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Subject Topic: So excited - 1st Van!!
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05/10/2009 at 10:34pm
 Location: Windermere
 Outfit: Elddis Avante Amber 636
View Missizippi's Profile View Profile   Reply to Missizippi Reply   Quote Missizippi Quote  
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Finally - after weeks and weeks of trawling, looking, browsing and negotiation we have just picked up our first van! after 8 yrs of tent camping both in UK and France, we have now decided to try a caravan and have got an Elddis Avante Amber Explorer 636 2005 year.
We have 3 kids so the rear area with the 2 sets of bunk beds should work perfectly. Laminate flooring and awning etc. I'm sat here reading the manual from cover to cover wondering what to do next.

Check list for the morning;
CRIS registration
insurance

what else do I need to do/buy? - it doesn't come with anything (not complaining as the van was a steal of a bargain) but know we need water containers and a waste thing, caravan step and god only knows what else!! Not sure where to start really..... Just can't stop jumping up and down cos I'm soooooooooo excited!!!   


05/10/2009 at 10:42pm
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View louise001's Profile View Profile   Reply to louise001 Reply   Quote louise001 Quote  
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Happy caravanning we got our first van 2 years ago and never looked back.

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If you want something said ask a man, If you want something done ask a woman


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05/10/2009 at 10:49pm
 Location: Chorley
 Outfit:  Sterling 480 Continental - VolvoV90
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Surprised that you are not sitting in it parked up on your drive.

We did when we got our van!



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I started out with nothing and I've still got most of it left - Seasick Steve 2008


05/10/2009 at 10:54pm
 Location: Windermere
 Outfit: Elddis Avante Amber 636
View Missizippi's Profile View Profile   Reply to Missizippi Reply   Quote Missizippi Quote  
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If it wasn't parked up at my mothers (temporarily - need to do a small amount of landscaping on the drive first) then I certainly would be!
I have to say that my mother was almost as excited as I was so its a good job we took the keys away with us else I reckon she'd be sat in it right now!


05/10/2009 at 11:50pm
 Location: West Cumbria
 Outfit: Ace Aristocrat caravan & Campervan
View blondieandi's Profile View Profile   Reply to blondieandi Reply   Quote blondieandi Quote  
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Pots, pans, cutlery, bedding, toilet chemicals, wine, clothes, towels, low wattage kettle, travel hairdryer and iron, electric hook up cable,tv? radio? outdoor ariel for if you havent got a status ariel or if you have a weak signal.Theres loads more I havent listed!! Pack it all up with what you need and leave it in so you never forget anything. Have a ball!!

-------------
Jan:Braids Gretna, Feb Stanwix Park Silloth & Braids Gretna,


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06/10/2009 at 1:48am
 Location: Polesworth Warwickshire
 Outfit: Bailey Unicorn III Valencia (LR Disco)
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Congratulations on getting your new van.  We were so excited when we got ours, we picked it up from the dalers at 9am in the morning (after already travelling for 2 and a half hours) then went straight to Cornwall (having already packed the car up to the hilt with all the necessary equipment).  Go to Redruth at about 3pm and had two glorious weeks testing everything out.



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David


06/10/2009 at 8:26am
 Location: Windermere
 Outfit: Elddis Avante Amber 636
View Missizippi's Profile View Profile   Reply to Missizippi Reply   Quote Missizippi Quote  
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Thank you all - its a bit like having a new baby but without the night feeds!

I'm ok for camping equip in the kitchen, kettle, elec hook up and bedding etc from our years of tent camping, radio/CD player in van and ariel on top - we have a tele we can put in too.

I was a bit bemused by all the stuff available for the loo - blue rinse, pink flush, cleaning stuff - is there a basic list of 'must haves' for the cartdridge loo?
Also, do I need 2 aqua rolls or 1 - and what size? plus do I need a waste water container thingy? is that for normal waste water? can you just let it drip onto the ground as I've seen some caravans do?


06/10/2009 at 10:52am
 Location: Cheadle stoke-on-trent
 Outfit: Fleetwood Colchester
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Hiya great to hear someone else is new to caravanin as well we bought our 'fleetwood colchester 2002 ' in june,we absolutley luuuv it ,its like havin a moveable cottage,there are loads of bits n bobs you will need,but as long as you've got the essentials you'll be ok,We've just bought a sattelite dish,which works brilliantly,hoping to go as far a spain next year ! Happy caravaning !!!!!

Sam

 

 



06/10/2009 at 11:05am
 Location: Polesworth Warwickshire
 Outfit: Bailey Unicorn III Valencia (LR Disco)
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Quote: Originally posted by Missizippi on 06/10/2009


Thank you all - its a bit like having a new baby but without the night feeds!

I'm ok for camping equip in the kitchen, kettle, elec hook up and bedding etc from our years of tent camping, radio/CD player in van and ariel on top - we have a tele we can put in too.

I was a bit bemused by all the stuff available for the loo - blue rinse, pink flush, cleaning stuff - is there a basic list of 'must haves' for the cartdridge loo?

You need the blue or green stuff to put in the toilet waste container.  This is essential.  The pink stuff is to put into the tap/ water flush tank.  We use this, but I know there are some who just use plain water.


Also, do I need 2 aqua rolls or 1 - and what size? plus do I need a waste water container thingy? is that for normal waste water? can you just let it drip onto the ground as I've seen some caravans do?

