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Subject Topic: Our first rolling roadblock...
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18/10/2009 at 8:03pm
 Location: Surrey
 Outfit: Bailey Valencia + Lexus RX400h
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Yup, bought our first ever caravan 2 weeks ago and this weekend was our first assault on the unsuspecting roads of southern England.

Started badly - managed to un-clamp the jockey wheel before hitching up, so A-frame crashed to the ground !! . After the kids were moved away to allow me to swear for a while, we surveyed the damage - cracked plastic and jockey wheel jammed into the frame. Took 30 minutes with a hammer and chisel to free it (many thanks to Fred, the storage guy).

Fortunately, no serious damage and that was the worst that happened all weekend. Trundled 30 minutes down the road to a great little site. Helpful warden un-hitched for me (I didn't ask but he could probably tell I had no idea what I was doing ). I'd like to point out at this stage that I tried to get on a towing course but they all end in early October - have to wait until March now...

After being used to a 3-hour setup time with our tent, being able to sit down after 10 minutes on site was a revelation! Obviously, no gas or water yet...

Tried to connect up the gas bottle and realised that I had no regulator and pipe. Luckily, specifically chose site because it was 10 minutes from a caravan shop, so off we trundled and £20 later we had gas. Water all worked OK and even got the hot water working.

It started getting dark and cold and the piece de resistance - heating!! I expected a caravan to be better than our tent but I could not believe by how much - I had to turn the heating down at one point!

Had a little issue with the TV - no-one told me that the Status aerial had an ON switch!! Couldn't even get one analogue channel at first but finally worked it out...

We didn't have a great night's sleep but that was mainly because I am still fighting off a virus and OH doesn't sleep well anywhere. Kids were fine...

After our nightmare hitching up at the storage site, we took our time and did it all first time, all on our own...yeehaahh !

All in all, a great success and we are really looking forward to Longleat next week


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'In later life, you will be more disappointed with the things you didn't do than with the things you did.' - Mark Twain


18/10/2009 at 8:11pm
 Location: west country
 Outfit: None Entered
View millermicm's Profile View Profile   Reply to millermicm Reply   Quote millermicm Quote  
Joined: 29/3/2009

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Not had major problems with caravan yet but did lose my trailer once moving off the drive. Didn't put the hitch handle down.

Still got the scars on the road!



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Steve




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18/10/2009 at 8:21pm
 Location: Staffordshire
 Outfit: Avondale Osprey S
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We all have our little mishaps and things will go wrong but you have come through and I hope you have many happy outings.  Welcome to tin tenting!  17


18/10/2009 at 8:43pm
 Location: Chorley
 Outfit:  Sterling 480 Continental - VolvoV90
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We couldnt unhitch our van the first time we towed it home after buying it.
It was a Winterhoff with attitude!
To our neighbours amusement, it took over ten minutes trying everything from swearing at it in German, to sneaking up on it when we thought it wasnt looking.
We got there in the end.
Once we mastered it there was no looking back.
A good hitch that worked well.


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


18/10/2009 at 9:22pm
 Location: South Devon
 Outfit: Eldiss Cyclone XL
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Joined: 13/5/2009

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Quote: Originally posted by rustyfrog on 18/10/2009
We couldnt unhitch our van the first time we towed it home after buying it.
It was a Winterhoff with attitude!
To our neighbours amusement, it took over ten minutes trying everything from swearing at it in German, to sneaking up on it when we thought it wasnt looking.
We got there in the end.
Once we mastered it there was no looking back.
A good hitch that worked well.

    Ha ha .....sneaking up on it when you thought it wasn't looking............classic.......I love it

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29 AND HOLDING !!!!


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19/10/2009 at 3:36am
 Location: Polesworth Warwickshire
 Outfit: Bailey Unicorn III Valencia (LR Disco)
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Joined: 06/8/2004

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Don't even remember what our first towing experience was like all these years down the line, but we've managed to do most of the classic 'errors' somewhere down the line.

