Having bought an old caravan before Christmas, we have a few little jobs to do before we use it. We had new tyres fitted on Monday, and have made enquiries about a gas system check. Such a lovely day today I started on a few jobs. One of the corner steadies is badly bent, and I suspect someone tried to move the van without raising it! I have now removed it for repair or replacement. The mains switch in the Zig unit is seized solid, so I have removed the unit to replace the switch. We have a window to replace on a nice dry day, a new battery to fit, and some re-wiring to do. Roll on summer, so we can get some use out of our latest acquisition.
Our last caravan holiday was when our children were young, and now we have several grandchildren! Electricity on pitches was very rare then, and expensive. How times change. We are looking forward to revisiting some old haunts, and finding some new ones.
Thanks, we certainly intend to enjoy. All we need now is some nice weather. We had some great times in the past and we are looking forward to some more in the future. Just got a few little jobs to do first. All part of the fun though. At least we have the van at home, and can get on with those jobs without having a journey first, and all my tools are at hand.
It sounds great! I bet you're looking forwards to getting out there!
I would get a mobile chap to check gas and electrics, and also have a chassis check, to make sure the running gear is all ok.
It was worth every penny in my case... the electrics were live, and the gas pipes had perished, so if I hadn't had someone out to check, I could have had a very nasty accident!
Hi Jax365, I have given the chassis a good look over, and I can sort the electrics myself, fortunately. I used to do electrical work and have the necessary test meters etc. I will need to get the gas checked though, as I am not gas-safe registered. There is a local small company who can do that for me, and they are only about 3 miles away, so no problem.
We certainly are keen to get out there, and really looking forward to some summer sun.
Hi Colin, We are in the same boat. Bought a 1997 Bailey at the end of last summer and I have been doing it up ever since.
So far we have had it serviced and bought new tyres and a new battery. The motor mover is on order and that will be fitted next month.
I reckon it hasn't seen an awning in 15 years judging by the amount of muck, grit and moss that I removed from the awning rail today. It then took me the best part of two hours to reshape the awning rail where it had been bent and bashed.
We cannot get away until May, so I have plenty of time to get it ready, but at least I can plan some trips.
Hi Lobey, you have just reminded me of another job I have to do, I hadn't even thought about the awning rail, despite the fact that we are currently looking for a cheap awning, as we are very much working to a tight budget. Awnings do greatly increase available space, don't they. I'll have to check our awning rail too!
Being retired, theoretically out time is our own, but I am quite heavily committed to my volunteering on a Heritage Railway, Where our "season" is just about to start, so we still have to plan carefully.
It does sound like you are at a similar stage to us, with tyres and batteries etc. Despite our van being quite a bit older than yours (1988), it is remarkably dry, as I hope yours is too. Damp is the one thing that concerns me.
We will not be using the awning that came with the van, but a Porch Awning that I bought when we had the folding camper and kept when we sold that on.
The porch awning is large enough for me and the missus (and our two wee dugs), It only weighs 10kg inc the poles whereas the van porch awning weighs a ton!!!!
Our van has a couple of damp issues, but we took the advice of the caravan engineer that did our service and have installed interior vents. These have solved the problems and the van will do us for a few years yet.
The reason we have changed to a van are numerous, but health wise we could not manage the FC any longer.
We will run with the van just now and if it is successful, we will consider buying something better later.
We are considering all awning options at the moment, as it will very much depend on what we can afford. We looked at porch awnings at the recent caravan show at the NEC, and a porch would probably do us too, as there are only two of us and our little terrier, and he doesn't take up much space. He's a rescue, so we don't really know what he is, but from looking on the internet we think he's an Australian Terrier. At least, that's what he looks most like.
We are fortunate in that I am a very practical person with an electrical/mechanical background, so I can do most jobs myself. However, I am not getting any younger and have a deteriorating back condition, so I'd better get those jobs done now while I still can. I can fully appreciate why you have opted for a caravan if you have health issues too.
I originally wanted a 10X8 shed in the back garden and Mrs Lobey said okay as long as you get the 4 Morris Minor Wings out of the attic.
Well now I have the shed and the workshop and although she doesn't know it, the wings are still in the attic!
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Topic: The work begins