We use just one 40 litre aquaroll, but some folk find it easier to have two (mainly for showering).  We also have a device for putting inside the aquaroll for use on a site where you can get water hook up.  It's a bit like a ball-cock that allows water to flow into the aquaroll from the mains tap as you draw water from the aquaroll.  We try to use water hook up wherever possible (it saves all the carrying).

It is considered protocol to use a container to collect waste (wastemaster is the usual - made by the same folk as the aquaroll).  It saves the mess on the ground & the last thing you want is your waste water seeping into the awning.  I have been on a site before though, that asked you to put waste water on the plants around the park.  If you use an all service pitch, the pitch will come with its own drain, so the grey waste goes straight down the drain.  Whether you use a wastemaster or an all service pitch with a drain, you will need a length of hose for the waste.  There are different diameters of pipe though (the hose is sometimes called convoluted hose).  We carry a number of different lengths of this to suit different places, and still sometimes end up buying more!  I think you can get connectors though - to connect the different length together to make a longer one - although we haven't gone down this route.




-------------
David


06/10/2009 at 11:06am
 Location: Polesworth Warwickshire
 Outfit: Bailey Unicorn III Valencia (LR Disco)
View D S B's Profile View Profile   Reply to D S B Reply   Quote D S B Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by D S B on 06/10/2009

Quote: Originally posted by Missizippi on 06/10/2009


Thank you all - its a bit like having a new baby but without the night feeds!

I'm ok for camping equip in the kitchen, kettle, elec hook up and bedding etc from our years of tent camping, radio/CD player in van and ariel on top - we have a tele we can put in too.

I was a bit bemused by all the stuff available for the loo - blue rinse, pink flush, cleaning stuff - is there a basic list of 'must haves' for the cartdridge loo?

You need the blue or green stuff to put in the toilet waste container.  This is essential.  The pink stuff is to put into the tap/ water flush tank.  We use this, but I know there are some who just use plain water.


Also, do I need 2 aqua rolls or 1 - and what size? plus do I need a waste water container thingy? is that for normal waste water? can you just let it drip onto the ground as I've seen some caravans do?

We use just one 40 litre aquaroll, but some folk find it easier to have two (mainly for showering).  We also have a device for putting inside the aquaroll for use on a site where you can get water hook up.  It's a bit like a ball-cock that allows water to flow into the aquaroll from the mains tap as you draw water from the aquaroll.  We try to use water hook up wherever possible (it saves all the carrying).

It is considered protocol to use a container to collect waste (wastemaster is the usual - made by the same folk as the aquaroll).  It saves the mess on the ground & the last thing you want is your waste water seeping into the awning.  I have been on a site before though, that asked you to put waste water on the plants around the park.  If you use an all service pitch, the pitch will come with its own drain, so the grey waste goes straight down the drain.  Whether you use a wastemaster or an all service pitch with a drain, you will need a length of hose for the waste.  There are different diameters of pipe though (the hose is sometimes called convoluted hose).  We carry a number of different lengths of this to suit different places, and still sometimes end up buying more!  I think you can get connectors though - to connect the different length together to make a longer one - although we haven't gone down this route.

Hope this helps a little.



-------------
David


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06/10/2009 at 11:06am
 Location: Windermere
 Outfit: Elddis Avante Amber 636
View Missizippi's Profile View Profile   Reply to Missizippi Reply   Quote Missizippi Quote  
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We're certainly going back down to La Rochelle, maybe travelling a little slower than last year but we took 3 days over the journey and made it part of the holiday. Helps keep the stress levels low! At least the stop overs should be easier now!


06/10/2009 at 3:49pm
 Location: Polesworth Warwickshire
 Outfit: Bailey Unicorn III Valencia (LR Disco)
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Sorry for the duplicate post above.  Don't know how that happened.

-------------
David


06/10/2009 at 8:35pm
 Location: Windermere
 Outfit: Elddis Avante Amber 636
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It didn't show for a while - but when it did, it came twice! but it was worth it - great helpful advice, thanks so much.

So the pink stuff that some put in the tap/ water flush tank - is that water used for drinking? or would you not drink from the tap in the caravan generally and buy bottled water (even in the UK) ?? - or does it just depend on how clean your aquaroll is?


06/10/2009 at 9:22pm
 Location: West Cumbria
 Outfit: Ace Aristocrat caravan & Campervan
View blondieandi's Profile View Profile   Reply to blondieandi Reply   Quote blondieandi Quote  
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The pink goes in the toilet flush, this is in the chemical toilet compartment and nothing to do with drinking water which is in your aquaroll. I drink the water from the van, many dont and buy bottled which I think is awful tasting anyway. I think a few germs protect you from illness!! LOl, Im rarely ill!! Its personal choice!! LOL

-------------
Jan:Braids Gretna, Feb Stanwix Park Silloth & Braids Gretna,


06/10/2009 at 10:07pm
 Location: Windermere
 Outfit: Elddis Avante Amber 636
View Missizippi's Profile View Profile   Reply to Missizippi Reply   Quote Missizippi Quote  
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Thanks, ok so, there is a separate tank for flushing? I think I need to sit and read the handbook before I ask any more silly questions!


06/10/2009 at 10:34pm
 Location: Northwest
 Outfit: Insignia 4x4 Swift ChallengerSport 636
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I pink goes in the Toilet Flush if you have a seperate flush tank.  Our new Adria doesnt have a flush tank and flushes the toilet from the main water feed.  So we dont need to use Pink.



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