Our first caravan!

[Susan_374302505]

We pick up our first caravan tomorrow.

A Swift Charisma 565.

New to everyting in the caravan world, so it will be an adventure.

I hope my husband gets some sleep tonight, he is quite worried about the towing. I suppose everyone was a newbie at some time in their life!

 

[Guest]

I don't ever remember being new to towing, I had peddle-less trike as a child with a trailer full of wooden bricks ;-)

He'll be fine, just remember the extra bit behind at turns. Take it easy caravanning is about fun and relaxing times.

Enjoy.

 

[GeorgeandAde]

Good luck on your first trip.Just tell your other half to treat the towing as part of the holiday and enjoy it.Load the van correctly,check tyre pressures etc,keep the speed down,have a short break every so often.I think everyone was a little nervous on their first outing.

 

[Susan_374302505]

Thanks Euro and Adrian!

The caravan is lovely.

The towing went well.

It rained from the moment we picked it up but wasn't too windy, thank goodness!

We picked it up with my father-in law's Land Rover so it was a pleasant enough journey for us.

I just hope our Honda CRV pulls it just as well!

We can't wait to put all our "stuff" in it.The kids are so excited.

Do you have any tips about the little things we need to take with us?

small tool kit, watering can{ so the mechanic said!}jack if we get a flat tyre, what else??

What chemicals do you use in your toilet etc

Thanks for all your good wishes.

Susan

 

[James_374408700]

Hi Susan,

Congratulations on your Van purchase.

I find these items are useful and can cure most problems:

Wine, beer, malt whiskey, gin and tonic and dont forget the Pimms for those sunny afternoons......................... enjoy!!!

Jim

 

[Pat_374304630]

Hi Susan,

Good luck to both of you. One small tip i can offer. Get yourself a notebook and make a list of everything you put in the van eg list all your clothes, hubbie's etc and then tick off as you load.

This includes shoes, Kids toys, crockery etc.

But whatever else ENJOY

 

[xtrailman]

Our memories are that poor that we have a list for

1/ van contents, long list

2/ connecting to the van

3/ Departing site

4/ And sad but true a list for credit cards, wallet etc to check at the end of the day, and ever time we have been out.

Once lost my wallet and could not remember were i had it last.

What is the watering can for?

 

[GeorgeandAde]

I always carry photo copies of important documents like caravan insurance,dog insurance,car insurance etc...

Maybe the watering can is for filling the toilet flush outside the van?

 

[MagsAlan]

I use a watering can to fill the toilet 'cistern'

 

[tycerdd]

It is a bit nerve wracking doing your first tow especially if you've not towed before. It gets easier though. The bit I always find hard is getting it on the pitch right as we don't have the "luxury" of a mover.

 

[RogerP]

for some reason we always get caught out with not having either a wooley hat for when its cold and windy or a baseball cap when its hot.

Seems like every time we go away we have to buy one or the other and we've specifically got all weather gear only for the van.

I think my vans got a ghost that keeps hiding stuff to have a laff!.

 

[Susan_374302505]

Thanks for all your "helpful" comments they made me laugh!

I think the watering can is for the toilet , quite what I am to do with it I don't know, but I am sure it will be a laugh finding out!

 

[Heethers]

Susan try and pour water into the holding tank of the thetford toilet without one, you will soon find out.

If you don't want to get wet get Hubby to do it.

NigelH

 

[tycerdd]

It again depends which toilet you have. Mine has a little tube that comes out just abovet the cassette. It stumped me first time round but there is a little green "spout" that has to be placed on top of the tube before water/pink can be added. It is a C402 bench type toilet.

 

[Pat_374304630]

Susan,

We could go on and on here. We've had some great comments about washing lines etc...

 

[easyt]

I find that a 1 or 1.5 litre squash bottle is suitable for topping up t.eh flush and is far easier to store than a watering can.

 

[Susan_374302505]

I find that a 1 or 1.5 litre squash bottle is suitable for topping up t.eh flush and is far easier to store than a watering can.

Thanks for that tip, will try it .

Susan

 

[Barbara_374451989]

Susan,

We were all new to this at one time the thing to remember is to enjoy the adventure and the freedom of caravaning.

If in doubt get speaking to your neighbours on your site and I am sure they can help with any problems, we have met some lovely people in our time caravanning and every time we learn something helpful.

The toilet and water supply is hubby's expertise (or so i tell him haha)and as for towing just remember there is a caravan on the back, it takes care of itself but you only need to remember when cornering or overtaking etc.

I hope you have many happy times in your caravan and enjoy the freedom it brings you.

Best wishes

Barbara