We are seriously thinking of buying a caravan, been camping for many years.
I have some questions,
If your caravan is plugged into the electric hookup supply at the camp site how do you power lights etc in your awning?? Is it safe to use extension leads?
We have 5 children and can't afford a large caravan we are thinking of having an annex on the awning do many people put the kids in the awning?
We are seriously thinking of buying a caravan, been camping for many years.
I have some questions,
If your caravan is plugged into the electric hookup supply at the camp site how do you power lights etc in your awning?? Is it safe to use extension leads?
We have 5 children and can't afford a large caravan we are thinking of having an annex on the awning do many people put the kids in the awning?
Hi Rachie, we often go away with our two boys 11 and 12 and my adult daughter and my two grandchildren, and the kids always sleep in the awning. We have an annexe on one end of our awning, but have also seen awnings with annexes on both ends, that would give you tons of room. I would recommend buying camp beds that are raised high enough of the floor to give space underneath to stow all the kids possesions as they always seem to have loads of stuff. hope this helps.
Welcome Rachie,we take grandchildren and they sleep in awning with grandad and the light on the outside of caravan seems to be enough light for them ,but we did fit an external socket just in case.
Personally I try and do without the awning, it takes ages to empty it on a Sunday, but I can understand your reasons for getting one. I've seen threads on here from people who say that they've gone down the route of having a smaller van and relying on the kids sleeping in the awning, but they've said that it shortens the season because its too cold for the kids to sleep in the awning early/late in the season. They've ended up getting a bigger van that fits everyone. Just wanted to let you know.
I have an annexe on each end of the awning see my gallery images. There was 5 of us and generally put the kids in the one annexe and used a tall annexe for use as a wardrobe. Like someone said earlier it can cut your camping times down. But I would not put all this up for a couple of days it had to be a minimum 1 week too much hassle.
Know what you mean, Chalkie. For about 5 days or more, we go for the combi awning (modified Trio - see Gallery Image). Two weeks or more, we go for a full awning. For 2 night, don't bother. It's the bit in between 2 nights and 5 nights that causes a dilemma. Perhaps one of the very light nylon things would do.
How old are the children - Little Scamp has been in her own tent since she was 12, adn I have friends whose children have been in their own tents from younger - as young as 6 on some sites!
From 6 and above if you give them a chance to go in the awning on their own it would give them a great sense of independance they would love the experience. Yes there are nutters all over Britain but if you think that all the time you would never let them out of your sight. Children are much brighter and streetwise than you think. I took my son to a football match (Birmingham City) he was about thirteen and he pointed out to me a black fella handing out little silver bags of drugs. I was horrified I thought I was streetwise.
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Topic: help needed for beginners
