Insurance is totally up to you. It is not a legal requirement.
Number plates can be got from places like garages/halfords.
These days you need to take you vehicle documents for proof of ownership (the cars documents)
A Van should be servcied every year. It does not need an MOT but the gas and electric equipment in the van should be checked and certificated (as safe) every two years
If you buy from a dealer they may do the number plate for you.
The van does not need to be taxed
You do not need insurance for the van as you do for a car on the road, but it is wise to have it. Your car insurance will cover you if you hit someone with the van (whilst towing) but will not, generally, cover you for any damage sustained to the van by you or any uninsured third party. Your car insurance does not cover the theft of the van or its contents either.
You may also like to consider something like Green Flag brakedown insurance which will tow your van to your destination should you brake down en route.
It would be prudent to get a Milenco noseweight guage so that you can be satisfied that you have loaded the van correctly and that the noseweight is not in excess of that for the tow ball. A tyre pressure guage and pump would also be useful. Garages do not always put their air in the right place to get in with a van. Try a Michelin one with built in digital tyre pressure guage from Halfords.
A Torque wrench is also useful as you are supposed to check that your vans wheel nuts are secure before each journey. They can wobble out as you trundle along if they are loose.
Gas cylinder and battery are clearly a must as is an EHU cable. You may get those thrown in if buying second hand.
Fire Blanket and extinguisher are musts; levellers and chocks as many sites are not spot on level; Water hog and waste water tank and water pump are necessities (you may get these thrown in when buying second hand); Wheel lock and hitch lock (apart from not wanting your van stolen these are usually required by insurers); Watering can (Bet way to fil lthe loo cistern
Have fun searching
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
Thank you as well phil you reminded me about the towbar. can anyone recommend some good deals.
if i go and collect a van from a seller would he/she take their number plates off the van and i would put maybe a 'homemade' one on the back for the journey home?
------------- Owner of a Nanny and Childcare Agency
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE spend a lot of time reading and learning about caravan safety and take it seriously before you buy a caravan.
Caravaners get a bad name because of (mainly) numpty newbies and the once-a-year brigade who know nothing and want to learn nothing. They buy or have a very cheap, very old and very unsafe caravan, overload it, attach it to an unsuitable car, tow it too fast and overturn it on their first trip out. You can hear about their adventures on every radio traffic report from Easter to the end of the school summer holidays!
Caravanning can be done very cheaply but it's not easy and you have to know what you're doing - and it's never going to be as cheap as tent camping.
Asking questions here is a good start, but do lots of research of your own via websites, magazines, books and the specialist TV programmes. Start with finding out whether your driving licence allows you to tow anything heavier than 750kg...
Good luck!
------------- * You never know where you're going 'til you get there...
I am extremely serious and the handmade jobbie for the number plate was just my idea as naturally the back of a van or trailer wouldnt have a 'proper' number plate if i had just bought it.
any ideas about what to do when taking a van home from the seller for the first time would be gratefully appreciated.
------------- Owner of a Nanny and Childcare Agency
Just go to a local car spares shop and have a number plate made up (don't forget your licence document and a proof of ID), then take a battery drill with you so that you can drill holes in the new plate (use the existing one as a template), then just screw it to the van in the same place.
I don't understand why you would bother to make up a 'handmade' plate, you will have to buy one eventually, no matter what van/FC/TT you buy.
They cost about £10 - £15 depending where you go.
------------- Give a man a fish and he'll feed his family for a day.
Teach a man to fish and he'll sit around on a boat all day drinking beer!
any ideas about what to do when taking a van home from the seller for the first time would be gratefully appreciated.
1. Can you get the car and van into the street? Will there be cars parked i nthe way?
2. Can the van sit on the drive and still leave space for the car to get in and out of the garage?
3. How will you get the van into the drive? Will you be able to push it...will you need a motor mover fitted?
4. Are you legally allowed to have a van on the drive? Restrictive covenants/tenant conditions?
5. What security will you have for the van on the drive? They know when you are away if you have the van o nthe drive!
Just drive it nice and steady...take wider turns round islands and corners...better still go on a towing course before you pick it 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
Hi, When picking up van( If it has AL-KO stabiliser you will need a AL-KO tow ball) a bit longer neck than normal one,and No paint or grease,applyed to to the tow ball,it will render the hitch useless and friction pads in hitch will need replaced, First thing when hitching up to car, Put on towing mirrors, Wind up all cornner steadys, Make sure the hitch is properly locked on tow ball( wind the jockey wheel to ground, till it lifts car a little, If it dose van is locked on properly) Connect the caravan brake away cable to tow bar, Release the caravan hand brake, Retract the jockey wheel to its full up position and secure it,plug in the two sockets from van to car, Test all your running lights, make sure they are working,Check the tyres and they are at correct pressure,and do not have any damage(caravan tyres need to be changed after 5years(worn or not), When towing allow more time when pulling out, and when braking, Towing Speeds Motorways 60MPH Max (Not allowed in the outside lane, unless inner lanes blocked) 60 MPH Max on Dual carrigeways, 50 MPH Max on all two way roads(even though road speed higher) Take it easy when driving, Arrive at destination, First, Caravan hand brake on,disconnect brake away cable,the plugs, then tow hitch,If you look at the top of this site you will find a Features/Tip button have a look there for more information that you will need, good luck, hope this helps.
------------- If everything runs smoothly then I must have done something wrong
If in Doubt Check it Out.
Look here (seven posts down) for some tips on buying a caravan, particularly on how to protect yourself, which you may very well need in view of the budget you have. Problem with buying at so low a budget may mean an expensive time putting defects right if you don't take the time to spot them before you part with your cash.
Once you have a towbar fitted don't forget to tell your insurers as your car insurance requires you to tell them about modifications to your car.
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: A few questions from a newbie
