Hi Michelle, welcome to the best hobby there is. If you haven't towed before, make your first trip close to home, say 1 hour away. Get some wood off cuts to go under the caravan's steadies when you park it to stop them digging in to the ground. Get some longer planks about 3'x 4" to help level the van across it's width. Make sure you've got an Aquaroll for the water, and suitable waste tanks. You may need some lengths of flexible hose to connect the waste outlet to the waste tank, if not a funnel is useful. Take some basic tools with you - stanley knife, multi-tip screwdriver, pliers, gas bottle wrench/adjustable spanner, hammer/mallet for awning pegs, torch, equip the 'van with its own cutlery & crockery, corkscrew (essential!) - use melamine crockery it's lighter and more durable. Get some plastic containers and put in a supply of teabags/coffee/sugar etc.Before you go away, if the 'van can be placed on your drive, connect it to the mains and switch on the fridge to 240 volts - this will chill it down and it'll keep cool whilst you're travelling. Make sure your car's in good working order, have it serviced if need be & fill it up solo before hitching up the 'van. Petrol Stations are full of poor drivers who don't realize the space a car & 'van need to manoeuvre. Above all have a great time and don't be afraid to ask for help - we're a pretty friendly bunch!