Newbie seeking help - please tell me all you know :-)

[PicklePot]

Hello all!

I spent most of last year researching buying a motorohome and have a notebook full of facts and figures about them ... however, just as we were about to buy, the picture changed somewhat and (with a much reduced budget) we're now looking at buying a cheap caravan.

However, the last time I was caravanning, Frankie was telling everyone to Relax and Margaret Thatcher was just getting into her stride! I figure things have moved on a bit since then

We'd quite like to get sorted with a van as soon as possible, but I'm a bit dispirited after putting so much effort into chosing the perfect motorhome and it all falling through so would like to do the research bit as quickly as possible. Which is where I'd like your help, please.

We'll be towing with an 8 year old Audi A4 1.9 diesel - I know I need to follow the 85% rule, and I guess I need to look at payload in the same way as I did for a motorhome?

My budget is miniscule - prob around £3500

There's two adults, an energetic 4 year old and a baby on the way. I'd probably prefer not to have a fixed bed, and I'd like a proper shower, rather than a wet room, if you know what I mean. Other than that. I'm pretty darned clueless!

Could you tell me
1) Where are good sources of basic buyer info
2) What are the daft things that I need to know but don't yet know exist
3) whether I can realistically get a good caravan for the budget we have
4) any recommendations for good dealers in Yorkshire/Derbyshire

And anything else I need telling

Thanks for reading!

 

[Parksy]

Hi 'Pickle Pot' and welcome to the Practical Caravan forum.
First of all around £3500 is not a bad budget for a first caravan so don't be dispirited because you will enjoy sorting the wheat from the chaff so to speak

First of all find out the kerbweight of your Audi to see what restrictions weight-wise that you are limited to and take it from there.
You are doing the right thing in researching the subject before you jump in, it will save you from making potentially expensive mistakes and a good research tool for buyers of used caravans is the Caravan Buyers Guide The tabs down the left hand side will deal with the main things to look for and also the pitfalls when you buy. This forum has a good mix of experienced and fairly new caravanners so most questions that you may have will good receive answers and a relative newcomers experience can be invaluable when buying for the first time. All forums contain horror stories and complaints about various brands, we rarely hear about it when someone is entirely satisfied but don't let it scare you, just remember the pitfalls. There are some great caravans out there which will fit within your budget so enjoy your search, keep in touch and if you have any questions at all just ask

 

[RegandPat]

Hi Pickle Pot,
I tow with an A4 1800 petrol automatic I have a swift challenger 5 berth 24 foot long with the tow bar, it tows fine.
I used to tow with a 4x4 but found it to expensive to run as a every day car.
If you can find a van with a awning that will double the size of van, and drive you craze putting it up.
Tow hooks will need to look into as some have alko hitch but not the end of the world to change this.
Some sites do special offers, price wise so can work out a cheep holiday.
We brought our first van for £1000 and after one week away we new we needed a larger van with end bedroom so we sold it for £1300 and splashed out on a £4000 van, as I said the 4x4 had to go but to tow with it was a dream.
Parking of the van will have to be concidered as storage is not cheap.
This will be my second year and my wife and the dog love it, the good thing is if it is not to your tast just sell up, you may loose some money but think of the fun giving it a go.
Price of fuel, yes it dose cost more to tow but you only go there and back.
Oh and one more thing, make sure every thing works in the van if possable, I never did fathem out how to run the heating from gas.
Good luck and enjoy
Pat Reg and the dog Harley

 

[Gagakev]

Hi Pickle Pot, welcome, keep asking those questions and you will get the answers from the happy people on here.

