Message Forums

Well i found one an Abi award tristar 4 berth.

Now waiting for our first journey in a couple of weeks.

Should be OK with my 1.8zetec mondeo, gonna get a stabiliser fitted after advice in previous post, i managed to get that thrown into the deal so i'm quite happy.

Dreading the trip to cornwall in summer though anyone got any further advice, IE best time to travel, through the night seems like the best option or maybe a stop off friday night before completing journey Saturday morning

oh happy days

Congratulations on your new van, good choice  We have a 1989 (ish) Tristar and we love it, pics of ours are on my homepage if you want to take a look.

Hope you have many happy times in it.

Congratulations, hope you have as much fun as i do.

dont know how i managed in a tent!

Great to know the ABIs are still popular.  I have an ABI Cricket which is a 1992 limited edition. 

I had a stabiliser thrown in by the dealer as a freebie and would'nt really dream of towing without one.

I think I would go for a Friday night stop somewhere.  It's a heck of a journey and you don't want to get tired and tow too!

Enjoy your Tristar and have many happy holidays in it!

Jazzycats.

Congratulations on your first van. We have been to Newquay for the last two years in July/August. We set off about 9pm the first year on a Friday night as the site had a holding field, so I thought it would be an idea to grab a few hours when we got there. We were tenting then so it was a case of sleeping in the car which wasn't great but it saved me travelling during the day which is meant to be an absolute nightmare. Second year, we did pretty much the same. I would certainly recommend travelling through the night, but make sure to have a few stops even if your not tired.         Good luck and enjoy Cornwall, we love it.

Congratulations on your new ABI  they are lovely vans, unfortunatley we have to sell our ABI purely because we have outgrown it

We could be twins !! 

Well, I've also got a new caravan (my 1st one) a 1999 Bailey Ranger 500/5 which I got for a total steal with everything bar an awning thrown in !!  Wanted the 5 birth twin diner layout and decided the Bailey was an ideal starter caravan for a couple of years.  Our 1st trip out is Spring Bank Holiday, just to the lakes which is under an hour so a nice gental start.

We are also booked in to Cornwall for 2 weeks in July and I've also booked on the Caravan Club towing course at the beginning of July, just thought I would like to be told how to do it correctly before the 8-9 hour drive to Cornwall from Lancashire.

Like the idea of overnight travel as our site also has a holding field, will give it some thought.

Our Bailey Ranger 500/5 is a 98 model and we are over the moon with it. Only got it in February this year and been away in it once. Likewise, we got everything thrown in with it as well and I mean everything and got it at a great price. It even has one of the Al-Ko stabilisers on as well which I was going to get anyway. Were going away again in a couple of weeks to Thirsk . Cannot wait

Great isn't it !!  Like kids with new toys ....

I bought a Dorema awning off eBay and set it up on the drive yesterday !!  It came with no instructions so decided to look a chump on the drive rather than on a site

Just as well I did, it had around 8 extra poles for some reason, I think it was just to make me look silly.  I think the neighbours thought we were bonkers but it was actually quite easy once I got my head around it.  All poles nicely labled now so should be a breeze week after next.

Oh, and likewise have the Al-Ko friction hitch on, came with the caravan too,  it really is a cracking starter caravan.

Well done ! I remember how excited we were when we got our first van - couldn't wait to get away !

We travel to Devon every year and wouldn't go at any other time than overnight. If the site you're booked on to doesn't have a holding area then you could always stop for a 2 hour break at the services - you may have to pay for a longer stop (we have done this a couple of times). We find the best thing to do is to get past Bristol area before 5 am ! If you can do that then its a pretty clear run the rest of the way down.

It's very funny to see a 'sea of caravans' at the services and on the motorway. You'll be surprised just how many people do the overnight runs !

Have a nice holiday and hope you enjoy your first outing in your new caravan !

Hi Folk,

Watch out for the roadworks on the other side of Bristol (Cornwall side) seven miles of roadworks with SPEED CAMERAS around about six cameras, I have just got back from Hayle after spending three weeks down there. If you do want a stopover try Homefarm at Burham.Enjoy your holidays

Cheers

Micky

congratulations on the new van,

last time we went down to cornwall we stopped off at a lovely site at AUST, its on the outskirts of bristol, the site looks out between the 2 bridges over the chanel, breathtakeing views in the evening, worth a visit if your not sure that you want to travel down over night.

have fun

Thanks for all your advice.

Looks like i'll be travelling down through the night seems best option and stay in holding field at Pentewan on my very early arrival to get some kip.

Will be going local in a couple of weeks to try everything out and get a bit of practise.