Could do with advice for newbie

[Graham_374374066]

Well we went to the caravan & motorhome show yesterday. Met loads of really great people who were all helpfull. A really great day. Had a rush of blood to the head. Bought our first van - to be picked up in about 3 weeks. Now I need unbiased advice on what to get to go with it.

Awning, what make and what depth?

Leisure battery - 2 year or better?

Water carrying thingy.

Wheel lock - alko ? Would mean fitting alloys, will the back plate be already fitted?

Hitch lock?

Wing mirror extensions?

Dealer says he will give me a discount but will I get a better one on line and where?

Joined Caravan club as well btw

Thanks for any advice

 

[SirRogerFFS]

Hi Graham and welcome to the wonderful world of caravans .

Right to start with if you have bought your van from a dealer ,then as a first time buyer they should start you off with a starter pack which may include battery ,water carrier steps hitch lock wheel clamp, maybe battery .

I know we did.

Just to give you some idea we have just changed our van that had all those things to go but as we already had them they brought the price of the van down.

Now go out there and do battle .

Regards Sir Roger

 

[swpostie]

Hi Graham,

Congratulations on your new purchase - I'm sure you'll get as much pleasure out of it as we have got from ours since buying in February.

As to what you'll need, going by your list:

Awning - do you want a full awning or a porch awning? We needed a full awning with annexes (for the extra sleeping capacity) and managed to get a Sunncamp awning thrown in. This is towards the budget end of the market and is, I think, essentially the same as the Dorema awnings and one or two others whose names escape me. It has steel poles, which are heavy but with a confidence-inspiring sturdity and is a bit of a pain to put up - which, I believe all full awnings are.

We have also bought a porch awning (made by Apache - possibly mid-range - more expensive than the full awning), which also has steel poles, but these are partly sprung-loaded and easier to put together. On the whole, though, the Apache doesn't seem much better quality than the Sunncamp. If we're going away for a week or more we don't mind putting up the full awning whereas we bought the porch for weekends away. So, my advice to you (if you are thinking of buying as we did) is to get the quickest, easiest porch you can find for any money! I think a full awning will always take time to erect and there's not much you can do about that but, if you can find a really quick and easy porch you'll find it indispensable - so get a cheap full awning and the best porch!

Battery - We have a 110AH, which is considered big. It will just about last a week if we are very careful and hardly use it. If you are always going to use electric hook-up it doesn't matter too much - you will need an electric hook-up lead (25 metres is usual).

Water Carrier - You will need an Aquaroll (or similar), for your fresh water, of around 40L and a Wastemaster (or similar), for your waste (grey) water. You will also need some piping and probably a Y-piece (available from any caravan accessory shop) to connect your caravan waste outlet to your Wastemaster.

Wheel lock - You'll need one to appease your insurance company at least. Ours is by Milenco who are very well known (though there are others).

Hitch lock - Very useful and your insurer may want one. Ours is by Al-Ko, who made the hitch.

Mirrors - again, Milenco are amongst the most popular with their Aero and Grand Aero designs.

You will also need:

Some gas (propane for all year use), regulator and gas bottle spanner.

Levelling ramp (and chock).

Toilet Chemicals (pink for the flush and blue for the casette).

Corner steady winder.

Step.

If you're getting an awning it's worth splashing out on some decent pegs. We use Tarzan pegs, which are about 9" steel and suitable for any surface.

I think that should just about do you!

Try and get the dealer to throw in as much as possible.

 

[Olly]

Hello Graham.

If you will only use your awning for the occasional weekend plus a two week holiday each year, then one of the mid-price makes will be fine. On the other hand, if the awning will be used for weeks on end then buy an Isabella .

http://www.isabella.net/uk/awnings/isabella-awnings.html
You have joined the Caravan Club so look in the monthly magazine for advertisements of second-hand awnings.

