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Quote: Originally posted by cwdc56768 on 06/5/2010

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Only time you ever get to see the open road is when you have a caravan!

Fridge door locked - the left over beer tends to get too fizzy if left to fall out and roll about the floor

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Absolutely right with the first comment - it was the thing I found the most obvious about towing - you're NEVER held up by anyone

Left-over beer?  You're doing something wrong...

We were away last weekend and I walked past a family having a right barney trying to put their awning up - went past 2 hours later and they were still at it!! Easy solution, IMO - get a porch awning - much easier...

Two things matey

1. Yep...when you see folks fighting over the awning don't you get this irresistable urge to go back later and see what has happened?

2. Good point about the beer........ will try to do better this next week

Phil

Seconding what a number of others have said:

*  Make the journey part of the holiday.  I had a fair few miles of motorway driving on my first ever tow so I just tucked in behind a lorry and settled for 56mph rather than 60mph

*  Look forward to to other people being helpful - they will be and they've all been there before!

*  Think of the awning as an unco-operative teenager rather than an inanimate object.  I found that helped to unite me and the wife against it rather than us picking on each other.  By the way - I'm convinced that awning instructions are all written by Yoda from Star Wars ("Adjust the pole will you do", "Front of awning erect you will")

* Check, check and check again before setting off.  For some reason when I set off home on my first ever trip the van felt different when towing (even though it was loaded in exactly the same way).  If I hadn't checked I would have pulled over in the first layby as I was convinced I'd left the handbrake on, even though I knew I hadn't!

*  You will forget something so just make sure it isn't something important (for us it was pillows - easy to fix).  Just in case, buy wine with a screw top

Cheers,

    Derek.

Cant say more than that check and check again, On my last and 2nd outing walked round the van twice and then moved of, By the time i got to the site entrance remembered that I hadnt empted the hot water tank and also forgot to put on the car mirrors  

On some hook-up points you have to plug in, then twist clockwise till it locks. Push the red button to release.

Take some blocks, timber decking cut about 4"-6" long is ideal. Great for putting under legs on sloping ground etc.

Assuming you have drained the hot water tank, make sure you close the valve before switching your pump on to fill your system up.

Level side-to-side first (if needed), then end-to-end. I levelled the van, then found a spot visible in the front window where I could pop one of them 2-way mini spirit levels. Before we set off I put the bubble level in place with a blob of blue-tac to stop it sliding about. On site then I can see the level when stood at jockey wheel winder. 

Quote: Originally posted by takisawa on 07/5/2010

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On some hook-up points you have to plug in, then twist clockwise till it locks. Push the red button to release.

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 i did that the last weekend we went away.  Kids were helping Daddy put up the tent so i thought i'd be helpful and plug the electric in but didn't realise that sometimes you have to twist it.  Dh reminded me that i couldn't live without him and i reminded him when when he was laying carpet, putting up shelves, decorating  etc etc last weekend that without my help it all would have taken him a lot longer...

And his reply?

Without you there i wouldn't see the need to do it

Quote: Originally posted by derekupnorth on 07/5/2010

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*  Think of the awning as an unco-operative teenager rather than an inanimate object.  I found that helped to unite me and the wife against it rather than us picking on each other.  By the way - I'm convinced that awning instructions are all written by Yoda from Star Wars ("Adjust the pole will you do", "Front of awning erect you will")

*  You will forget something so just make sure it isn't something important (for us it was pillows - easy to fix).  Just in case, buy wine with a screw top

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We're new to caravanning this year too

Love point 1 above - not sure I can print my feelings towards my "un-cooperative" teenage son at the moment  Lets just say he is only still breathing because we have the caravan and I can get away from him

Point 2 - a box of wine is even better

Enjoy your 1st trip out.

My best bit of advice......never forget your sense of humour!

 

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we are relatively new to caravanning but whatever happens we love it learning curve is great but once settled down with most things sorted its so easy to forget all the stress of the working week just chill meet other people see different places its that good now that i offer my help if i see people struggling setting the sky dish up i was once learning its good to help others along the way

roll on next weekend nottingham here we come two adults and a child well a labrador called trevor but is worse than a child with his misceivious streak