Less than 4 weeks to go!

[Stroller133]

Hi

We are a family of 5. We have 3 children aged 6,3 & 1. We bought our first caravan last August, a 2004 Bailey Ranger 550/6.
Since then we have spent lots of time money & research getting ready for our summer holidays which are now less than 4 weeks away.
In preparation we have spent 2 separate nights at a local site (first one we went home to sleep) and I've towed a total distance of about 75 miles on a mixture of dual carriageways, A roads and B roads.
We will be going to Cornwall between Padstow and Wadebridge from Leicestershire.

Things still to do:

Buy spare wheel
Decide whether to have a jack or leave it to breakdown co.
Get levelling ramps.
Decide how to load car/caravan for maximum safety, comply with weights and ensure we have what we need/want.
Practice erecting the full awning.
Plan journey (focus on where to stop for fuel if required.

I might be asking for advice/information in other sections over the coming days!

Regards

Lee

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Decide whether to have a jack or leave it to breakdown co.

Depends which breakdown company you are with. If AA, RAC, etc they will only work on the car and if the car breaks down such that it needs to be taken to a garage then they will tow the caravan.

If the caravan breaks down or needs a wheel changed they will not touch it.

If you want breakdown cover on the van then you need to specifically purchase it from a specialist company, eg through the CC or the C&CC.

 

[Stroller133]

I'm with auto aid.
This is from the policy document:

If your vehicle breaks down, any attached caravan or small trailer will be entitled to the same service as the vehicle

I have a trolley jack, but concerned about weight!

 

[Lynnybobs]

We have just been to Padstow with our van, travelling from Derbyshire.
We also have a dog so planned for no more than 2 hours between breaks and stopped at Strensham and Exeter services - both have a designated area for caravans as I think most services do.
We made the journey fine with a full tank so didn't need to refuel until we had unhitched the van, on the return home there is a Shell garage between Padstow and Wadebridge that we refueled at with no problems - just went to the HGV pump.

 

[saint-spoon]

We have had only had our caravan since September and have been out pretty much twice a month since then except for in December due to Decembery stuff that happens towards the end of December and disrupts caravanning activities.
We are out again this weekend for two nights, then two weeks later for the weekend, and then the weekend after that. Got to get the short breaks in; the kids (5 & 7) love making new friends each time that we are out on a site. We then take a break for a week before we go away for a week long summer holiday. We kept it down to a week because we wanted another week long break in October for the kids’ half term. Love it.
I hope that your holiday in four weeks is everything that you planned for and that your whole family makes the most of it, I expect that your children will love it and that this will in turn, make you love it just as much.

 

[Craigyoung]

Stroller , hi , sounds like there is a lot of people driving down to Cornwall this year . We usually do 3 weeks in France but not this year we r doin St Ives like you on 4 weeks come Friday can't wait just to get away but we are traveling halfway on the Friday and the rest on Saturday morning driving down from Sunderland area so it's looking to be after 7:30 arriving on our first site for the night and an early 6 a.m. get away on the Saturday morning . We have got breakdown cover both for the car and the caravan but I will still carry a jack because if you get a puncture you could have it changed and be away by the time breakfown come if you are confident to do so.
And I wouldn't be taking a trolley Jack as thats just weight that you do not need ,a normal Jack will do . There are plenty of spaces in service stations at the back end of them for you to get your car and caravan in if all the people in Cars haven't taken the spaces up but just be careful and don't leave your caravan unattended , no doubt having a few kids you will be making regular stops . Other than that I hope you enjoy yourselves .

Happy caravaning .

Craig. B)

 

[chrisbee1]

I'm with auto aid.
This is from the policy document:

If your vehicle breaks down, any attached caravan or small trailer will be entitled to the same service as the vehicle

I have a trolley jack, but concerned about weight!

That's a little bit ambiguous, I'd get it clarified with a phone call or e-mail. If you get a puncture on the caravan are they going to say the vehicle hasn't broken down?

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Lee.
Enjoy your trip.
We'll be just outside of Wadebridge for a few weeks this Saturday.
Trolley jacks are heavy and not really suitable for caravans unless placed correctly .A bottle jack used only the Al-ko reinforced chassis point works well. The jack belongs to the car!
If you have any problems whilst away ask on here.

 

[Mel]

I'm with auto aid.
This is from the policy document:

If your vehicle breaks down, any attached caravan or small trailer will be entitled to the same service as the vehicle

I have a trolley jack, but concerned about weight!