For all of the other odds and ends you will eventually buy, take a look a t Towsure ( discount given to CC members ) or Waudby's .

http://www.towsure.com/default.asp?
http://www.waudbys.co.uk
Keep you van in good condition by using the excellent materials marketed by Fenwicks .

http://www.fenwicks.info/
The Alko wheel lock is fiddly - take a look at Milenco their equipment should get you a discount on your caravan insurance .

http://www.milenco.com/
Extended mirrors are a legal requirement and a variety are available. The ones not to use ( assuming that you have electrically adjustable mirrors ), are the ones that fit to the normal mirror by the use of a suction cup. The strain they put on the flimsy innards of an adjustable mirror are not worth the risk of damage.

If you are ever tempted to take a television with you on an extended holiday, all questions can be answered at .

http://www.satelliteforcaravans.co.uk/
Hope it helps - I'm sure that other members will come up with a lot more useful information for you and answers to future questions,

Olly.

 

[Parksy]

Hello Graham

Congratulations on the purchase of your first caravan, let us know what make and model that you've chosen.

When you collect your new caravan there will be some items included in the deal which you won't need to buy.

These are a an electric hook up ( ehu) lead

a corner steady winder

A step

Usually small samples of toilet chemicals which can be found in two small bottles underneath the toilet cassette.

If your caravan is fitted with an onboard water tank there should also be a waste water container supplied.

From these items the two object that are of any real use are the ehu lead and the corner steady winder.

The step that is supplied isn't much good and you will still need to buy toilet chemicals anyway.

You should arrange caravan insurance for when you take delivery, the caravan club is a good place to start in that respect.

When you pick up your caravan the dealer will go through the handover with you.

Use the time between now and when you collect your caravan to find out what to look out for and what questions to ask, make a checklist.

Ask your dealer if the Al ko back plate is fitted to your caravan before you buy a wheelclamp but if you have steel wheels it would be better to buy a wheelclamp that is 'sold secure gold standard'. As long as the wheelclamp satisfies any insurance terms and conditions, is not too much hassle to put on or too heavy and is as secure as you can get it is ok.

Seek as much advice from members of this forum as you can, they will help you.

Above all, enjoy your new caravan.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Olivier stated

"For all of the other odds and ends you will eventually buy, take a look at Towsure ( discount given to CC members )"

How do CC members go about getting discount from Towsure, please?

 

[Phillipcharnwoodforest]

woodlands camper, we went to the store at Shefield to pick up our stuff , after ordering on the phone and the lady on the check out asked us if we were C.C. members and had we got the card with us. When we produced the card they took of the discount at the till. If you buying online or over the phone and having them delivered, I don't know for sure but would suggest that they will ask or you could tell them that you are C.C. members and quote the number (have your card to hand for the membership number)

 

[Phillipcharnwoodforest]

Sorry should have said that it was Towsure that we dealt with.

 

[Graham_374374066]

thanks for all your advice - much appreciated. Pick up van in about 3 weeks An Avondale Dart 525 btw. It was that or an Abbey ( had to be a lightweight) and the price diference (because of the demise of Avondale) that swung it. Spent an enjoyable couple of hours chatting to some very helpfull people who were also at the show. It was great to meet so many nice people during the day. One of the reasons why we decided to get a van was the people we have met. The dealer has offered a deal on the accessories but sometimes these deals aren't really such good deals are they? It's good to read the comments on the forums, the choice is bewildering to us new caravanners.

 

[Graham_374374066]

thanks for all your advice - much appreciated. Pick up van in about 3 weeks An Avondale Dart 525 btw. It was that or an Abbey ( had to be a lightweight) and the price diference (because of the demise of Avondale) that swung it. Spent an enjoyable couple of hours chatting to some very helpfull people who were also at the show. It was great to meet so many nice people during the day. One of the reasons why we decided to get a van was the people we have met. The dealer has offered a deal on the accessories but sometimes these deals aren't really such good deals are they? It's good to read the comments on the forums, the choice is bewildering to us new caravanners.

btw, towsure only give a discount(5%)to CC members if you go into their shop - not if you shop online.