Caravan novices

[Baspegpet]

Hi, we are two ladies who, in 2009, bought a 10 year old motor home for the first time to make holidaying easier with 3 dogs. After a frustrating year, where one of us loved it and the other hated it, we decided to buy a brand new caravan, not ever having towed before. We changed the car to a Mondeo estate and bought a Lunar Clubman SE (I believe a 92% match). We used our old drive- away awning from the motor home, only flimsy but useful with the dogs and which has survived 2 gales(just about), and because we had more space, we took in an extra rescue dog - and not a small one - a greyhound.
We've been all over the country as far as the Orkneys and have thoroughly enjoyed it even though we have had our share of problems with the van(a leaky toilet which had everyone confounded). We have taken in yet another stray dog - again not a small one. Don't know yet how we will all fit in the van to sleep and are considering getting a full size awning but are wondering how easy they are to erect . We intend getting one with fibre glass poles.

Looking forward to travelling again - we use only CL sites and have stayed at some fantastic ones.

PS I did a one- to- one towing course which gave me confidence to tow.

 

[Parksy]

Hi Baspegpet, welcome to the Practical Caravan forum and congratulations on joining us tin tenters

With the travelling that you've done and the experiences that you've had you are hardly novices but if there is anything that you want to know about all aspects of touring caravans you've come to the right place.
Caravan awnings, sometimes known as an argument in a bag, are like anything else. At first they are awkward and can seem difficult but the more that you use your awning the easier it will be to erect.
We will look forward to reading about some of your adventures with the dogs, enjoy the forum and happy caravanning

 

[Mel]

Hi. Welcome to the forum. We used to have a motorhome and find the caravan much better, doubt we would go back to a motorhome in the forseeable future. I agree with Parksy, an awning is just about practice. Once you have got it through the awning channel the principles are pretty much the same as your stand alone awning (we had one of those as well). It does get easier. Prepare well by identifying and marking up the poles before you go away. If you have a 5 peice awning you can take the front and side panels out so that you are not woman-handling (like man-handling but with more grace) huge amounts of heavy canvas. Having said all this we still can't get the awning up without at least one arguement, but they are getting shorter.
mel

 

[Dustydog]

Welcome my fellow dog lovers.
We have two Springers who seem to attract mud even in the dry. An awning is essential for us. We have both a full size and porch awning. The porch awning is ideal for short breaks and gives us somewhere to dry off the dogs. Easy to put up too. The porch takes 20 minutes whilst the full awning is a good hour. The dogs sleep in the caravan whilst we are in our own bedroom at the rear. They could sleep in the awning but no awning is totally dog proof. I'd never tie them up and leave them alone incase they get tangled up.
Anyway welcome to the Forum and look forward to hearing about your travels.

 

[Beachball]

Hi Baspegpet Welcome to the practical caravan forum look forward to your future posts.

 

[soldlisa04]

Hello there, I'm impressed that you took the towing course and think that I'll have to bite the bullet! Held my licence since '87 and can truthfully admit that I parallel parked (successfully) for the first time Fri night in the dark and rain. Bring it on I say! Good luck with your new caravan. Lisa