That's a little bit ambiguous, I'd get it clarified with a phone call or e-mail. If you get a puncture on the caravan are they going to say the vehicle hasn't broken down?

I agree with chrisbee, you need some clarification. In fact I don't think it is ambiguous. I think it means that if the tow car breaks down they will recover the caravan as well. However if the caravan "breaks down". But the car is OK you may well not be covered. In addition double check your policy for the maximum length of caravan covered. For many breakdown policies that are primarily about cars, the maximum size caravan is often somewhat smaller than a typical family van.
All this said, caravanning is a great holiday for families, have a super time.
Mel

 

[pensioner]

Hi Stroller,,we have just returned from a 16 day break at a site near Newquay.

Travel wise, there was a large diversion on the M5 jcn; 4a to 5 with a couple of other 50 mph zone areas due to smaller road works and there are long term road works on the A30 near Launceston.

Plenty of good service areas on the motorways but often the caravan parking is blocked by HGV or lazy motorists.

Interesting point Woodland Camper has made about tyre changing I have RAC cover through C&CC but I'll be ringing them tomoro to confirm I am covered or I'll definately be buying an Alko jack with plates.

Hope the weather is kind to you,,have a great time,, it's a lovely part of the country..

 

[Stroller133]

Thanks for all the comments. We are familiar with Cornwall, having been every year in either cottages or static caravans for the last 12+ years. The towing and staging in a tourer is the daunting aspect this year.
Taken on board wording of breakdown policy, will give it some more thought.

I usually stop at Gordano and Exeter services, but not really considered caravan facilities in the past. Giordano is probably a bit too far at reduced towing speed.

 

[LizziePope]

Hi Lee. Welcome to the forum and hope you have a super trip.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Most people these days have a Sat Nav, and they really are an amazing piece of kit, but as clever as they are, they can also be a bit of a fool sometimes, so especially when towing to a new destination it's always worth double checking the satnavs routing against a good (recent) map.

I love maps, and I usually get an OS map of the destination, not only for driving, but for planning days out.

In the routing, look for possible unsuitable roads, and other difficulties, then using the satnav's options you may be able to set way points to avoid such difficulties.

Have fun.

 

[Stroller133]

Today we went to a local site to practice putting up the awning - this is our first caravan and first awning. Our van is a 2004 Bailey ranger with a Bradcot Active awning (purchased by first owner with caravan).

We were happy with the assembly of the frame, but not sure about pegging out. There is the bottom part of the awning that is like tarp, does that fold inwards and get pegged down or does it just rest in place?
With regards to the external hooks, how high off the ground should they be, I think I built the frame a bit too tall, the hooks would be about 3-4" off floor even when pegged down.

Also does anyone have any links to how the awning ladders should be used.

Thanks

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

I tried linking to a video of erecting a Bradcot awning but it then shows a Pyramid one without the rubber ladders. Suggest you try googling.

 

[Plodd]

4 weeks to go for us for our first trip in our new caravan and we are also going to Cornwall from Manchester.
Brand new van and awning and a driver who has never towed before. Am I mad?
Don't answer that question.
Good luck for your trip i'm sure we will all be fine.

 

[Raywood]

The main problem will probably be the awning as they can be complicated to put up in some cases. Read the instructions, take your time and all should be well but if you have any problems just ask as most caravanners are only to happy to assist. good luck.
On our Bradcot the skirt can be pegged inside or out as you wish. I would go inside only because if it rains you do not get puddles in it so it is easier to take down.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

This Dorema video uses ladder pegging and shows the bottom a couple of inches off the ground. It does of course depend if you are pitching on a level 'football' ground or a sloping site, either sideways or front to back.

 

[Stroller133]

I think I put too much tension on the frame whilst assembling. When we are away I'll set up, then peg out and then do final tensioning -which is actually what the instructions suggest!

My next concern is weight - not mine, I've left it too late to lose much before we go now!
I took our caravan very to a weighbridge the other week and it weighed 1250/70kg(20kg increments and it was flickering) against MTPLM of 1301kg - the concern is there was no clothes, no bedding, no food or any other personal effects. There were 2 7kg gas bottles, the awning and a few other bits, but no spare wheel (have one now) and hot water tank and toilet tanks were all empty.

 

[Hutch]

Took mine to a weigh scales two years ago and it stated ail was ok but could not check nose weight . ! HERE we go again. IT IS alright.