Message Forums

I am very new to caravan ownership and feel like I am in the deep end and drowning....

I was offered an Abi Highway 450CT 5 berth caravan from a friend very chep (recent family split) I bought it and now it is in my drive I feel I should know a little bit more. Apart from not having a vehicle to tow with I have been looking at tow bars, my first question is what does twin electrics actually mean? Is single electrics just for the lights and the second set for the running of the caravan, i.e fridge and battery charging?

Secondly what checks do I need to carry out prior to going away with the van for the first time? a bit vague I know but I really have no clue....

I have upgraded from camping and have a week in a motorhome under my belt so I am not completely in the dark as far as the site goes (water and loos etc)

I am sure I will ask more as soon as I put power on in the van (spent all day cleaning inside and out prior to storage)

Also which caravan cover would you recommend?

Sorry for all of the questions but I suppose we all need to start somewhere....

Just thought of another one....  How do you put up a full awning???

Hiya, blimey that's a few questions!

Ok I'll try a few -

Checks - personally I would get the caravan serviced, make sure the tyres are no more than 5 or ideally 4 years old as they deteriorate with age.  Also if they have stood for ages they are likely to be mis-shapen and have had a dose of sun.  It will also make sure the brakes aren't seized on and also that any gas appliances are safe to use.

Before any trip make sure the nuts are tight, the tyres correctly inflated and that all the lights work by plugging it into the car and getting somebody to stand behind whilst you push the brake pedal etc.

You need to know the unladen weight, the fully laden weight and then subtract one from the other to know how much you can load into the van.  You need to make sure the noseweight doesn't exceed your car's towbar allowance so don't fill up the front with too much stuff!

Buy the Haynes manual for caravan maintenance, it is very informative.  Go to the caravan club website and read their info for newbies as that too, is excellent.

HTH.

Ali

Caravan club fact sheets

These might help.

Forgot to say you need to ensure your car is up to weight, ideally you don't want the caravan to exceed 85% of the car's kerbweight.  Sometimes manufacturers place a lower max tow weight on the vehicle than the kerbweight so be aware of that too.

If you post the caravan's MTPLM or laden weight then we can give you some guidance on vehicles.

Ali

More fact sheets

Keep finding more!

Ali

Awning erection

Guidance from one of the big manufacturers, gives you an idea.

Ali

On the plate on the side of the van there are two figures, 750 kgs and 1000 kgs am I right to assume unladen and laden? from memory it says R1 and R2...

Many thanks for the replies so far!!  I read most of the CC pdf files last night so much to learn!!

Ok so that would be the laden and unladen so you can put 250 kg in then.

The fact sheets tell you all about loading, the electrics etc so happy reading!

We have a breathable caravan cover, it came with our van from the previous owners but its great, we'd not be without it in the winter.

Ali

Forgot to say, you need a car with a kerbweight around 1176 kg or more then to be running at 85% of kerbweight.  Do make sure it's max tow is not less than 1176 kg though.

Ali

I think the cover will be a must! Just spent hours scrubbing, jete washing shampooing scrubbing jetwashing...........  you get the picture

On a positive note the van didnt leak and is now a completely different colour! The green algae was annoying me!!! I am going to get some new graphics made (go faster stripes and model of van stickers) and am going to replace the rubber trim that is now an off white instead of red! 

http://www.caravancovers.com/index.php?page=specialised%20accessories

We have one of their covers, our van is old but touch wood the cover keeps it in good condition.

Ali

DO NOT USE A PRESSURE WASHER it can force water through the mastic, fenwicks caravan cleaner and elbow grease. the van you have iirc is a dealer special based on the maurauder (sp) very common wee van

if it has been lying a while the tyres will probably be scrap so replace them before the 1st trip using a good spec of tyre, get the thing serviced as the grease points will probably be dry and the bearings will probably need a good dollop of grease too as will the corner steadies and linkages. check your gas systems hob etc using a new hose on the gas bottle/regulator, hose is only a quid a meter so replace if any cracking, if you have a clean blue flame on the hob burners it is fine yellow means it needs a service. get a mate that has a towbar and electrics to check your lights, the plugs will probably need a clean, use emery cloth and wipe with wd40

hth 

Alan,

Thanks for the advice, too late for the pressure washer, although it is only a cheap one and doesnt have that much pressure if I am honest, hopefully I have not forced any water in. I did check and it all seemed well!!

It has been used recently, just not very much! The tyres "look" ok but will get them changed/checked, what PSI should they be?

Will check out the gas and elecs tomorrow hopefully!

have a good look at the tyres particularly the inside of them for cracks, bulges etc. top tip use a towing mirror to see the inside sidewalls easier. havent gor a clue as to pressures but my van weighs about the same and mine are set at 46psi

the problem with van tyres is that because they sit in the same place for a lot longer the weight is in 1 place so the sidewalls are under more stress. the cc says 5 years max for van tyres, imo i'd rather replace me tyres than risk one failing at 50 on the motorway, if nothing else it is a pain changing a wheel as it is usually peeing down with rain lol

Didnt get a chance to check out the gas and elec today....  Really cant wait to get out there and spend the night in our new "home"........  Just need to swap the car as I cant find a hire company near me (that hire vehicles with tow bars) and my 3 friends with towbars and suitable vehicles have a. Sold their Nissan navara, after taliking about it for months, b. is going away the same weekend as we want to  and c. just found out the head is cracked on his BMW so it is off the road...