Any top tips for a newbie?

Do NOT buy loads of stuff. Raid the kitchen cupboards and loft for your first couple of trips so you can put together the basics. Plan a short local first run, close enough to pop back in case you've forgotten anything.

Get a cheap set of bathroom scales, IKEA, and 450mm length of 50x50mm and a 300x300mm piece of plywood so you can check the noseweight.

Weigh everything that goes into the van for the first time and keep a record. It is very easy to overload your van.

Do not buy an awning  yet, but source a 2nd hand Isabella Shadow sun shade. It may be all you need.

Invest in a couple of good reclining chairs, the best you can afford.

If you plan to travel abroad a low wattage kettle is a must and for us our 2nd hand Remoska is used most days.

Never be afraid to ask a question of others, no matter how basic or stupid you think it may be. We are all on a learning curve.

Enjoy yourself.

Colin

I'm a gal who makes lists - one for what needs to go either on the van or in the car, depending on the length of stay or time of year,  i.e. awning/poles/peg/groundsheet, tables and chairs, bbq, food shopping, Remoska and/or slow cooker, another one for hitching up and an inventory (for insurance purposes).

When deciding on chairs, buy something that you can use both for relaxing and dining to save on space and weight. 

I agree with Jill.  I could also make lists for England!!  My lists (spreadsheets) are colour coded according to the sort/ length of outing/ time of the year.  Each cupboard is numbered and contents have to go in the right place.  The spreadsheet also tells me how much I paid for it, where I bought it from and the date of purchase.  I sign items in and out according to the items we take.  I also have a detailed list and diagram of how things fit in the boot of the car....

When we had a previous caravan stolen  I simply sent them a slightly cut down version of the spreadsheet.  They just looked at it and sent me a cheque for the full contents!  

David

not at OCD then Dave 😉😉

when emptying your thetford toilet casette never put the cap on the edge of the emptying point, they do fit in the hole if you knock them in and never to be seen again!

Remember to empty your hot water tank before leaving, this can be emptied into your waste water tank to aid cleaning out.

Before leaving home or a site remember to align your jockey wheel forward to aft before winding up the forward steadied prior to hitching up, as it makes for easier storage of it before setting off.

every day is a school day, ive spent so much time using the mover to align the jockey wheel with the shaft slots ready for raising 

Do not empty your hot water tank on to a grass pitch as it will kill the grass

Just a simple one, do an airline flight check on all the cupboards etc before setting off, make sure everything is securely closed and safely in position. There's nothing worse than the flying cream carton leaving your open fridge door en route for your holiday! 

Before driving off with caravan do a double check by walking round the whole unit, to make sure everything is removed or packed away.