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Hi all

We are excited about our 1st time out with our caravan next week after making the big leap from our little tent lol........ So what advice can you give us as we venture out into the big wide caravan world ?????? 

agree with the above...

have fun

we came back from our first trip on monday and loved it.  the on;ly thing I can say is check your rout and dont trust the sat nav.  on your first proper towing trip you dont want to be taking the scenic route like we ended up doing up and down contry lanes lol

   once you have your weighet sorted  go throw a check list for packing and enjoy yourself. take a pad and papper with you becoues we found we had taken things we didnt need and there were some things we could have done with taking but if you wright them down when you notice there solved for next time.

 hope you love it as much as we do never thought we would love it as much as the tent

we made the swap earlier this year, just enjoy yourselves, you are bound to forget something but that's caravanning for you.

 I think by now, we have just about got everything we need in the van without robbing the home.

When we first started we found the most useful thing for giving peace of mind was the Avondale sheet (came with the van) that gave a list of things to do and check before setting off ! It really helped as we had trouble remembering everything ! We kept it in the glove compartment of the car and checked it all just before setting off. We've had to add a few things along the way - such as "don't forget to secure the bathroom sliding door and the shower door" ... etc !  On it's reverse side it has the things to do when arriving at the site - all very comforting !

There may be one on here somewhere. Plus we found this book extremely useful : Caravanning Handbook. Great bed time reading !

This thread has lots of stuff on : Towing Check List

Take your time - no need to rush.  Check tyres, weights and lights.  Most of all - enjoy yourselves!

Before you move the van have a good look round you may spot things like

Corner steadies still down

Wheel lock still on

Handbrake still engaged

Caravan door open.....if its shut try the handle to see if you locked it....don't set the alarm it'll just be going off at every corner

Roof vents and windows still open

Water still connected

Electrics still hooked up!!!!

Corner steady wrench lying on the floor

Remote for the motor mover sat on the wall

Sandwiches about to be run over

Above all, as has been said, take your time, make sure you have done everything and when you have just ask "What have we forgotten?" Let the folks behind worry about what getting past, don't worry for them. (You will find that you have more of an open road with unobscured views when you pull a van!). Give yourself plenty of room to get round corners and roundabouts....big turns.........and if you forget the bottle opener you're rubbish...

Phil

Quote: Originally posted by cwdc56768 on 29/7/2010

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..and if you forget the bottle opener you're rubbish...

Phil

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  Harsh but fair !

Quote:

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Take note of other caravanner's set up routine, reversing , levelling, how they put their awning up etc etc.
Have a walk around and a bit of a nosey of how things are laid out.
We picked up countless tips and pointers doing this .

Most of all enjoy

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Thankfully for my first trip - when I arrived 5 hrs later than planned.  The warden who showed us to our pitch offered to pitch my van (great in the pouring rain and on grass) with his tractor !

I have done the C&CC 1 day towing course, and have done a bit of reversing practice in some of the empty bays at my storage site.  But the best of advice - has to be take your time, use a check-list to start and probably safe to say never stop learning (yourself and from others)

"One piece of advice i can offer you that was invaluable to us is once you are all set up on your pitch and having a well earned brew or beer do a bit of people watching,
Take note of other caravanner's set up routine, reversing , levelling, how they put their awning up etc etc.
Have a walk around and a bit of a nosey of how things are laid out.
We picked up countless tips and pointers doing this ."

Ah yes, Its almost an art form being a nosey caravanner

Phil

Quote: Originally posted by shirl250 on 29/7/2010

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Quote: Originally posted by cwdc56768 on 29/7/2010

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..and if you forget the bottle opener you're rubbish...

Phil

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  Harsh but fair !

 

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Why isn't there already a bottle opener in the 'van?  That is an essential piece of kit that NEEDS to stay in the 'van ALWAYS