new caravaners

[jane_5040401]

hi, we are new to the game, just bought 4berth swift challenger(1988) have two girls 3yrs and 7mths any tips for what we need, should get and any advice on taking young children, very lucky live in south west so lots to see and do, jp

 

[ange_5039847]

Hi, yes you are very lucking living in the south west! we've got 3 kids aged 7, 3 and 2 and the best advice is to have an awning so you can put all the toys in there and forget about them. Try and put a windbreak (or 2) in a semi-circle from both ends of the awning so your kids can play in the fresh air without running off onto someone else's pitch. Oh, and dont forget the sweets to bribe them with while you set up the van and awning or its hell! Have fun!

 

[Harry4]

Jane,no matter how much you take you will always forget something.Take waterproofs because it always rains on your first trip.I hope you and your family enjoy caravaning as much as we do.

 

[sarahsims_5041535]

Dear Jane

I'm a feature writer in London researching for a lifestyle piece on how fashionable caravanning has become - I'm hoping to find around 8 couples all with different backgrounds, stories and caravans to talk about why they do it, where they go and what impact caravanning has on their life. If you are interested, could you email more about you and your hubby - age, profession and background to passion for caravanning?! I'd love to hear from you. thanks, Sarah

 

[Mike_5041089]

Hi Jane, we too live in the S West, & started vanning 19 years ago when our 3 were 6,18 & 36 months old, so our first essential equipment was a van load of nappies, & they still want to come with us! Put in some outdoor toys - balls, frisbies etc, equip the van as much as poss with it's own sets of pots & pans, crockery cutlery etc, bed linen/sleeping bags & don't forget the corkscrew! A few basic tools are also essential - Stanley knife, multi-headed screwdriver, pliers, adjustable spanner, mallet/hammer will get you out of most problems as will a pack of epoxy adhesive. Prepare some easily re-heated meals in "take-away" foil containers which you can pop into the oven for when you get there - they're always hungry & it stops them nibbling at your ankles! Give the older ones some easy to do jobs when you arrive. Kids love vanning - it's just like a Wendy house on wheels. Have fun!

 

[sharon_5041537]

take a wireless as well my youngest found it diificult to adjust as it was so quiet

 

[Neil_5041169]

Hi Jane

I live in the south-west with my wife and three daughters. We started some seven years ago when our two eldest girls were very young - they quickly found it an exciting adventure and my youngest daughter went caravanning in a moses basket at three months old ! The only tip I have is relax and enjoy it, you will meet wonderful people from every walk of life. The children adapt as they grow with caravanning, most of the tips have already been mentioned, choose sites which suit your needs. We go for a mixture of all action sites which are sited central to shops,coast,entertainment, etc. The beauty of towing the caravan is you please yourself to going out or staying in your mobile home and living like you would at home (albeit a little bit more smaller !!). Have found it a wonderful hobby and it has developed my children to socialise in a very safe environment. Good luck and I hope your family gets as much pleasure from caravanning as we do.