Bought a van!

[RobKnapp2]

Hi,

following on from my first post (http://www.practicalcaravan.com/forum/towing-driving-and-safety/considering-buying-caravan-need-advise-weights-etc) and being settled somewhat by the very helpful people on here, the wife and I have just bought our first van. A 1990 Swift Challenger 490/5SE. Happy with the price paid, and the fact that everything works and it came with an awning, full bottle of gas and a few other bits and bobs.
The inside, although dated, is all nice and firm, no bad smells, no staining and no soft boards, and as a bonus was only a few miles from where i live.
I must admit there was some nerves experienced shortly after hooking it up, having only towed small trailers before, but got into the stride of things, and applied a 'careful, thoughtful, measured' approach to the drive and was quite relaxed.
Have almost kitted ourselves out for living things, well, im sure that our list will grow alarmingly over the various trips, but we have the basics, also purchased a stabiliser.
This weekend will consist of working out how the awnings goes up most efficiently, giving it a good clean inside and out, a touch of wax on the outside, then a little more practice in the field doing the 'going backwards' thing! Hopefully off for the first trip mid to end of september to a local site for a few days.
Sorry for the ramble, but quite excited to be honest!

Rob

 

[GeorgeandAde]

Good for you Rob.
Thats just the way we started by travelling about 25 miles to a local site and enjoyed a week of getting to know how everything worked.
Was also surprised at how many fellow campers on the site were willing to lend a hand too with questions and of course.....the awning.
As for towing the van.....load it correctly,take your time and most of all.........enjoy it.
Adrian

 

[RobKnapp2]

I can remeber the camping trips with my parents albeit in a tent, were the time of my life, so much fun! I enjoy coarse fishing quite alot, so have an appreciation for being outside and not tied to the front of a PC screen!
With regards to towing, i can see the cruise control being used significantly, it does seem easy for the car to 'run away' without noticing. On the way home the van was empty, I moved the awning slightly forward for a little extra nose weight, but it seemed all quite happy behind the Octavia. We are lucky that my Father in law has some land where we keep it, but I wasnt brave enough to attempt the reverse through the gate, past a car trailer and onto the hard standing, but watching him doing it in the L200 was pretty effortless. Suffice to say, I suspect that the Octavia might grumble a bit after shunting for a while. Time will tell! Really looking forward to it, and I suspect that give it a year or two, the savings pot will start getting added to for a newer van and car!
Cheers

Rob

 

[Robtel]

This weekend will consist of working out how the awnings goes up most efficiently,

Hi Rob,

Welcome to caravanning, hope you enjoy it as much as I have. Best of luck with the awning, it's not known as the "arguement in a bag" for nothing, it can lead to some heated words between those putting the awning up but practice makes perfect as they say.

Any questions please ask as there is always someone who will help out.

Robert

 

[Parksy]

Hi Rob, I must have missed your earlier introductory post so a belated welcome to the Practical Caravan forum and congratulations on the purchase of your Swift.
You seem to be taking the best possible approach to ensure that your transition into a real caravanner is successful and enjoyable and I'm sure that the all important first trip will go well.
Take your time when reversing, use small steering inputs and try not to burn out your clutch, if using door mirrors to go back in a straight line steer toward the bigger 'slice' of caravan visible in your mirror and you will straighten the outfit. Never be too proud to shunt forward for another go if things start to go awry.

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Rob
Congratulations,
The start of a lifetime of caravanning. Well done.
I assume all the tyres , brakes etc are in good order as indeed are all the habitation kit, cooker fire fridge etc?
Enjoy your maiden voyage and get the taste of the freedom of caravanning.

 

[RobKnapp2]

Hi Parksy and Dustydog,

Thanks for your welcomes and advise. We have been out to the van this weekend and checked everything out. Did find a jammed and leaking nonreturn valve on the water heater which resulted in plastic stuck in the threads, and a quick run to the local caravan centre, but all in everything is working, and the Father in law being very competant (ex-trade) with those sorts of things has safety checked the gas and electric.
I did notice a slight gouge in the sidewall of the O/S tyre, so the spare will be going on as that is good, also seems that that tyre is loosing a little pressure over time, but this winter they will be changed for peace of mind anyway, and probably get tyron bands fitted at the same time. My step son and I also got the awning put up, which although was a bit of a palaver with the poles went ok, the poles are now marked too!
Running gear all seems good, the brakes work, better than I expected to be honest, and it doesnt seem to pull to one side or other. I also have a infrared temperature gauge that I used to use for the radio controlled car engines, and checked the temperature on the hubs, and although I cant recall the temp now, it wasnt anything that I found concerning, so quite happy that the brakes are on when they need to be, but also off in the right places! Im not sure if this is right or not, but based on them being shoes and may 'stick', when the van is stored, i tend to chock the wheels and let the handbrake off, with the legs wound down. Obviously when entering it we apply the handbrake and leave on. Am i over worrying here?
With the reversing, at the weekend, I managed to reverse it back into its bay which is through a field gate, past a car trailer and in, which leaves the car pointing precariously at the fence post, however, more importantly, i did it on the second attempt, so really chuffed with myself. With regards to the clutch, ive changed the gearbox on the Octavia in Dec last year after a big bang, including the clutch and flywheel - not a process I would like to repeat - on my back in the cold, however, only 1.5 hours to get out and 2.5 to get back on the road. I did fit a solid flywheel and uprated clutch, but suffice to say i tend to be a little more sympathetic to the drivetrain now! When I got the van back into its bay, I was quite surprised by the fact that I used virtually no gas once actually moving, just clutch control and chugging slowly along, so hoping for more of the same as things go on!
My only concerns at the moment are the overall weight of the van, we have been weighing things as they go in to get an idea, and the noseweight is too high for my car at present, so quite alot will be transfering from the front locker to the boot of the car for trips. I booked a few nights at the local-ish site at the weekend for a couple of weeks time, which should give me enough time to visit a weighbridge before, and get the stabiliser fitted.
Thanks again for all your best wishes and advise, its really appreciated.

Regards

Rob

 

[Beachball]

Hi Rob welcome to the practical caravan forum pleased you have got a nice van we also started out like you brought our first van only a couple of miles from home but that was 30 years ago ..........