Hi All,
Pick up our first caravan next Sat, will be going to a site not towing.. please can you tell me what to definately not fotget.. have trailer tent. so got bits- would think the set up is different. water heaters etc.,??
Do you have a list to check off when you first arrive?
I have put bag together with loo roll, corkscrew, tin opener..
Sorry for the endless questions.. all answers greatly appreciated.. - EXCITED is not the word..!! :)
Fully charged leisure battery
Hook up lead
Fresh water container
Waste water container
Full gas bottle
Levelling ramps and chocks
Toilet chemicals and toilet roll
Awning or porch awning with poles and pegs
Cutlery, plates, cups, bowls, chopping board, tin opener, corkscrew, pots and pans
Food and drink
Clothes
Towels, tea towels, washing up liquid
Wash bag
I think set up is pretty standard regardless of caravan make.
Get caravan on pitch
Level using ramps and chocks if necessary
Hook up to mains - plug into caravan first then in to bollard
Fill water container and connect pipe to van
Place waste water container under van and attach pipe to van
Most modern caravans have gas, so turn this on!
Put up awning if using
Set up inside
Obviously, if there is more than one of you, you can do some of these jobs simultaneously.
You will soon get into a routine and each person will get on with their own jobs.
The most important ritual is the filling of the hot water boiler.
Make sure the water heater is OFF before you connect to the EHU
connect the full aqua roll & with ehu connected open the furthest HOT water tap & run it until all spluttering has stopped & water runs smoothly. Then check all other the other taps,hot & cold.then you can switch on the hot water heater safely.
sorry if you already know this , but a lot of new vanners do not
Old chap, that's great advice, that was the mistake we made on our second trip, first trip we must've used the gas to heat the water with.You live and learn
I've not being caravanning long and it gets easier and quicker each time and each person has their own job. . One tip - van has an alko wheel lock and no motor mover, recommend this goes on before unhooking from the car, but after levelling using ramp under wheel. If it ramp is needed it can mean going back and forth a couple of times to get it in the right position. Once that's done, unhitch, level using jockey wheel then out steadies down and these are "down to the ground and once more round" as I was told on the CC course (highly recommend this course) [some people have used steadies to level van - but I've not made that error!] Good tip about the boiler from old chap. - made that mistake. Other tips - shut the drain valve before connecting water and make sure shower off before connecting water! (usually left on so drains on travelling home!) You'll also need to take a few basic tools with you. For example a wrench/spanner for changing gas bottles. Look after your car's clutch! I also find reversing onto a pitch that to the offside of the car much easier as you can see caravan wheel. (Again learned on CC course). You'll master it all in no time! Stuff you need to take is same as tenting really. Enjoy you first trip!
I too have learnt something there. How to set up the water heater. We are just returning to caravanning after many years of boating. Our boat will be up for sale soon.
Our last caravan, many years ago, was a Sprite Musketeer, which didn't even have cold running water until I fitted it, so I had not worked out yet how this new-fangled water heater was supposed to work. Our van, which we bought just before Christmas, is old, and came with no instructions! Seems we have much to re-learn before we get to use it!
EHUs were very rare when we had our Sprite, so all we had was gas lamps, and 12 volt lighting which again was something I fitted. The caravan battery was charged off the car via a split-charge relay, which I installed. It was quite a sophisticated set-up in its time, but seems so primitive now.
Hi me again,..
Am just going through stuff to take, as is going to perm pitch, although a towing van.. Is it better to take bits each time or leave majority of stuff in there? Also what is your routine for the shower, (keeping it clean n dry I mean)
Thanks again..
Nice to see you getting excited...hope you have a great time! I think it's a good idea to leave the basics in the van, things like toilet roll, cleaning stuff, shower gel, toothpaste and toothbrushes, first aid kit, suncream, washing up liquid, kitchen towels, tin foil etc etc the list goes on! and obviously your crockery, cutlery, pans etc, we also stock up the cupboard with some tins/packets of food at the start of the season so if you get stuck you've always got something on hand to eat. With bedding we leave the duvet/pillows in van, just putting on fresh covers, also bring fresh towels/tea towels but also leave spare ones in the van. We even leave a few items of clothing/shoes in the van sometimes, it all depends how you prefer to do it and what suits you. ~Enjoy!
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Topic: Newby First time..questions..questions
