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Topic: Advice needed-new to caravaning

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Marshmallowqueen

04/8/2016 at 10:00pm
Location: Nottinghamshire
Outfit: Pennine Countryman 2010

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Go to a local site for your first trip away.....if you forget anything you can't live without you can just nip home and pick it up.

Pack a mini toolkit. I think mine contains:
Jubilee clips - including the ones for gas pipe
Screwdriver - one that will take Phillips and straight bits
Spanner for gas bottle - although an adjustable spanner may be suitable I find a fixed spanner of the correct size easier
Cable ties in different sizes - have many uses
Awning zip spray - if you have an awning, if not WD40
Small Pen knife / leather man type tool
Spare tent pegs/ Rock pegs for hard ground
Heavy mallet/ lump hammer - for putting pegs in to hard ground, rubber mallet not heavy enough
String
Plastic crocodile clips - again many uses
Spare batteries for any torches
Pliers
Leg winder tool
Spare gas regulator washers
Tape for canvas repairs - I have a folding camper

First aid kit - needed this on my first trip, I'm a bit clumsy
Fridge thermometer - helps to confirm fridge is working ok
Cheap Carpet runner / foam mats so that mud doesn't spoil your carpet - I'm in and out of my camper lots when setting up and not always practicable to take trainers off every time, although I now have some aldi crocs so do tend to remove them every time.
Dustpan and brush

I like to be prepared for all eventualities!

Apologies if some of this has been listed above.

Enjoy!

Nutkins

04/8/2016 at 11:07pm
Location: Bradford
Outfit: Swift Charisma 06 - Passat Est 2.0 140

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Got to say, go either close to home or close to somewhere you can buy kit from, as and when you realise what you're missing. Nobody's mentioned chairs for outside yet.

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Colin21

05/8/2016 at 8:08pm
Location: East Herts
Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail

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Good advice there about going close to home. We did exactly that and were glad we did, as we had to nip home at least twice, and go to a caravan breaker for a cooker part. Still can't believe we hadn't noticed that the pan support was missing off the hob!

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Colin

chrisn7

06/8/2016 at 1:03am
Location: West Yorkshire
Outfit: Bessacarr Cameo 625 2011

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There are certain things that are essential to buy/haggle with the dealer:
Caravan step
Fresh water container and pump/hose to fill it
Waste water container and connections to van
EHU cable
Means of levelling
Kettle (low wattage preferred)
Gas
Leisure battery

The caravan should be supplied with:
Spare wheel
Jack
Winder for the steadies.

Virtually everything else you can take from home to start with, and then buy van specific stuff as you go along/can afford it. It is easy to get carried away in the shop and buy stuff you think you will need, just be patient and it will become clear what your needs really are. And always think about weight,which is your enemy!

I would however recommend assembling a basic toolkit to keep in the car so this doesn't ever get forgotten.

sarahl1a2

15/8/2016 at 11:37pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Bailey Ranger

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Thanks to everyone who has given us advice. We went on our first trip with the Caravan this weekend. We went to Brean and it couldn't have gone better. We took all the advice on board and my husband tested everything out a few days before whilst still on the drive to make sure everything was working and that he knew how to set everything up. We were pleasantly surprised how quick it all was to set up. We really enjoyed it and can't wait for our next trip. Thanks again to everyone who replied with advice x

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