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Apologies for the log post but some of you may find it useful aqs I have included a guideline on weights.  I insured my caravan for £21000 thinking it would cover everything including contents. However today I sat down and did an inventory and was horrified at how far out I was with my original estimate.  I did my renewal insurance quote 2 months ago thinking that I was well covered on an old for new, until I did a breakdown of everything associated with the caravan itself, i.e. from the factory with extras and then contents. Just to give you an idea;

Item               Replacement cost                            Approx weight

Caravan               18467                                             1315
Shocks                     200                                                  16
Tyron Bands            200                                                   4
Thiefbeaters            280                                                   0
Motor mover          1450                                                 35
Battery                       50                                                   27
IDM4 Alarm              260                                                   1

Total                   £20907                                           1388kgs

And this is before the following contents are added;

Sat dish & tripod                                 200                                0
Cadac BBQ                                          120                                10
Dinner set                                               25                                2
TV                                                           400                                5
Bedding                                                120                                15
Cordless drill                                         25                                0
Lantern                                                    15                                .5
Torch x 2                                                    5                                .5
Gas lantern                                              20                               .5
Radio                                                      150                                1
Cultery                                                      20                                1
Pots & pans                                             40                                3
Awning                                                    950                                40
Groundsheets                                       140                                20
Aquarol x2                                                 86                                6
Wastehog                                                 40                                2
Aqua mains adaptor                               43                                .5
Aqua ext                                                       9                                1
Elec cooler                                              190                                0
Fridge vents                                              20                                .5
DeLonghi Gas Heater                             90                                0
Gas fittings                                                20                                1
Fire extinguisher                                      13                                2
Fire blanket                                               10                                .5
Metal step                                                  19                                3                            
Mains ext                                                    24                                4
Mains ext reel                                              9                                .5
Mains inverter                                            60                                0
Wheel clamp                                             90                                10
Hitch lock                                                   70                                4
Gas cylinders x 2                                      50                                30
Chairs x 5                                                  80                                8
Kettle                                                          15                                .5
Toaster                                                      12                                 .5
Microwave                                                 30                                5
Pipes                                                         20                                .5
Ramps                                                      20                                1
Footpads                                                     7                                .5
Windbreaks x 2                                        50                                0
Steady socket                                             6                                .5
Wheel brace                                               5                                .5
Elec cool box                                            55                                0
Mains rectifier                                           20                                0
Storm straps                                             15                                0
Glasses                                                     20                                1
Personal                                                  120                                20
Trolley                                                         16                                2

Sub total                                                £3564                                 203.5
Total                                                     £24471                               1591.5 kg

Rough guide on weights as a number over estimated but still gives us a margin of about  60 kg as the MTPLM is 1650 kg.  Payload is 350 kg.  A zero weight means it is carried in the car.  Hope this helps some people.

Quote: Originally posted by Surfer01 on 05/8/2007

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Item               Replacement cost                           

 

Caravan                   450                                        

Shocks                     200                                                 

Battery                       50                                                   
 

Total                   £700                                        

And this is before the following contents are added;


Dinner set                                               25                                TV/CD/Radio                                          15                              

Bedding                                                120                               

Lantern                                                    15                              

Torch x 2                                                    5                               

Cultery                                                      20                               

Pots & pans                                            40                                Awning                                                     50                                Groundsheets                                        10                               

Water carrier                                           10

Waste carrier                                          10                               

Pump pipe                                               10                             

Fridge vents                                             20                                

 Gas Heater                                              90                           

Gas fittings                                                20                               

Fire extinguisher                                      13                               

Fire blanket                                               10                               

Metal step                                                  19                                                        
Wheel clamp                                             90                               

Hitch lock                                                   70                               

Gas cylinders x 2                                      50                               

Kettle                                                          15                               

Pipes                                                         20                                Footpads                                                     7                               

Windbreaks x 1                                        10
Steady brace                                               6                               

Glasses                                                     20                               

Personal                                                  120                               

Sub total                                                £800                               Total                                                     £1500                            

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Ah, not yet a dedicated 'vanner then, Bob.  We wouldn't part with ours if someone offered what we paid for it.  Only a year old now, but already got that comfy pair of slippers quality.

Bertie.

Hi

We've only got the van, the awnings and the motor mover on the caravan insurance policy.  The rest (contents) are already covered on our household contents policy anyway.  No point in paying two lots of premiums for the same items!  Having said that, to some extent the awnings are covered twice - depending on whether they are at home, or in use on the van.

Quote: Originally posted by Ulti-Mates on 05/8/2007

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Hi

We've only got the van, the awnings and the motor mover on the caravan insurance policy.  The rest (contents) are already covered on our household contents policy anyway.  No point in paying two lots of premiums for the same items!  Having said that, to some extent the awnings are covered twice - depending on whether they are at home, or in use on the van.

