping bits n bobs which you can reuse too.
The thing I have found is that once you have everything thats it, when we had the tent I would be shopping all the time for the latest gizmo or gadget whereas this year I haven't felt the need to add anything as I can't improve on what I've already got and the layout of a van is fixed.
Congrats on your new van I hope you have many happy holidays in her!
It sounds like you have most things to get going. If you haven't got one, this is what you would need & approx 10mts of this for your super pitch. Status aerials are fine if the reception is good, and a lot of caravans have them. Above all Enjoy the van..
Thanks very much to you all, just ordered from ebay a wastemaster two piece pipe thingy (thanks Stevo1, I ordered the exact one you said), a cheap and cheerful t shape spirit level, a pack of 10 various fuses, a number plate with sticky pads, an adapter so that I can plug the EHU cable into my house and I am about to get onto some leveller things and some sort of security as I have nothing as yet.
This is a mixture of pleasure and pain and I appreciate very much all of your advice.
Donna
we cooked and washed ect in our van for a couple of days and were gald we did i recon at least once an hour one of us had to pop in the houes for somthing. do everything you would in your van s if you were away
------------- Dyslexic not stuped
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Topic: Just purchased first caravan - HELP!