 

[PicklePot]

Thanks Parksy - according to a whole raft of websites, our kerbweight is 1546 - which gives us around 1314 of caravan and load (which doesn't actually seem a whole lot compared to the motorhome payloads we were looking at). However, after a day of scouring the classifieds today, I've come to realise that our 3 grand budget isn't actually as worryingly small as I felt it it was. The Caravan Buyers Guide is an excellent resource

 

[PicklePot]

Thank you for all your advice, Reg & Pat (and Harley

)
It's good to read that an Audi works well as a tow car for you. We need to look into getting a towbar fitted and it's been recommended that we pick one up from Towsure in Sheffield, but does anyone have any recs for fitters in West Yorks? I did have a brief moment of trying to understand whether we were likely to need a single or double electrical connection on the towbar, but have given that up as one to try again tomorrow when my brain is fresher!
I do vividly remember the under-the-breath cursing from mum and dad trying to put the awning up and me and my sis being told to stay firmly out of the way and stop "helping" - I quite look forward to re-creating that for our kids

 

[Parksy]

Don't forget that the 85% 'rule' has no legal basis and the guideline is just that, an arbitrary guideline for those new to towing.
There are many posts on this forum about weights for caravans, don't forget that 'payload' is the terminology for things carried inside the caravan such as gas bottle(s), spare wheel, awning, pots,pans, utensils etc.
Many websites insist on defining the advice to use 85% as a starting figure for newbies as a limit or rule but this can be slightly misleading and if your chosen caravan happens to be 87% or even a bit more as long as your outfit is safe and within manufacturers limits and you are confident of your towing ability you should be ok.

There is some more reading for you about Weight which might clarify the various definitions for you.

 

[PicklePot]

Thanks Parksy - I reckon the 85% is probably a safe benchmark for us to hover round, given our inexperience in towing (well, in all things caravan-related, to be honest!). I've just had a quick read through of your link on Weight - which was very helpful but did make me realise just how much I need to go to sleep and stop trying to make my brain learn absolutely everything there is to know about caravans in the space of one day!
Tomorrow I'll get to the bottom of all this info ... Yeah, right

 

[JohnF1]

Hiya Pickle Pot..

Just been reading your posting, £3500 is a pretty good budget, we Just bought our first Caravan, a 4 berth, 1996 Sterling Europa 500es, (890kg unladen, 1100kg max). Make up double and two bunks, and a Proper shower !!! for just under £3000. and it's in good condition for the year. I'm towing with a 1.9 Zafira Diesel auto, no problems towing with that. So your Audi should have no problem at all..

John

 

[PicklePot]

Thanks John - sounds like you've got a good one there ... and actually, I'm starting to suspect we might get quite a good van for our money too I'm revising my budget down a little though, as we've figured it makes sense to get the car brakes done and new tyres on the front before we get started, and getting a tow bar fitted looks a little more expensive than I'd expected. They seem to be selling pretty quickly at the dealerships at present, so am tempted to hang on a little until after the Easter holidays.

 

[GeorgeandAde]

Hi Pickle Pot.
With regards to your towball electrical sockets,You need the black one to operate the caravan rear lights and a grey one to run the fridge whilst towing (if you wish) and charge the battery whilst towing (again,if you wish).
I think thats the simplest explanation and im sure someone else will come along and offer more in depth advice on this.
Good luck with your search for a caravan.
Personally,I would imagine that 2 of the most important things to watch out for would be damp/spongy floors and that the caravan has not been stolen/finance owing etc...
Adrian

 

[Mel]

hi. Welcome to the forum. I'm sorry for whatever circumstances caused you to drastically revise your budget, but from a every cloud has a silver lining perspective, I think that a caravan will serve you better than a motorhome, given the ages of your children. You will probably find it better to get a nice family friendly site and be able to use the car for trips out and to the supermarket without having to decamp a motor home each time.The van will also have more space with an awning where you can put toys etc. I have done a motor home with children (2 teens and a 7 year old). I have since done a caravan with a teen foster son and 4 year old grandson. The caravan is the more roomy, comfy, and convenient choice. Happy van shopping. Hope you find a good un.
mel

 

[Mel]

Sorry, entered post twice. Hopefully edited it out. But have to put something in this box........nice weather............
mel

 

[Beachball]

Hi Pickle pot Welcome to the Practical Caravan forum have a good look round for your van from a dealer but check everything works and no Damp Have a look at these three Dealers 1/ Kenmore Caravans 2/ Couplands Caravans 3/ Glossop Caravans (01457 868011 ) You might be interested in this a 1998 Crown Sovereign 4 berth end washroom was £3.900 now £ 3.,066 ( Glossop Caravans )