very excited new caravanner

Jadie_374305972 · Jun 4, 2007

Just a quick hello to introduce ourselves. We have just purchased a Avondale Mayfair 556/6 it is our first caravan and we have just returned from our first weekend away. My family and I absolutely love it, compared to our camping holidays its absolute luxury. The funny thing is we havent got a clue what we are doing which makes it exciting but sometimes very frustrating. The whole towing experience was daunting but looking forward to next trip. Any advice with regards towing and how it should feel gratefully appreciated.

Jadiex

IanP1 · Jun 6, 2007

Hi Jadie & family,

Firstly welcome to caravaning, it will all fall into place and the fun is just starting. You have done the hardest thing thats going away for on your first trip, it just gets better from now on.

You need to set out different things for the family to do when you get on site, if you have children let then go and fill up the water together and fetch it back together if they are old enough and big enough to pull it. It is new to you all and there are so many different things to do, once you have helped out with something the next time will be easier for you all, you can then quickly get set up and do the best thing of all relax. If you have an awning make it something you all can help with, my kids love to help when our awning is up pegging it out, I set it up and secure each corner then we do it from there together.

It can be frustrating at first but you are new to it this will pass. Towing will have been the hardest part for you all as you will have been watching it through the rear window and through the mirrors, this will pass as long as you have checked and double checked the hitch and stabaliser and electrics and safety cable you should be fine. All you have to do is remember the van is wider than the car and you have probably doubled the length of your car which will need a greater distance to stop.

The most important thing Jadie in all of this enjoy the years of caravaning ahead of you all, you cant beat it.

Jadie_374305972 · Jun 6, 2007

Hi Ian

Thanks for your welcome and good advice. We are setting off on our next trip next week and this time a will definately make a list . We have an awning but haven't yet tried it out, what would you recommend for the groundsheet? Also is it normal for the noseweight to weigh 100kg when practically empty and am i right in thinking it goes down the more stuff you have packed?

Thanks for your help

Jadie

Jadie_374305972 · Jun 6, 2007

Hi Jadie & family,

Firstly welcome to caravaning, it will all fall into place and the fun is just starting. You have done the hardest thing thats going away for on your first trip, it just gets better from now on.

You need to set out different things for the family to do when you get on site, if you have children let then go and fill up the water together and fetch it back together if they are old enough and big enough to pull it. It is new to you all and there are so many different things to do, once you have helped out with something the next time will be easier for you all, you can then quickly get set up and do the best thing of all relax. If you have an awning make it something you all can help with, my kids love to help when our awning is up pegging it out, I set it up and secure each corner then we do it from there together.

It can be frustrating at first but you are new to it this will pass. Towing will have been the hardest part for you all as you will have been watching it through the rear window and through the mirrors, this will pass as long as you have checked and double checked the hitch and stabaliser and electrics and safety cable you should be fine. All you have to do is remember the van is wider than the car and you have probably doubled the length of your car which will need a greater distance to stop.

The most important thing Jadie in all of this enjoy the years of caravaning ahead of you all, you cant beat it.

Hi Ian

Thanks for you welcome and advice, i've asked you some more questions but posted it to reply topic. We would appreciate your help.

Cheers

Jadie

ThePlotter · Jun 6, 2007

Jadie,welcome to the madhouse.

There is another post under this section referring to noseweight which may help failing that a search of the forum will find many threads on this subject.As Ian P has said you have done the hard bit by doing the first journey if you have a good car/van match you should have no problems so long as you allow extra time to stop and take a slightly wider swing on left turns.Practice reversing every chance you get even when not necessary as sooner or later you will have to do it wothout a choice.

Good advice getting all involved in setting up,with regard to the awning when you arrive,dont put it up straight away have a cuppa and chill for a bit then do it ,as it can be a trial until you are used to it and even then a bit of a chore.

Groundsheet personal choice,and depends on use if on good pitch and no inner tent then breathable is good for you and the grass but not so if using inner tent as water will get through in bad weather.

A tip from me is make sure you have a spare wheel and a proper caravan jack and know how to change it.

Use equipment from the house to start with and over time kit the van out with all its own kit that way all you will need is to load the wardrobe and hit the road.

What ever you do remember one thing,enjoy yourself!

