Since Monday when my beloved Tornado (sigh) arrived my poor long-suffering husband is now a caravan widower.. I talk, eat, breathe my caravan. I can talk about nothing else, tomorrow when the tow bar is finally fitted, she goes out with me for the first time on a test drive up to Duntocher to stay overnight on the drive of some pals as it's one of thems birthday and we don't have to designate a driver. (and have the sober one banging on for months after about the drunk one's outrageous behaviour).
Anyway, i digress. While my other half was in t'pub the other day perusing the Daily Record (obligatory in Scotland) i thought i'd nip round to WH Smith and grab a caravanning magazine!!!! ....HA !, there are billions to chose from (i exaggerate not), I walked out (empty handed) in a confused daze. So the question i want answered (after going all round the houses) is............which one/ones are the most informative for a complete novice caravanner who is crazy about her caravan?
Plus, will this euphoria wear off? Will i need medication? Is this common with all first timers?
PS, have i told you about my caravan?
and if anyone wants to see photos of my caravan...........i've got about 30 already ha ha
------------- LIFE IS NATURES WAY OF KEEPING MEAT FRESH
We got our caravan last year and I was exactly the same as you (what am I saying I still am!) I live, breathe, eat and sleep caravan.
Nothing gives me more pleasure than to talk caravan, read caravan, click caravan (internet), watch caravan (the caravan show - sky) and lets not forget the all important and probably the ultimate caravan experience - actually going somewhere in your caravan!
I can see peoples eyes glazing over, but that doesn't stop me.
Anyway I've brought loads of mags which I read over and over again, and I've come to the conclusion I like Practical Caravan the best.
Just another thought if you join the caravan club they'll send you a pretty good mag each month, as well as having some great sites.
------------- Jane
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Hiya Jane, i don't know if the Caravan Club will post to Bulgaria, which is where we're emigrating to next month. Or if they'll have any relevant information pertaining to the Bulgarian experience, my Bulgarian builder was fascinated when i showed him a picture, they'd never even seen one before (gonna make it difficult to get parts).
Since phoning Elddis this morning we've found out that my beloved Tornado is a 1980 model NOT a 1988 model as we were lead to believe when we went to view and buy. This is not a problem as we didn't pay megabucks for her and she's nice and dry and the underneath is clean and sturdy, but it does go to show it is out there. Rotten swines.
------------- LIFE IS NATURES WAY OF KEEPING MEAT FRESH
we have had our caravan for a few weeks now and been away twice in her and i am just the same as you i love it so much , OH thinks i love it more then him we carnt wait to go away again , i just wish i could go every weekend but need money so have to work roll on the 2nd june camping here we come
I like Practical Caravan best. You can have it mailed to you every month if you take out a subscription. I must be caravan mad too 'cos I even kept the subscription to it going when I had motorhomes and folding campers instead for a couple of years.
------------- Caz
If you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, just keep going till you go round the bend.
i'm something of a magazine addict in my various interests. In caravanning I think that Practical Caravan, while repetitive, is the least worst; Caravan magazine has too many typos for comfort. Which Caravan is useful if you're looking to buy, Out and About has too many pages of "here's Joe and Doris sitting beside their xxx at xxx campsite and this is why they love this site . . ."
I like the annual magazine 'Caravan Buyer' which is published in January each year, but available from the publishers if you have trouble getting it in WHSmith.
It shows you all the current vans and it gives details of used van prices - and I think is the only magazine to do so. It also lists top towcars.
I keep a copy in the van all year round. Then, when we see a van or a towcar that we like the look of on site - we can check out it's vital statistics in our never-ending search for the 'perfect' vehicles (Yes, I know it's sad to do that!!)
It is really aimed at the 'new' or would-be caravan owner, but I still like it for reference even now we have a bit of caravanning experience.
I did suscribe to Practical Caravan - but eventually got bored with the repetitiveness, repetitiveness, repetitiveness ....
We pick our caravan up on the 3rd June and it's dominated our lives since we first saw it, which I think was the weekend before Easter. My OH went to the dealer's shop the other day and he just had to pop round to the compound to have another look!
We found Caravan Buyer very handy when we were looking round and I liked Out & About for about 6 months. I agree that magazines get repetitive and I find that if you read the same one for about 2 years, they've covered most things.