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Topic: Hello again/tin tent ahoy

sadkate

25/10/2015 at 7:35am
Location: Linlithgow West Lothian
Outfit: The Yorkshire Diamond!

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Hello again, campers.

Not been here for ages. I've been busy adding a baby to the family so now have a 6 month old and a 4 year old. Still have a husband that never bloomin comes camping. Upgraded to a trailer tent last year but he still didn't come. We've just been, the the of us, in Scotland in October. It was freezing! Electric fan heater in the tent though - we were toasty at night.

However, it's awful hard work the TT, for one alone and I'm on a mission to get a caravan. What do I need to know?!

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Kate

Ye're no here tae enjoy yersel.

paulinekezza

25/10/2015 at 10:15am
Location: Darwen Lancashire
Outfit: Khyam Colorado & Sunn Camp Breton 500

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I have no idea Kate

I just wanted to say congratulations and well done you for not giving up

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I have NEVER been lost, though I do admit to spending several hours locationally challenged

More tentage = Campus Sherpa 4 - reproofed and still going strong

In Memorandum = Vango Quest, Khyam Chatsworth, and a frame tent OH wouldn'try!!!!

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steveiem

25/10/2015 at 10:47am
Location: Clacton on Sea . Sunshine Coast
Outfit: Compass Navigator 1200 TDi swb

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Good luck Kate , you might get a better response to this in the caravanning section . And you may get your husband to tag along with more of the comforts of home , also with the more solid structure of a caravan , like me he may have a fear of being in something that's providing little in the way of defence against bears etc .

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There's a place for all gods creatures ,,

Right next to the potatoes and veg ,,,

geoff+emmy

25/10/2015 at 2:46pm
Location: Huddersfield
Outfit: swift conqueror 645+jeep commander

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First off Buy a damp meter Then how much were you thinking of spending?

sadkate

26/10/2015 at 9:27am
Location: Linlithgow West Lothian
Outfit: The Yorkshire Diamond!

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Thanks Paulinekezza! It's worth it. I'm never giving up camping. The boys love it (the little one just because he gets to sleep in my armpit the whole night :) )

Steveiem, it's bears, is it? I think my fella is just terrified of having no telly.

Geoff+emmy you're the second person to say damp meter to me. I was thinking of a really old van for under two grand but now that OH is on board and has sniffed the difference I think he's more interested in stumping up for something about 9 years old in good nick. 7500 was the prove of the one he liked best, 10yo Lunar with fixed bunk beds, which we would really like. I think that'd be future proof for us. Would like to find it cheaper in a private sale though.

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Kate

Ye're no here tae enjoy yersel.

geoff+emmy

26/10/2015 at 10:50am
Location: Huddersfield
Outfit: swift conqueror 645+jeep commander

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You also need to check what your car will tow? and when did you pass your driving tests?

Grandad Kenny

26/10/2015 at 2:44pm
Location: Essex
Outfit: Fiat Ducato 3.0 Autotrail Mohican

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Check what your current car can tow with regards to weight ratio of the new van, the general advice is 85 % of the kerbweight and not the maximum the car will tow usually stated in the handbook, then go and have a look at some to get an idea, bearing in mind the combined weight you can legally tow depending on when you passed your test, Google B+E licence to get the ground truth, hope it goes well

Patches

27/10/2015 at 7:45am
Location: Staffordshire
Outfit: Freelander 2 2.2GS

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You will get the van you want cheaper private sale, obviously, as the dealer mark up is significant. If you do buy from a dealer, you will want a decent warranty that covers the dreaded damp.

If you do go the private sale route, you can always get a caravan engineer to check out the van for a smallish fee - if you are spending £7500 it would probably be worth paying an engineer for the peace of mind. Bit like buying a car and getting an AA check done on it really. Either that or take someone with you who knows about caravans to check with a meter and to test all the appliances/electrics are working as they should be. You also need to check its history, CRIS registration etc. to make sure you aren't buying a stolen van and that there's not any outstanding finance on it.

sadkate

28/10/2015 at 8:05pm
Location: Linlithgow West Lothian
Outfit: The Yorkshire Diamond!

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Most helpful, ta. I passed my test in June 1997 so I think I can only drive car plus trailer adding up to 3500kg. Car kerb weight is 1400 so I think should be alright?

How much does the stuff you put in your van tend to weigh?!

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Kate

Ye're no here tae enjoy yersel.

sammymac

28/10/2015 at 8:23pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Bailey Pursuit 540-5

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Hi Sadkate, re weight of stuff you put in van - the van will have an unladen weight, but you need to check the MTPLM which is the max weight it can be fully laden. this is what musn't be more than 85% of your car kerb weight.
Our caravan has MTPLM of 1394 kg and an MRO (unladen) weight of 1182kg. The difference is the weight you have avail for stuff to put in - in my case 282kg. but this 282kg has to include the motor mover, gas cylinders etc as well as aqua roll, clothes, food etc. it's more than enough really.

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Sammymac

peterinmalaga

28/10/2015 at 10:58pm
Location: Malaga Spain
Outfit: Knaus Sport caravan

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If you're on your own, Kate, you would be best buying a caravan mover. They aren't cheap but one person can't move the vast majority of caravans when on a site.
Another cheaper suggestion would be to go to France and take 'im indoors with you. Surely there must be some location on the continent that would really tempt him. Caravaning is much better, cheaper and warmer in France and even the food (especially wine!) is cheaper. Crossing the Channel can be very cheap if you book well in advance (try Dover to Dunkirk) and petrol has never been as cheap as it is now, especially at the French hypermarkets. Most campsites have swimming pools and the Med is much warmer than the Irish sea!
Life is an adventure, so go for it!

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