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David


19/10/2009 at 10:15am
 Location: N. Ireland
 Outfit: Sprite Quattro Landrover Freelander
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Joined: 26/8/2009

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Your first experience with a jockey wheel is mirrored all up and down the country. Remember the other 2 classics as well - drive off without unhooking the brake cable and my favourite (done it 3 times - so much for learning from your mistakes) drive off with the lighting cable still attached.

Now that you have got it over and done with enjoy your van.



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The things that come to those who wait, may be the only things left by those who got there first.


19/10/2009 at 10:53am
 Location: Redditch Worcestershire
 Outfit: Mooveo Motorhome F camper & Static
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Well done Nelmo,

Your first trip always has to have so kind of little blip, Its part of the breaking you into caravanning process., Glad you enjoyed it.

 



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Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.


19/10/2009 at 11:07am
 Location: north east england
 Outfit: 1981 elddis shamal
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o/h unclamped the jockey wheel on our first jaunt too, makes a hell of a clatter doesn't it? much to the amusement of surrounding caravanners.

now if i'd done it, i'd never have heard the last of it...



19/10/2009 at 5:31pm
 Location: Humberside
 Outfit:  Swift Elegance 565
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I remember being on my 2nd aquaroll when OH said I can hear water. I had forgotten to close the drain tap from the hot water system.17

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19/10/2009 at 6:00pm
 Location: Lincoln
 Outfit: Timberland Destiny
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Quote: Originally posted by Jerry+Tina on 19/10/2009
I remember being on my 2nd aquaroll when OH said I can hear water. I had forgotten to close the drain tap from the hot water system.

OH has done this one more than once, along with filling the aquaroll through the hole on the side & not tightening the cap on the top (soggy ground around tap). Cursing at the cooker because the oven wouldn't light (had cooker lid down so we now know safety cutout works). Left an open bowl of prunes in the fridge while travelling home. Didn't put fruit away before travelling so we got home to find 'van floor covered in badly bruised apples & bananas. Best one though removes shoes before entering 'van then kicks the furniture & breaks her toe (done this twice).


19/10/2009 at 7:01pm
 Location: West Cumbria
 Outfit: Ace Aristocrat caravan & Campervan
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Its all part of the initiation process now you are a fully fledged Caravanner!!LOL

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


19/10/2009 at 8:03pm
 Location: West country
 Outfit: Mondeo
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S'pose  if you didn't hitch the caravan on you could say "Went without a hitch" but in your case you'd probably say "it was a bit of a let down".


19/10/2009 at 8:24pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Swift charisma Skoda Scout 4x4
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Or first experience was with a 1.6 Cavalier, and a deanline crown ( much to big and heavy)

We where on our way to a site near Flaxton near York, took the wrong turning and ended up going through the city

then we came to one of those old arched gates that they have, dont know how we managed it there must have been less than half an inch clearance

Could not help noticing the expression on the faces of the 2 bobby's in a patrol car on the other side of the old gate,17 they where ducking at one point



19/10/2009 at 9:41pm
 Location: Herts
 Outfit: Conway Classic Trio 2004
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Sorry but i was rotflmao at your post.  I don't know if you intended it to come accross so funny but i was in tears lol.  Then i scrolled down the page and was back on the floor at Rustyfrog creeping up on his caravan.

Caravanning is just the best way of life!  Hope you have a great weekend without any mishaps this time lol



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19/10/2009 at 9:56pm
 Location: crewe
 Outfit: Elddis Xplore 302 and Nissan Campervan
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Nelmo, you had me in stitches too! Reminded me of all the mistakes we have  made since starting caravanning with my long gone ma and pa many moons ago! My old dad used to have a saying : " caravanner's knee". This was a black patch of grease on your trouser leg (s) (usually light coloured!) caused by rubbing past an unprotected tow ball in one's excitement to get pitched or hitched. Also, he had an elderley mate who got sick of emptying his waste water bucket. He drilled a small hole in the side so that it never filled above a certain level! Disgusting behaviour and not socially aceptable, I know but in mitigation, his mate was very old and not too fit.Mind you he taught me a great deal about repairing cars which broke down a lot back then. I can still see his rascally old face peering over a pint of beer!

 

 



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cramming for my finals in the twilight zone



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