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I just can't believe my ggod luck! And no-one knows just how much this means to me and my family! I couldn't/wouldn't tell anyone for ages because a) I thought it was a wind-up at first and b) I didn't want to jinx anything until we actually had it in our possession. But it's all true!! We collected it on 6th July and managed to tow it home safely albeit slowly! We couldn't wait for our first camping weekend so we even slept in it a couple of times on the drive! Neighbours must have thought we were bonkers.

Finally, we went away in her on the bank holiday weekend and had an absolutely fantastic time. We didn't want to come home:(

However...and this is where you gorgeous people come in...we have a big problem! I think - no definitely - know we have to change our car. It's ok pulling on nice straight roads but struggles on even slight inclines. We probably shouldn't even have towed it home let alone gone away for the bank hol...but we were so excited!

Because we are absolute novices at caravanning (we were tenters) we haven't got a clue what type of tow-car we need. I've read several threads on here and all the advice given to other people asking about weights etc but to be honest, I'm no wiser as to how to work it out:( My brain just can't cope with numbers and percentages! So I wondered if someone could just tell me what car to go for????? Pretty please??? Our current car is a Nissan Serena. It's a 1997 model and is absolutely fantastic for towing our little trailer with all our camping paraphernalia, kids and our lovely big family dog...but it just struggles with the caravan. The details of the caravan are as follows:

It's a Sprite S Line TD 5 berth Musketeer

Single Axle

MIRO:1079kg

MTPLM (lower limit): 1264kg

MTPLM (upper limit): 1300kg

Please, please, please can someone just give me an idea of the types of cars that would pull the caravan and carry 2 adults, 2 children and our Golden Retriever plus other bits and pieces??? (We would have to part ex our current car and we're also skint so would be looking at a cheap swap)!

Thankyou, thankyou so very much in advance of any help and replies:)

As you are complete novices there will be a lot to learn and it's amazing what you can learn from reading the right sort of books. I recommend this one as it contains useful information about towcars, correct loading of the caravan, awnings, gas, water, toilets, electricity and the list goes on and on. A very useful book to have and also for future reference too. People will provide information on weights especially the 85% guideline and noseweights but it's all there in the book so what you read is accurate instead of judging by conflicting advice on this forum especially when it comes to the topic of stabilisers.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Caravanning-Handbook-John-Wickersham/dp/1844258300/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1377887539&sr=8-4&keywords=caravan+handbook+by+John+Wickersham

haha...thanks for all your replies and your lovely help - passed our tests before 1997

thanks saz...when they rang me to tell me I'd won I was completely shocked! Thought I'd won a spare wheel or a battery at first!

We still can't believe it and are absolutely as proud as punch

If I had my way I'd jack my job in and live in it, haha

xx