 

Careful because unless it is specified on the householders policy, they may not cover it and thsi inludes cultery and crockery as thyey are not in your normal residence.  This also includes water barrels, waster masters and numerous other caravan things.  May be worth your while checking with them. 

We have specifically got the laptop, TV and cameras on the "Away from home" bit on the hosuehodlers policy

Quote: Originally posted by The 2 Tops on 05/8/2007

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Ah, not yet a dedicated 'vanner then, Bob.  We wouldn't part with ours if someone offered what we paid for it.  Only a year old now, but already got that comfy pair of slippers quality.

Bertie.

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I don't think I am Bertie. Seemed a good idea at the time and once on site it's great...it's just the getting there that's the problem, along with maintenance and storage whether I use it or not.

I seem to have taken on more responsibility, more costs, and less freedom with a caravan. I'm hanging on but I suspect I will be back to a tent fairly soon...especially if I can find one which erects in a few minutes or so.

Great subject to look into this.

here's another one for you..... i've recently been told that most car insurance break down covers only cover you for a free tow off the motorway etc for  cars with caravans less than 6m in length!

well that rules us out!! anyone got more detail on this??

Quote: Originally posted by Mark + Kirsty on 05/8/2007

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Great subject to look into this.

here's another one for you..... i've recently been told that most car insurance break down covers only cover you for a free tow off the motorway etc for  cars with caravans less than 6m in length!

well that rules us out!! anyone got more detail on this??

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We are with Green Flag, through the C.C.  In case of breakdown, car insurance is not involved.

____________________________________________________________ Bob,  sorry to hear that you are not as happy with caravanning as you had hoped.   I agree that some of the details in actually using the van can be tedious.  I think, for most of us, those details themselves become an interesting part of the hobby. We are fortunate enough to keep the van at home; I don't think we would take very well to the hassle of storage (hard to say for sure because we have never been down that road).  But the methods of camping are as varied as people themselves.  Tent, motorhome or caravan; the most important factor must always be what the individual is most comfortable with.  Sincerely hope you find your Shangrilah.

Bertie.

Sincerely hope you find your Shangrilah.

Yes...the way camping costs are spiraling my Shangrilah could well be a B&B - lol

You're going to the wrong places, Bob - or you've got too many people going (leave the kids in kennels or something).  Our 2 week holiday cost us £154 in site fees - you couldn't rent a small cottage for that (which is what we used to do) and certainly not get a B&B (do they still exist??). 

I do agree with you about the "getting there", though, because my OH hates towing so the journeys are not much fun.  But when you're pitched up and you've got your feet up and a glass of something, it's all worth it isn't it?

Nora

I don't mind the towing.  Admittedly, when we go to Cornwall (a 300 mile trip), we travel overnight on the motorways.  The journey is broken into three approx. 100 mile sections, with stops for coffee and about an hours rest in between.  Being just the two of us (retired) we do not have kids to consider, so overnight is good for us.

But, as you say Nora, once you are there and set up,the atmosphere and relaxation is great

Bertie.

Quote: Originally posted by Bob™57 on 06/8/2007

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I am presently paying £20 a month storage. If I go camping once a month for two nights, that's another £32 (2x£16 a night). That's £52 a month it's costing me to go camping once a month. If you add on the extra fuel when towing, maintenance costs etc; etc; and the insurance (if you have any), plus the cost of calor gas etc; etc; etc; I reckon it must be up to at least £70 a month, and I reckon I could get a decent B&B for £35 a night once a month  

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I'm sure you could - but a lot of us like caravanning as a hobby in itself and a social activity, not just a bed for the night.  I can't imagine there is any fun to be had chatting about B&B's on a forum!  'Practical B&B Magazine' anyone???

However, back to the original subject.  I'm happy to entrust the contents to the home policy.  Anything not covered - such as the wastemaster, aquaroll etc, I am willing to forgo insuring them.  I can replace them from my own pocket if necessary (they came included with my first van anyway) so I just don't think it's worth the extra premium to cover them.

Quote: Originally posted by Ulti-Mates on 06/8/2007

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 - but a lot of us like caravanning as a hobby in itself and a social activity, not just a bed for the night.  I can't imagine there is any fun to be had chatting about B&B's on a forum!  'Practical B&B Magazine' anyone???

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I'm not sure I can look upon camping and caravanning as a 'hobby'. Surely, it's just a form of holiday or a means of getting a weekend break. You can only call it a 'hobby' if you're spending all your spare time tinkering with a troublesome caravan or reading up on all the new gadgets and gizmos or something.

At the end of the day, if it wasn't for all the problems, and the need for campers and caravanners to seek help in resolving them, there wouldn't be any forums...and I'm sure the British Tourist Association publishes a B&B magazine - lol.