Hi there!

[kerbdog]

Hello all, I'm a new comer to caravanning and after much messing around in tents for the past few years we took the plunge and pick up our 2008 Swift conqerer 540 in a week and a halfs time.
Im sure there willl be questions to be asked in the future and hope to glean the wisdom already on the boards!

 

[Parksy]

Hi Kerbdog, welcome to the forum and congratulations on choosing your caravan.
If there's anything you're not sure about just ask.

 

[jallin]

Hi
And welcome - we are fairly new also - well returners! I'm sure you will enjoy and there is always someone to advise on here!

 

[Mel]

Hi and welcome to the forum. Make sure that you have lots of time at the handover when you pick up your new van.
Mel

 

[Hutch]

Welcome Kerbdog. Lots of info and help here , to help you, don't be afraid to ask what you may think to be the daftest question. Some one will help.
Hutch.

 

[LizziePope]

Hi there and welcome to the forum – and to caravanning!

 

[Raywood]

Welcome and do not worry about asking questions. We all had them when we first started out. Make sure you get everything demonstrated to you though when you collect the caravan and I would video this if possible for use later as you cannot remember everything.

 

[Martin24]

Whatto and welcome, enjoy the forum and ask away, plenty of people here to give you a friendly nudge in the right direction.

As Ray has said take as long as you need to on the handover. Do not be rushed and make sure you see everything working as it should.

 

[kerbdog]

Thankyou all. We have an appointment for ten thirty next Wednesday and have been told it can take two to three hours! :blink: I've been trawling through youtube watching different instructional videos probably the main thing i'm freaking out a little about is towing it out of the dealership and getting it onto the driveway. It is fitted with a motor mover but our drive way is very slightly sloped so i've no idea if it will cope.

 

[Hutch]

Remember to put a pair of chocks behind the caravan wheels and put the hand break on before releasing the motor mover or unhitching from the car if your on a slope.
Been there, done it, joined the Woosies.

 

[kerbdog]

Well we are just back from the dealership with our van and home safely, thank goodness it has a motor mover! There just didn't seem to be enough room to swing both the van and the car round. (We have a split level driveway with the neighbors) first thing on the list Is solve the alko hitch squeal which is horrible!

 

[waffler]

Probably grease on the pads or less likely warn pads. Either way the dealer should have checked them. You can check for wear when you next hitch up. Should tell you in the handbook or online how to do this. You can clean them with clutch and brake fluid and a soft cloth- I used an old well washed tea towel.

 

[kerbdog]

I've took the pads out and examined them, they look a bit worn to me so ive sanded them a little with 240 emery paper and cleaned them off with isopropyl alcohol.. Im thinking a new set may not be a bad idea though.

 

[Beachball]

Belated welcome to the forum not been well