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1) the thetford toilet full light. 2) you will need two pipes for the waste going into the container. 4)yes about £12. 5) i use normal window cleaner. 3) normal tv cable is fine,the connectors you will need to sort out. if reception is good a freeview box will work ok.6) no have a damp check at each yearly service.8) yes you need a filler pipe and fittings.9) pads are better to have.they are only steadies not jacks.not a lot of pressure at the corner.10) insurance is a must (read of one taken first night and not insured lost all there money) if it runs away on site and dents another van.while towing it is covered by your car insurance.(have you told them you have got one??) 11) the service is done by a set list of things to do,include a damp test £30.

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	Weight Watching! In order to make sure that your caravan isn't over its weight limit you should be aware of what all the small bits and pieces weigh
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2  you can buy y piece around £3 waste pipe around £1 per metre

3 tv to wall socket cable

4 yes £12

5 make sure you wash windows first to get rid of any grit etc

6 get dealer to damp test on pick up or buy your own damp meter £15 b&q

8 aquaroll come with short fill up pipe you can buy mains kit £45/100

9 big foot fit to caravan legs around £15

10 not a legal requirement but recommended ours is £200

11 gas and electrical systems

12 the list is endless

You will probably have a lot of equipment you used for camping that can now be used in the caravan.    If not, look at places like Poundland, Aldi, Netto, Lidl etc for cheap cutlery, plates etc.  We use sleeping bags early and late season and duvets in summer. 

I would suggest you make your first trip close to home and just go and find out what you might need and don't already have - then make two lists, one of must-haves and one of would-likes. At least then, if you find you have forgotten something essential, you can nip home for it!

As you bought from a dealer, you will have security under the Sale of Goods Act anyway so I would not panic too much about problems with the van at this stage.  Just check everything first time out. I have always found our dealer to be very helpfull if I have had a problem.  He knows that we will come back for our next van that way. 

Hope all goes well for your first outing!

Hi Donna, there will be better experienced people than I to answer all your questions.  But as a recently a recently converted tenter to caravanner I can completely understand how scary it is when you start making a list of everything you need for your first caravan.  I made myself a spreadsheet and bought all the absolutely necessary items for our first trip and then each pay day we treated ourselves to a few bits and pieces here and there until we had pretty much bought all we needed.  Im sure you have plenty of camping bits n bobs which you can reuse too. 

The thing I have found is that once you have everything thats it, when we had the tent I would be shopping all the time for the latest gizmo or gadget whereas this year I haven't felt the need to add anything as I can't improve on what I've already got and the layout of a van is fixed.

Congrats on your new van I hope you have many happy holidays in her!

as odd as it may sound why not spend the day or night or both in your caravan,on your drive,lots have done so.

this way youll get a good feel to whats in the van(and whats missing) how things work etc.

as your a member of this site youl already know that no question is silly.and im sure the ansers to your questions will help others in the same boat.

we all start as novices and no nothing at the begining a question may sound daft but if you dont know the anser then the only way to find out is ask