|
 Topic: Considering a caravan!
|
Page: 1 2
  |
10/12/2019 at 11:16pm
Location:
Outfit:
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 11/8/2016 Diamond Member 
Forum Posts: 3141
| Site Reviews Total: | 3 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 3 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 15 |
|
first of all we would need to know when you passed your driving test to make sure your licence allows you to tow, then if you give the make model and engine size of your car plus the year we can let you know what weight of caravan you could have as the max loaded weight, then it boils down to your budget, and then narrow down to models within that weight, before going to see any caravans you would be wise to get yourself a damp meter and check them all even those at dealers before handing any money over, and all other points are covered on here on other posts
|
| Discounted Insurance Quotes for UKCampsite.co.uk visitors! Up to 12.5% off! |
|
|
|
10/12/2019 at 11:27pm
Location: West Midlands
Outfit: Various tents
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 26/7/2009 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 6500
Tent Reviews: 1
| Site Reviews Total: | 10 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
Hi and (a somewhat belated - just seen your joining date!) welcome to the site!
All good advice there from marg6.
And have a look through some of these Camping and Caravanning Club articles while you wait for advice from other UKCS members.
Post last edited on 10/12/2019 23:53:36
|
11/12/2019 at 8:40am
Location: South Northamptonshi
Outfit: Delta-Freelander
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 31/8/2015 Platinum Member 
Forum Posts: 1203
| Site Reviews Total: | 51 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 8 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 2 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 1 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 4 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 29 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 18 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 4 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 16 |
|
Have a wander around some dealers - particularly those selling caravans in your price range - and get an idea of the kind of thing that is on offer. As with buying houses, it's often a case of ruling things out than ruling things in! Enjoy your search - it's great fun.
-------------
Freedom is a light caravan and an open road.
|
11/12/2019 at 3:46pm
Location: Royal Forest of Dean
Outfit: Motorhome
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 17/10/2007 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 3383
| Site Reviews Total: | 0 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
When checking what you and your car can tow make sure that you check the details for your particular car using the details on the V5 and the weight plate on the car. Don't believe a dealer who tells you that it will be ok to tow that caravan with your car, he is only interested in getting a sale, it's your safety, licence and insurance at stake. Don't believe websites like towcar info which don't use the kerbweight to check the towing ratio and often use foreign spec cars for their calculations.
I presume that if you have young children you may well have taken your test after 1997 so you won't have the BE class on your licence, this will restrict your choice of caravans as you will be limited to a gross train weight of 3500kg.
We get quite a few people who ask about car and caravan combinations that are unsafe or illegal, please ask if you have any queries or don't understand anything before you commit yourself to an expensive or illegal mistake.
Rob
|
12/12/2019 at 9:51am
Location: Northern Ireland
Outfit: Sterckeman Alize Concept CP480
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 21/4/2011 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 7957
Tent Reviews: 1
| Site Reviews Total: | 93 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 8 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 9 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 8 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 50 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 49 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 52 |
|
And ... do you plan to caravan exclusively in the UK, or only on 'the continent'? Or both?
Continental touring is quite different, as are, usually, average seasonal temperatures ...
If you do plan the latter ... then there are several continental manufactures which may provide cheaper alternatives to UK built vans.
Also, if summer continental touring, the need for an awning reduces considerably ... a wind out sun canopy is all you may need.
|
12/12/2019 at 12:07pm
Location: Aberdeen
Outfit: Coachman Pastiche 460 VW Tiguan Moti
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 26/8/2007 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 1595
| Site Reviews Total: | 13 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 1 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 7 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
worth a read
-------------
Robert (BoB)
|
12/12/2019 at 1:29pm
Location: West Yorkshire
Outfit: Bessacarr Cameo 625 2011
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 10/9/2005 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 948
| Site Reviews Total: | 0 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
As a newbie, I would strongly recommend having a prospective purchase inspected. In the excitement of buying its all too easy to miss faults, and these can prove difficult and expensive to rectify or lead you into fighting for your money back. There are horror stories here every season, sadly. Have a look around here:
https://www.mobilecaravanengineers.co.uk/
http://www.caravaninspectors.co.uk/
|
14/12/2019 at 4:35pm
Location: Barry (Not quite the island)
Outfit: Bailey Platinum 642
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 26/5/2010 Gold Member 
Forum Posts: 366
Tent Reviews: 1
| Site Reviews Total: | 12 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 4 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 9 |
|
As someone who has just recently bought, I thought i'd add my thoughts and what we did.
First, be sure what your car can tow, as you could make costly mistake and need a new car and caravan, which would be prohibitive for some. Also research whether you need your B&E licence. I've just done mine, and it wasn't too bad, so don't let that put you off, but including instruction and using their trailer was c£500.
Once you're sure of all that, go round a load of local dealers. Find out what you do and don't like. When we first started, we were fixated on bunks, but the more we looked, the less we realised we needed them. Some manufacturers will do little things that might really annoy you, and if they annoy you on a first loo-around, how annoying is it going to be after 3/4/5+ years?
Also consider second hand v new. Because of when we bought, they were desperate to get rid of their current stock, so ended up buying new, something which we never thought we could do. But then we found that none of the dealer second-hand caravans came with awnings, so would have been extra for whichever route you chose, possibly due to most people leaning towards porch awnings which are not caravan-specific. We did about 7 dealers and only found one slightly pushy salesman. They will also give great advice, but bear in mind, they are there to sell.
Also, if you have the cash, private sales could give great value, but would definitely take an engineer round with you. If genuine sale with no issues to hide, they would have no problem with this.
Lastly - good luck! About to spend New Year's in it. Now we've got it, we are going to use it!!
-------------
2019: Hurn Lane CAMC, Cirencester Park CAMC & Lytton Lawn
2020: Brecon Beacons CAMC, Bladon Chains CAMC, Brecon Beacons CAMC, Les Iles (Normandy), Easter Compton (BOC Rally), Deanwood (BOC Rally), Abbey Wood CAMC
|
18/12/2019 at 8:08am
Location:
Outfit:
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 24/10/2009 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 1252
| Site Reviews Total: | 2 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
have you considered a motorhome? much more freedom to use off site in some beautiful FREE locations across europe.
|
|
via mobile 10/12/2019 at 10:48pm
