Newbie to Caravan life after trying some 33 years ago with small children

[Rich9308]

Hi all.
I have recently purchased a 2021 Buccaneer Barracuda being pulled by a 2023 LR Discovery 300. Retired military did quite a bit of HGV class 1 after I left army enjoying life and going abroad with the wife and vehicle combo for 3 months next year to Europe. I have an old school friend who took me under his wing on guiding me through the caravan purchase. Looking forward to doing some off grid stuff as well as main site EHU for our journey, anyone know of a suitable generator to run a Truma Aventa comfort in the off grid scenario. Thanks for any advice except reversing i may just roll my eyes.. my humour

 

[Mel]

Welcome to the forum and back to Caravanning. I am sure that someone will be able to give you advice about generators. I know very little ( i.e. nothing) about them. What I do know is that some sites won’t allow them and your neighbours won’t thank you for the noise and exhaust fumes. Decent solar panels may be just as useful.
Keep posting and let us know how it all goes
Mel

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Welcome aboard.
For off-grid a decent solar set-up will keep your battery topped up. Run your fridge, hot water, heating etc on gas. If you intend doing a lot of off-grid consider getting refillable gas bottles. Initial expense can be recovered in around 2 to 3 years.
Generators are generally a no-no on sites. If they are allowed there are strict regulations regarding times of use etc.

 

[toad a caravan]

Welcome aboard

 

[Rich9308]

Welcome to the forum and back to Caravanning. I am sure that someone will be able to give you advice about generators. I know very little ( i.e. nothing) about them. What I do know is that some sites won’t allow them and your neighbours won’t thank you for the noise and exhaust fumes. Decent solar panels may be just as useful.
Keep posting and let us know how it all goes
Mel

My pure use for a generator would only be wild camping to use the air con and top up the battery. Never on a site that you have EHU.

Welcome aboard.
For off-grid a decent solar set-up will keep your battery topped up. Run your fridge, hot water, heating etc on gas. If you intend doing a lot of off-grid consider getting refillable gas bottles. Initial expense can be recovered in around 2 to 3 years.
Generators are generally a no-no on sites. If they are allowed there are strict regulations regarding times of use etc.

I would never entertain the use of a generator on a site am more on the side of a french A road on a setback in a layby for its intended use. Only for daytime use to run air-con. When no hook up is availible.

 

[Hutch]

Welcome to the forum, can't help on the off grid stuff. Never do that, Europe is good but expensive, check the latest forum thread about Registration of caravans. A decent solar panel will help a lot, municipal,sites in France are very good, but some are only 6 amps, but enough to recharge your battery's.

Edited out to stop rolling eyes.

All good fun, fit a rear view camera to the van.

 

[Buckman]

Hi all.
I have recently purchased a 2021 Buccaneer Barracuda being pulled by a 2023 LR Discovery 300. Retired military did quite a bit of HGV class 1 after I left army enjoying life and going abroad with the wife and vehicle combo for 3 months next year to Europe. I have an old school friend who took me under his wing on guiding me through the caravan purchase. Looking forward to doing some off grid stuff as well as main site EHU for our journey, anyone know of a suitable generator to run a Truma Aventa comfort in the off grid scenario. Thanks for any advice except reversing i may just roll my eyes.. my humour

Congratulations on your purchase. We had a 2018 Buccaneer Cruiser with the Truma Aventa comfort air con. As said a generator is a big No No on many camp sites.

You would be better off with lithium batteries to power the system plus an additional solar panel. Tey ar elight weight so you could probably carry two in the caravan. The Aventa draws about 4amp maximum and there is a conversion pack for it to run on 12v if need be. If in the UK and off grid, probably not that many days when the air con is definitely required. We never bothered with going off grid as plenty of cheap CLs to use.

If you have the TV fixed in the caravan that draws 12v, plus of course the lights, water pump, fridge and heating. That all needs to be taken into consideration.

 

[AndrewAventura]

......

Reversing a long caravan is easier than a short one. Take yourself to a large supermarket in a quiet time and practice there.
All good fun, fit a reversing camera to the van.

Watch out Hutch, read the OP again and he's definitely going to roll his eyes!

 

[Buckman]

Watch out Hutch, read the OP again and he's definitely going to roll his eyes!

However reversing a caravan is totally different to reversing a HGV with a trailer, but being a twin axle either the front or rear wheel will scuff. However the OP probably has a motor mover fitted which makes lie a lot easier.

 

[Beachball]

Hi Rich9308 Welcome to the forum any questions you will receive a answer they are great bunch on here enjoy your outfit

 

[Dustydog]

Welcome to the Forum Rich.
Reversing🙀My mirrors have never failed me😉. A bit riding a bike😜