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Subject Topic: Beginners Guide Please
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21/4/2021 at 1:52pm
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Hello, I’m looking at buying a tourer but want to leave it on a permanent pitch to start with and perhaps stay there if I love the area. I’m so muddled as how I go about things, I’m new to this, never owned a tourer, camper or anything. Lots of questions, really a beginners guide is what I need! Do I look for a tourer first or get a plot, worried about getting ripped of, do I go to a reputable dealer or is it safe to buy online and go and look, what would I be looking for to see if it’s decent, I’m not mechanical either!! Then on to pitches, seen one on farm Llyn peninsula, £1050 for 12 months plus £100 for winter storage, again is this good, just want a very very quiet farm type place, yes a farmers field would be great. Would I manage or are there things I would need help with, like changing water tanks, don’t even know what an aqua roll is, would I be able to fit it and finally what about water in the van do you fill a bucket and toilet waste!! As you can see I could go on forever. I know some of my questions seem daft and stupid but not to me. Any advice, help, thanks.

Post last edited on 21/04/2021 13:56:50


21/4/2021 at 3:19pm
 Location: Devizes Wiltshire
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Welcome to UKCS.

I would suggest you look at the free help and advice pages of the two main clubs, namely Camping and Caravanning Club (C&CC) and the Caravan and Motorhome Club (CAMC).

C&CC Help and Advice

CAMC's Advice for Beginners

When I started camping in a tent, I found the C&CC guides very useful.

Hope they help.

DK

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21/4/2021 at 4:55pm
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You need a pitch for starters. No point buying the 'van without anywhere to site it. Then, its how much money do you want to spend/leave in a 'farmers field'? How secure will it be? As in, could it easily be hooked up and away, or would it be pretty much hemmed in by whatever?
You could buy a 20k 'palace', or a £500 'shed'. Or anything in between.
You need access to water, at least. Then unless you go down the 'off grid ' route with batteries and solar stuff, you may want some leccy - though the farmer might have a heart attack at this suggestion. Toilet facilities could be as good as your home - or a bucket, depending on age/price. You would also need somewhere sanitary to tip this whatever you used.
Whatever you get, it needs to start out clean and safe - ideally one thats been serviced very recently prior to you paying out - no matter what that price was. At least then, you know its sound. Good luck. (cant advise on pitch/storage, as never done it. Though £100 for the winter sounds very good).


via mobile 21/4/2021 at 5:32pm
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If you want a seasonal pitch on a campsite then I would enquire first at your site of choice to ensure pitch is available. Next how much do you want to spend on a caravan ? Give us a figure & then we can tell you what you are likely to get for your money.

To answer your questions about water the Aquaroll can be rolled to water tap. Filled it stands outside caravan. The water pump plugs into caravan. Caravan toilet has a tank for waste that is removed through a hatch on outside of caravan & emptied at the toilet tip which all campsites have.

If you are spending a few £1000s on a caravan then buy it from a local dealer & they would probably tow it to site for you & level it if you ask them.

When you are set up on site most other caravanners will help if you are unfamiliar with anything.

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Every day should be a holiday!


21/4/2021 at 8:18pm
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When you buy the caravan you should be shown how everything works either by the dealer or the seller.

If they don't know I would question whether it's actually their caravan to sell!!!!!


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21/4/2021 at 8:39pm
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Dan's your man - Dan Trudgian has a youtube channelwhich goes through all the basics and much more.



22/4/2021 at 12:03am
 Location: south yorkshire
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dont forget to check any caravan, dealer or not, with a good damp meter,
it can be very hard to see any damp, lurking inside the walls,
stu

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22/4/2021 at 7:36am
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Quote: Originally posted by billy on 21/4/2021
If you want a seasonal pitch on a campsite then I would enquire first at your site of choice to ensure pitch is available. Next how much do you want to spend on a caravan ? Give us a figure & then we can tell you what you are likely to get for your money.

To answer your questions about water the Aquaroll can be rolled to water tap. Filled it stands outside caravan. The water pump plugs into caravan. Caravan toilet has a tank for waste that is removed through a hatch on outside of caravan & emptied at the toilet tip which all campsites have.

If you are spending a few £1000s on a caravan then buy it from a local dealer & they would probably tow it to site for you & level it if you ask them.

When you are set up on site most other caravanners will help if you are unfamiliar with anything.



I dont think 'seasonal' pitch is in the thinking - nothing as formal. Corner of a farm has been mentioned, where there will not be many 'onsite assistants' to show them the ropes.


via mobile 22/4/2021 at 8:29am
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Just what I'm looking for a beginners guide, thank you. There's quite a lot to learn isn't there, perhaps I'm not confident enough yet, until I've done some reading up!


via mobile 22/4/2021 at 8:38am
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Found a site I fancy near Tudweilog £1050 season includes electric and water tap. £10K budget or could wait till next year, have bit more. Do people keep tourers on site all the time, is it daft should I just get a static! There seems a lot to learn, is it easier life in a static, less things go wrong? Thanks for info.


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22/4/2021 at 8:40am
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Don't get a static!

-------------
XVI yes?

As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.


via mobile 22/4/2021 at 8:50am
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That's a thought! Some dodgy ones I suppose. I'm thinking a dealer now, Kinnen's in Manchester not far from me, may call and have a look, got one on their web I like Coachman Amara 4b £7999, but I don't have the caravan knowledge to know if that's good, makes and prices no idea! Cheers


via mobile 22/4/2021 at 8:52am
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Oh, year of Amara 2009


22/4/2021 at 8:56am
 Location: Wigan
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If you buy a tourer, and find that you do not like the site, or it's just not what you expected, you can sell it, to whoever you like, and walk away.

With a static, you usually buy off the site owner, (they take a big cut), and, you have to pay site fees, which can be £4,000 per year,or more.

At 10 years of age, many sites want the static to be renewed, and replaced by a new one, which you must buy off them.
The site may also expect that the old static is bought by them, at their price.

As you may gather, statics are not my cup of tea. Probably cheaper to rent them. Some people do like them.

Use the search facility on here for more info.

If you indicate roughly where you live, perhaps somebody could offer local help and advice. Social distancing of course.

Just caught up with your new posts.
Some members near Manchester may be able to offer some help.

I would strongly advise you to get a caravan engineer to check any caravan you intend to buy.If the dealer will not agree: walk away.
Good dealers have nothing to fear.

https://www.mobilecaravanengineers.co.uk/find-an-engineer/


Post last edited on 22/04/2021 09:02:03


via mobile 22/4/2021 at 2:00pm
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Thanks you for the sound advice, lots to think about. I'll take my time, not a good time really with present situation, some taking advantage and bumping prices up and we're half way through season. Do my homework first, not actually been to look at any yet. Cheers for info.


22/4/2021 at 2:08pm
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Prices are silly at the moment.

I was at my local dealer last week and he has zero stock, new or used, and he is looking about for used vans to put on his forecourt. He told me about one in particular that the Trade price was £6k, the Retail price was £8k and the seller was looking for £11k.

He said a lot of what he is seeing is averaging £3k above the norm.

-------------
XVI yes?

As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.



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