Picked up our Caravan today

[GrizzlyBathplug]

It has been a long wait, but we finaly picked up our new to us van.
2017 Coachman VIP 575, engineer gave it the thumbs up after 3 hours inspection, towed it home this afternoon.
First time towing a van, no problems, everything went well until just before Junction 15 M6, lost the near side towing mirror, fell off over a bump, finders keepers, it was in the roadworks area.
Looking forward to many happy holidays, towing was not as daunting as i thought it would be, but i will not get complacent.
Looking forward to meeting the Woosies in September.
Grizzly

 

[Anseo]

Congratulations on your new van Grizzly, wishing you many happy times with it, enjoy

 

[Gagakev]

Well done Grizzlybathplug, I'm sure you will enjoy, but just remember the major expenses start now :lol:
Just think of all those accessories etc etc etc you will need/want :lol:
Dont go overboard, one step at a time.
Enjoy.

 

[GrizzlyBathplug]

Gagakev, the OH has been purchasing all sorts of caravan paraphanalia, i dont think i need much more my friend.
Just looking forward to a few weekends away, just to relax & enjoy some peace & tranquility.

 

[Hutch]

Yes Congrats on the new caravan, looking forwards to seeing you in September.

 

[GrizzlyBathplug]

Likewise Hutch.
Looking forward to meeting you all , & looking forward to many more weekends away, should be fun.

 

[Raywood]

Congratulations on the new to you caravan. I lost a clamp on mirror on the motorway but had a spare. Now use clamp and strap on ones so that even if they come loose they stay on.

 

[RayS]

Congratulations and many happy years caravan touring. Just on 52 years since I started out for my first ever trip and remember every last thing about it - only downside being it wasn't long enough.

 

[GrizzlyBathplug]

Going away this Friday for a long weekend, staying at Tynllwyn near inlaws for a few beers & a chat.
Any excuse to take the van out, we normally stay at their house.

 

[Mel]

Congrats on your purchase Grizzly. Enjoy many happy trips.
Mel

 

[Parksy]

Congratulations on your new caravan Grizzly. Enjoy......

 

[Dustydog]

Congratulations Grizzly,
The start of a great pastime with fun and places you would never see. Look forward to meeting you at The Woosiefest :cheer:

 

[Hutch]

Grizzley, don't go too mad for the first few months of going out in the New van. It's hard but after a few years we have thinned down so many items, depending on the sites we use,
Ww bought the light weight kettles 900 kw gone back to normal domestic kettle 15000,kw, with a gas whistle one as back up, nice sound really. Bought an electric 3 LITRE pressure cooker, for winter touring great , you will see it at the Woosie fest. , forget light weight knifes and forks, have decent ones that do not bend, and drink from proper glasses not Plastic ones, just my thoughts though. See you in September.
Hutch.

 

[CustardAvenger]

I second the 'curb your enthusiasm' trend for accessories...
We just use whatever we already had... didn't know about low-wattage appliances when we started 7 years ago, so have a cheap asda kettle and toaster, then a mishmash of some old IKEA plates, some melamine bowls and cups. We do have plastic pint 'glasses' but they were from a Festival, so kind of a souvenir.

Did get some proper cutlery for the van and got a 2nd aquaroll and wheel lock used off ebay.

I wod also recommend weighing everything that goes into your caravan as you will soon burn through the payload.

 

[Anseo]

A third here for delaying purchasing all the things that one 'thinks will be needed'.

Take stuff from the house (loads of stuff there already) and experiment with that for half a dozen outings at least.

I guess I was like most others in that what I initially thought were 'the right things to have' proved to be ill considered choices :blink: :lol:

 

[Craigyoung]

And a fourth here to ! We tried to keep everything lighter on the first trips but after a while just started using normal household kettle & cutlery and like someone else says - IKEA plates , don't forget the bottle opener for the beer and corkscrew for the wine !

A slow cooker is also handy to have in the caravan to so you can set your meal away on the morning go oot for the day and it's all sorted for when you come back .

Another handy tip is if you are using CL sites and there is no pots and pans wash area we tend to use paper plates so you can use them and chuck them , save on the washing up .

The list could go on and on and on and on . . . . until you get your first few trips done and out the way you'll know what you start to need and what you've taken that you don't need .

My cousin has previously bought a motorhome in may and she's at that stage now where the full house went and now it's getting whittled down to what she basically needs !!

Enjoy .

 

[CustardAvenger]

...My cousin has previously bought a motorhome in may and she's at that stage now where the full house went and now it's getting whittled down to what she basically needs !! ....

I still take too many clothes and too much food!

 

[Mel]

We have a garage full of stuff that is surplus to requirement and seemed to be a good idea at the time. Try for a small amount of stuff, but make it good quality.
Mel

 

[GrizzlyBathplug]

Just returned from our first foray in the van, went to Tynllwyn wales, lovely site & well worth the drive.
Word of warning, do not take the coast road, it is very tight, "guess who took the coast road".
This is the start of a whole new experience, we loved it, & now cant wait for our next adventure, Awning was a bit of a game putting up, but apart from that had a great time.
Dog loved the beach at Tywyn, hot chocolate & pebbles on the front was nice, & dogs had dog friendly ice cream.

 

[Raywood]

Glad you enjoyed it, another convert to the caravan fraternity.