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11/10/2016 at 10:27am
Location: Lichfield
Outfit: Coachman Amara 450
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Make sure you have at least one ramp for levelling up side to side on site as it will need to be level for the fridge to work effectively. Levelling up front to back is done via the jockey wheel and only use the four corner steadies to stabilise the caravan, never use them as lifting jacks as they are only fixed to the wooden floor and not the chassis.
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11/10/2016 at 10:33am
Location: Derbyshire
Outfit: Adria Altea 542DT
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Most sites will be fairly quiet at this time of year. Just take your time with everything and you will be fine.
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11/10/2016 at 11:25am
Location: Lichfield
Outfit: Coachman Amara 450
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Also a really good tip is to buy a book if you are totally new to caravanning as there is so much to learn about apart from just setting up. A good book to start off with is the 'Caravan Handbook' by John Wickersham.
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11/10/2016 at 11:34am
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at this time of year I would suggest turning up mid afternoon or earlier, take your time, before leaving find nearest caravan shops, take a decent toolbox with you, and if possible go with a caravanning friend, at least then you could use there caravan for cooking and keeping warm etc if things went wrong with your van
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11/10/2016 at 11:35am
Location: Nottingham
Outfit: Swift Challenger 530
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Make a list of what you want to take with you. You'll probably still forget something but can add it to for next time.
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Rose
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11/10/2016 at 2:12pm
Location: Midlands
Outfit: 2019 VW Arteon + 2002 Avondale Dart
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Echo tango55 ... take a levelling ramp and level the caravan using that and the jockey wheel. Steadies are just that - not jacks.
A few other mistakes to avoid (not that we've made any of them ourselves, you understand)!
Journey to site
- Make sure the caravan tow hitch is FULLY attached to your towbar, the breakaway cable is attached and the handbrake is off
- The towing mirrors need to be TIGHTLY attached to your car mirrors in order that one of them doesn't - for instance - fall off onto the motorway
Set up
- If you need to put one of the caravan wheels onto a levelling ramp, do so BEFORE unhitching it from your car
- The freshwater inlet and waste water outlet valves are entirely different. If you try and connect the water pump to the wrong place, you will instantly look silly
- Have you fully connected your electricity cable to both your caravan and the site hook-up point?
- Is the gas supply turned on?
- Don't leave the pump to run dry if it's not submerged in water. If you do, it will break.
All sorted? Well done, now you can have your first cup of tea
Leaving site
- Is gas turned off, water drained and toilet emptied
- You haven't locked the door/gas locker but left the key in the lock have you??
Forgetting something is not included in the list because that's normal (for us anyway)! and it's what caravan shops and/or supermarkets are for! Remember the wine and you'll be ok. Enjoy :)
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11/10/2016 at 2:55pm
Location: Bolton Lancs
Outfit: Bailey Orion 430-4 & Mitsubishi PHEV
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for levelling side to side I use a length of 25mm decking board cut into 3 and use the appropriate number of pieces. If parked on wet grass a piece under each wheel stops it sinking
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11/10/2016 at 6:04pm
Location: North Norfolk
Outfit: Bailey Olympus
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Just look like you know what you are doing, that's what I've been for the last 20 years. in a few years time you will be sitting, getting entertainment from a newby just as other will be next week.
Post next week and let us know how it went.
Good luck
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Just saying
If all is not lost where is it then?
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11/10/2016 at 6:06pm
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And do not forget the Red wine......!
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Not ALL Newts get p**sed.
“Semper Fidelis”
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11/10/2016 at 6:10pm
Location: West Midlands
Outfit: Various tents
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Quote: Originally posted by SamandRose on 11/10/2016
- Have you fully connected your electricity cable to both your caravan and the site hook-up point?
In that order (reverse when disconnecting) so you're not carrying a live socket around!
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11/10/2016 at 9:11pm
Location: Essex
Outfit: None Entered
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Hi Matt,
Hope you enjoy your first trip , I know how excited we were in May when we used our new (to us) van for the first time.
All I would add to the great advice above is plan your journey so you know what roads you will be towing on, and take your time. My first trip was only 50 miles down the road but it was pouring down with rain!! so was a fun trip!
Make sure you have some decent towing mirrors, its very useful to see whats behind you.
Dan
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11/10/2016 at 9:41pm
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Levelling, hook ups, steadies, planning and lists are all very well..............But do not forget the Red wine!
Have a great trip Matt, and yes, you will make mistakes. Just learn from them.
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Not ALL Newts get p**sed.
“Semper Fidelis”
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Topic: Feeling Nervous