ThePlotter · Jun 6, 2007

Jadie,welcome to the madhouse.

There is another post under this section referring to noseweight which may help failing that a search of the forum will find many threads on this subject.As Ian P has said you have done the hard bit by doing the first journey if you have a good car/van match you should have no problems so long as you allow extra time to stop and take a slightly wider swing on left turns.Practice reversing every chance you get even when not necessary as sooner or later you will have to do it wothout a choice.

Good advice getting all involved in setting up,with regard to the awning when you arrive,dont put it up straight away have a cuppa and chill for a bit then do it ,as it can be a trial until you are used to it and even then a bit of a chore.

Groundsheet personal choice,and depends on use if on good pitch and no inner tent then breathable is good for you and the grass but not so if using inner tent as water will get through in bad weather.

A tip from me is make sure you have a spare wheel and a proper caravan jack and know how to change it.

Use equipment from the house to start with and over time kit the van out with all its own kit that way all you will need is to load the wardrobe and hit the road.

What ever you do remember one thing,enjoy yourself!

ThePlotter · Jun 6, 2007

Jadie,welcome to the madhouse.

There is another post under this section referring to noseweight which may help failing that a search of the forum will find many threads on this subject.As Ian P has said you have done the hard bit by doing the first journey if you have a good car/van match you should have no problems so long as you allow extra time to stop and take a slightly wider swing on left turns.Practice reversing every chance you get even when not necessary as sooner or later you will have to do it wothout a choice.

Good advice getting all involved in setting up,with regard to the awning when you arrive,dont put it up straight away have a cuppa and chill for a bit then do it ,as it can be a trial until you are used to it and even then a bit of a chore.

Groundsheet personal choice,and depends on use if on good pitch and no inner tent then breathable is good for you and the grass but not so if using inner tent as water will get through in bad weather.

A tip from me is make sure you have a spare wheel and a proper caravan jack and know how to change it.

Use equipment from the house to start with and over time kit the van out with all its own kit that way all you will need is to load the wardrobe and hit the road.

What ever you do remember one thing,enjoy yourself!

Looks like I have developed a stammer!

)

IanP1 · Jun 6, 2007

You have either got a stammer plotter or we have entered a tunnel and it's your echo.o.o.o.o.o.o.o

Spot on about the spare wheel check the wheel size and number of wheel nuts as some have 4 and some like the Bailey have 5 and as plotter said dont forget a jack suitable for getting under the chassis of the caravan, do not be tempted to use the corner steadys to lift the caravan incase of a flat, I use a small trolly jack as it fits under the van with ease.

MrsMothy · Jun 12, 2007

Hi Jadie

Have you considered doing a towing course...both the big clubs run them. The day and a half one my husband and I did the weekend before we collected our first caravan covered much more than towing/reversing. It was good for what/how to check things, eg noseweight, loading. It covered setting up and making lists so you don't forget to do things and find you've missed something important, the advantages/disadvantages of different types of pitch and much more. For us, it probably lead to a much smoother, but nevertheless very exciting introduction to caravanning.

Happy caravanning

Denise

Jo-AnneFairway5402010 · Jun 14, 2007

i have the same van but mine is the godiva special. the nose weight on this model of van is high. when we picked ours up new in oct 05 we had a 307sw and the max towball weight of that car is 60 so the car was bottoming out. we sent the 307sw back and bought a 4 x 4. we did panic it was our 1st van.

we now have a new kia sedona and will be changing the van in sept this year.

what we did to get the nose weight of the van down is to take everything out of the front locker. dont put much in the draws and just put sleeping bags under the front seats. we have to put the awning, windbreaks, tv etc on the bunks and things like dvd, play station under theside dinette over the axel. loading the van this way we managed to get the nose weight 80 - 85.

that model of avondale the wheels are slightly off centre towards the back making it nose heavy.

if you dont mind me asking what car do you tow it with?.

jo-anne

Jo-AnneFairway5402010 · Jun 14, 2007

sorry i forgot to say we put the waste master and aqua rolls in the toilet to travel. things like the electric roll, etc on the bunks.

jo-anne

Jo-AnneFairway5402010 · Jun 14, 2007

im sure you will have loads of fun as we do. so enjoy.

jo-anne

chenzhen · May 19, 2016

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very excited new caravanner

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