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Quote: Originally posted by Mick S. on 06/1/2022

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As suggested, if at all possible do a night or two on your own drive. Use ALL the kit of the van to thoroughly test it. The number of people who pick up a new unit and travel 20/50/100 miles straight off, you wouldnt believe. It stands to reason that something isnt going to work/go as expected with almost any new (or to you) van.

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Quote: Originally posted by Ancient Uncle on 06/1/2022

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Quote: Originally posted by Mick S. on 06/1/2022

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As suggested, if at all possible do a night or two on your own drive. Use ALL the kit of the van to thoroughly test it. The number of people who pick up a new unit and travel 20/50/100 miles straight off, you wouldnt believe. It stands to reason that something isnt going to work/go as expected with almost any new (or to you) van.

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When we collected our brand new caravan from the dealer, we were allowed to stay overnight on a pitch in their premises. Ideal to check it all worked.

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Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 02/1/2022

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Pretty much general advice to anyone acquiring a new van (or tent, camper etc.), be it brand new or s-h/new to them, book a site near to home for a few days to try the van out to find it's faults and/or foibles, and ensure you have all the kit you need! Set it up and live in it on your driveway if you have one is another alternative. If it's new to you and untried, every chance there will be something you overlooked/were not aware of, and a long stay hundreds of miles from home is NOT the best place to find out!

A short stay close to home also give you a trial tow to ensure all van chassis components are working properly AND that new towbar (and electrics) are all in order, towbar electrics can vary enormously in what you actually get for your money and their compatibility with any particular trailer AND sometimes have teething issues on a new installation! Don't simply take the word of any seller you purchased from that it's 'ready to go', far too many dealerships don't do thorough checks, only quick visual inspections and then mostly to give them some bargaining leverage to barter the price paid down from whoever they acquired it from! If a private purchase, sellers are often simply not technically savvy enough to identify faults, and/or keep quite to sell the van!

I suspect a van of that age and light weight will have a non-damped coupling, in which case don't forget to ideally clean any paint off the new towball, and then grease it. If it's got a damped coupling, you MUST clean ALL traces of paint off the new towball and de-dust and DE-GREASE it, there must NOT be any lubricant/contamination/rust on the tow ball for a damped coupling!

Always useful to have a checklist for prepping/towing/pitching the van, these are a good starting point, most of us do a personally customised version as we tailor our set up to our needs, but you need to start somewhere.

Before Setting off on a Journey

Arriving On Site with a Caravan

Enjoy your new van.

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Quote: Originally posted by CyberCynth on 09/1/2022

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Some good advice there, but can I be a real thickie and ask what a damped coupling is, please?!

I am hoping to get a folding 'van myself soon, and haven't done any towing for a few years. Have I missed something?   I am wondering whether you mean the type of coupling that helps prevent snaking.

Thank you.

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Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 09/1/2022

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Quote: Originally posted by CyberCynth on 09/1/2022

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Some good advice there, but can I be a real thickie and ask what a damped coupling is, please?!

I am hoping to get a folding 'van myself soon, and haven't done any towing for a few years. Have I missed something?   I am wondering whether you mean the type of coupling that helps prevent snaking.

Thank you.

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Spot on Cynth, 'damped couplings' (Alko AKS 3004 probably being the most common fitted to modern vans) have what are effectively small brake pads applied by a second lever after the coupling has been hitched that grip the tow ball, and 'damp' minor movements to aid in preventing snaking. Being brake pads, much the same as your car's brakes, they must operate on clean steel/iron to be effective, hence no paint, grease or rust on tow ball!

Even on new outfits, tend only to be fitted to heavier trailers where there is a greater risk of the 'tail wagging the dog' and snaking being a problem.

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Quote: Originally posted by CyberCynth on 11/1/2022

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Thanks for that Monty15. So I'd hardly need one for towing one of the smaller Gobur caravans.

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Quote: Originally posted by kpnuts81 on 11/1/2022

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Cyber Cynth I have an also 3004 stabiliser fitted to my gobur, also had them fitted to the pennine fiesta & pennine pullman when I owned them, they do give them an easier and more secure tow in my opinion

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