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 Topic: Greetings from old new member
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08/8/2019 at 10:22pm
Location: Somerset
Outfit: Elddis Accordo 125
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Joined: 08/8/2019 Standard Member
Forum Posts: 2
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I've just joined this forum so I thought I'd introduce myself. Retired, had a lifetime of camping with tents, VW campers, an occasional caravan. Had a forced break but now getting back into it, an exciting time buying all the kit and draining my bank account!
I've looked forward for a couple of years to having a motor home and touring various pubs and farms for free in a network that until recently I didn't know about which extends into western Europe. So what did I buy? A caravan!!! WHY? My neighbour has a motor home. Arriving at holiday destinations it was a problem to use it for exploring smaller roads, visiting shops, towns etc. So then he bought a tiny car which fits on to the back of his motor home. Works great. But now he has his normal car, his wife's car, the little car and the motor home. That's four motors that have to be taxed, insured, MoT'd and maintained. So I went for the caravan. Cheaper to buy, more spacious accommodation, I can use the car that I already have and use it for running around at holiday destinations. But the pub / farm network doesn't accept them so instead of free nights I'll be paying £20 upwards, I suppose. Pros and cons as always.
I had never had an air tent or awning so that greatly interested me. I quickly came to the opinion that the Kampa Air Ace range were the best with their single point of inflation, very roomy and advertised as a lightweight porch. I hankered after one for weeks before buying my caravan. So what did I do? I bought a Vango Varkala Connect 280. WHAT? Well, I missed a bit out, I first bought the Kampa second hand and discovered that I hadn't done my research properly: it was far too big for my caravan. I sold it on today. But lightweight? I could hardly lift the bag off the ground! I realised that there would have been no way for me to erect that awning single handedly. Then I found the Vango on display. It's modular. The base awning being 280 cm long is smaller than the Kampa which is 400 cm and therefore much lighter to put up. You then add extensions which since they don't connect to the caravan you can grow it as large as you want. So that's the theory, I haven't used any of it yet, perhaps when I have I should write a review and tell you what I SHOULD have bought! 
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Elddis Accordo 125 2019
Toyota RAV4 2012
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10/8/2019 at 12:03pm
Location: East Herts
Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
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Joined: 05/11/2013 Diamond Member 
Forum Posts: 6270
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Welcome to the forum. Many of us on here are also retired, me and my wife included. I agree with your choice of a caravan, although of course there are advantages and disadvantages of all types of units. We thought about a motorhome too, but couldn't afford to buy one and even as a gift we couldn't afford to run two vehicles, with insurances, tax, MOTs, maintenance, etc. A caravan is ideal for us and our small dog. We can leave it on a site and have a car for running around, as we do like to explore. We have a large poled awning for longer stays, but don't bother taking it if we are only going for less than a week. We did try an air awning but found it too heavy to lift up and pull round the awning rail, as it all came in one piece. Our current poled awning is massive, but as it comes in several pieces that zip together its very easy. I can do it on my own once the roof section is up, and I could do that bit on my own too if it didn't catch on things such as the awning light.
Enjoy your trips away, and any questions just ask.
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Best Regards,
Colin
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via mobile 09/8/2019 at 10:53am
