FINALLY!!! Bought my first caravan!

[Netti_374307085]

I am ridiculously excited now! I pick it up on Wednesday once my tow car has had it's broken spring repaired. It's nothing like what I was after but it is very, very cheap. It's a Swift Silhoutte (sp?), 2 berth, very classy and modern inside but I think it is an older van. It does have the lower half green. Well within what my car can tow. Very much looking forward to it now and not worried about pranging it as it didn't cost me much. Also gives me time to save up for something a bit better next year. I can start booking my holidays now!

So, any tips for that first journey? Mix of town driving but mostly motorway.

 

[ValA.]

Well bought - and enjoy your new! caravan. We bought our first caravan really cheap 15 years ago - and for the first outing took it about 20 miles away for Friday and Saturday night - so that if we forgot anything we could *** home! It let us find any faults, and still be familiar enough with the area to locate anything we might need.

We'd booked a ferry, planning a French holiday, even before we bought the van - and were so excited, then we realised we'd never towed on motorways, so we then took it to Anglesey for a weekend (about 200 odd miles - must have been mad) just to make sure we could drive on motorways.

Our third trip in four weeks was to France! We did a round trip of 2,000 miles - stopping at five different sites in the fortnight - too much when I think about it now, but we had a GREAT time. We sold that van a year later, having fitted a couple of new sockets, and bought a brand new van which was so exciting!!!!

 

[Netti_374307085]

That's my plan as well Val. Use it for this season to give me time to save up for something better next year. I too had all planned out where I wanted to go, etc and just really wanted a caravan of some description to get away from the rat race for a while.

I don't think I'll be quite as adventurous as you tho! Altho I do have to take it on the motorway to get it home.

 

[ajmacintosh]

Hi Netti,

Good luck with your new caravan!. In my opinion, it doesn't matter how old or new a caravan is, It's the freedom and fun it can give you.

The swift Silhouette is a lovely little caravan, a mate of mine had a 1987 model a few years back and took it everywhere. It was through him that I got the bug.

My first caravan was a little 2 berth Bailey beachcomber which we named David (after David Bailey the photographer). Last year we upgraded to a Bailey Ranger 470/4 which we named Clive (Clive Ranger the jewellers) sad aint it. Whats yours called?

Anyway Netti, Have fun, enjoy and a big warm welcome to the forum!

Andrew

 

[EmmanuelMuldoon]

Hello Netti,

Start a list of what to put in the Van, the Car, etc for a trip. After a few outings & updates you then won't forget anything!

 

[Netti_374307085]

That's a very good tip, thank you Chris.

Andrew it hasn't got a name yet! My car is called Lenny tho, so I guess if I name the caravan it will need to sound good with that! Not sure if I should name it tho, don't want to get too attached to it as I will be selling it either at the end of the season or the start of the next one.

 

[stu_766963]

That's a very good tip, thank you Chris.

Andrew it hasn't got a name yet! My car is called Lenny tho, so I guess if I name the caravan it will need to sound good with that! Not sure if I should name it tho, don't want to get too attached to it as I will be selling it either at the end of the season or the start of the next one.

It HAS to be Henry !!! ;-)