Advertisement
Message Forums |
|
 Topic: Caravan Storage: how to organise ourself?
|
Page: 1 2
  |
28/9/2021 at 4:18pm
Location: Norfolk
Outfit: None Entered
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 28/9/2021 Standard Member
Forum Posts: 6
| Site Reviews Total: | 0 |
|
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0  |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2018: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2018: | 0 |
|
Hi everyone - we're currently looking to buy a towing caravan, which is going to have to be stored elsewhere as we don't have room on the drive.
For those of you that use storage, can I ask how you basically organise things?
Do you go and pick up the caravan, bring it home, park it on the street and load it for your trips? Or do you pack everything into the car, drive to the site and start your holiday from there?
I'm thinking we'll probably have to do the second option, just trying to get my head around packing clothes, bedding, kids and dog into the car - even if its just for a half hour trip! I can't get my head around how we'd do it - pack everything into cases, but then what do we do with the cases? Or would it mean two trips: one the day before we go to pack up the van, then back again the next day to hook up and go? I'm having trouble working out how it would all best be done, and whichever way I look at it it feels super-faffy!
What do you do?
|
| Discounted Insurance Quotes for UKCampsite.co.uk visitors! Up to 12.5% off! |
|
|
|
28/9/2021 at 5:58pm
Location: Norfolk
Outfit: None Entered
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 28/9/2021 Standard Member
Forum Posts: 6
| Site Reviews Total: | 0 |
|
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2018: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2018: | 0 |
|
Great tips, thank you! And no, I hadn't thought about payload, you're absolutely right 
I don't think it's going to be possible to park the van up outside the house realistically, even for an hour - our street is so narrow (and the neighbours never seem to park on their drives, so there's always cars parked all over the road  ). So I think we are going to have to load up the car. I'm thinking about those vacuum bags, although that would mean having a mini hoover in the van and not sure there'd be space for that! (I shall google mini hoovers and see what I can find..!) Definitely like the idea of small foldable bags rather than cases - not sure what we already have, but I guess bin bags for clothes might be a good 'make do' for now. I do like the idea of a lidded shoe box though, that's definitely going on my list!
I was hoping to be able to just use the bedding from our beds at home, but I'm thinking we might end up getting bedding especially to keep in the van to save car space.
I think part of my problem is that we've never had to store a van away from home before - plus the last time we were caravanners (well, folding camperers then) is was pre-children/pets and just the two of us (the carefree days!).
Hhmm... now I'm going back to thinking about a folding camper again - at least we could put that on our drive... but then there's the whole 'fiddling about putting it up/folding it down when it's wet' thing... But then it would be easier to tow... But then it would take longer to put up... oh the decision making is starting to addle my brain!! 
Thanks so much for your help :)
|
28/9/2021 at 7:18pm
Location: Barry (Not quite the island)
Outfit: Bailey Platinum 642
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 26/5/2010 Gold Member 
Forum Posts: 366
Tent Reviews: 1
| Site Reviews Total: | 12 |
|
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 4  |
| Site Reviews 2018: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 9 |
| Site Nights 2018: | 0 |
|
We store ours about half an hour away. We chuck a fair bit in it when we're not using it, but then a day or a couple of days before we go away, I put the sheets on, take whichever awning we're not using out and so on and leaveit in the house. I spend about an hour or so there getting it ready so when we do go, it is 10-15 minutes to hitch up and go. Fortunately, ours came with 'spare' bedding, so we've not had that problem. And we just chuck everything in bags for life in the car as when you've put all your clothes away, you're not worrying about where to hide bags or suitcases.
Sounds a bit faffy, but its really not (at least not compared to our trailer tent!), and if you find storage close or on the way to somewhere you go regularly anyway (like a relative or work), it does make it a lot easier.
-------------
2019: Hurn Lane CAMC, Cirencester Park CAMC & Lytton Lawn
2020: Brecon Beacons CAMC, Bladon Chains CAMC, Brecon Beacons CAMC, Les Iles (Normandy), Easter Compton (BOC Rally), Deanwood (BOC Rally), Abbey Wood CAMC
|
28/9/2021 at 7:43pm
Location: West country
Outfit: Mondeo
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 23/8/2008 Diamond Member 
Forum Posts: 4664
| Site Reviews Total: | 1 |
|
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2018: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2018: | 0 |
|
Clearly its best if you can bring it home and load it, plug it in and cool the fridge, clean it etc. But if you haven't room you cant do that.
When we had the Dandy folding camper we kept everything camping related in or on top of the camper (under the cover) chairs, crockery, kettle, cooking kit, bedding, awning, porta potti etc.
All clothes, food etc, small 3 way chest fridge went in the car.
We kept bedding, pillows and sleeping bags in the dandy. Clothes etc went in a holdall each which stored by day on a camper bed.
This split of camping kit in dandy and clothes etc in car meant we only had to pack and unpack the car. The dandy was not opened to go or on return. This made packing incredibly easy.
Now we have a caravan we pack everything in it but this is quite time consuming, carrying everything in and out and putting in drawers and cupboards etc. We do keep crockery and cooking kit etc in it all the time though.
If you do think a folding camper easier, a Dandy can be folded down wet and left wet for several months without harm. Ours was manly dry by the time we got back anyway as the PVC covering doesnt absorb any water and there is lots of space under the cover for the wind to blow through. They are less well equipped than caravans having only a grille and hob, sink with cold water. The very big ones the toilet destiny 6 berth also have a toilet compartment with a tip up wash basin.
|
29/9/2021 at 1:04am
Location: London
Outfit: Lunar Cosmos 524
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 17/9/2015 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 2335
| Site Reviews Total: | 1 |
|
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 1 |
| Site Reviews 2018: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 6 |
| Site Nights 2018: | 0 |
|
My van is in storage with no option to bring home, so a visit a day or so before trip to check it over, check tyres and wheel nuts, battery charge etc, restock towels and bedding (sleeping bags - much less faff than sheets, duvets etc., I don't have a fixed bed anyway). Basically get it as ready for towing as you can, then when you go to pick it up, you can quickly hitch up and away.
Otherwise pretty much the same as others have said, it's not much of a faff once you get into a routine. Got to reinforce the note about not overloading van, it's so easy to do, not just the legalities of being overweight, but a lighter van tows so much better/safer too! Watch nose weight, and everything heavy (awning etc.) low down and over axle!
I'd investigate storage site vacancies BEFORE buying van - demand has been very high during Covid with LOTS of new caravanners/MHs, and storage spaces are like hens teeth in some areas! Don't want to find yourselves with a van and no where to put it!
Good luck.
|
|
|
7778 Visitors online !
Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker - Recommend to Friend - Add a Missing Campsite
[Message Forums]
[Caravan Sites & Camping]
[Company Listings]
[Features / Advice]
[Virtual Brochure]
[Shop!]
[Reception]
[Competitions]
[Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]
[Event Diary]
[Contact Us]
[Tent Reviews]
Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024 |
Advertisement
|
|
|
)
