Posted on 16/05/2022 07:36
Hello, we've just bought our first caravan at the weekend and pick it up on June 11th. Now what? It doesn't come with anything, so we have already sourced some gas bottles, car mirrors and extra number plate. On my list I have water barrel and waste water carrier. What else is essential to get before our first trip? Thanks for any help, tips and advice for novice caravanners.
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Posted on 16/05/2022 16:47 by CornersteadyWhat everyone else has said, and (apologies if someone has already mentioned) perhaps wheel chocks for extra security when pitched up. Spare batteries for the motor mover remote, as if they go you are literally stuck but you can use the ones from the smoke detector like we did
I assume you've checked your insurance and have any necessary items like a wheel clamp and hitch lock?
Posted on 16/05/2022 20:49
Hi SteveRachM
One of the most important things to get is some knowledge, particularly relating to safety both for yourself and others.
In particular I would suggest you find out about weights and loading. A badly loaded caravan can and does at times, cause serious accidents. Do you know what your car's kerb weight is and what the maximum tow ball loading is? Do you know the caravan's MRI and MTPLM weights are and, as importantly, do you understand them? Please don't fall into the trap of reading the car's specification or handbook that says it can tow, for example 2000kg. These figures are pretty meaningless.
As a guide, and especially for a novice, the weight of your loaded caravan should not be more than 85% of the kerb weight of the car and the nose weight of the caravan on the towball should be in the region of 7% of this figure. If the towball maximum weight is 90kg (a fairly common figure), you should balance the load in your caravan to achieve a figure of just short of the 90kg. Please don't try to achieve this by putting a lot of weight in the back of the caravan. It's a sure fire way of causing snaking which, apart from being very frightening for the driver and passengers, can result in the car / caravan overturning.
If you can, take your new caravan to a weighbridge as soon as you get it. You can then weigh everything that you put in so that you make sure you don't exceed the allowed payload which, in most cases, is quite low. Over the years anything that I add or remove from the caravan is weighed. An Excel spreadsheet is ideal for keeping a record of the weights. Heavy things such as an awning are best carried in the car.
I hope the above has not frightened you too much. It's a great hobby made far more relaxing if you know, understand and follow the safety basics.
Finally, don't hesitate to ask questions on this forum. We were all novices at one time but are only too happy to pass on the knowledge we have gained over the years. The only daft question is the one that you haven't asked.
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Posted on 16/05/2022 17:39 by Phil n TracyA piece of pipe about a metre long with a piece of string? thread through the top. This will enable you to hook it over the water tap and put the other end into your aquaroll and you can stand and chat without the annoyance of a hose flirting off the tap. A simple but very useful item of equipment that ensures a job is done without fuss!!! (Hopefully someone might give a better technical desc ription)
Posted on 16/05/2022 20:54 by trellisI think your description of the water pipe is spot on .😁.
Posted on 17/05/2022 01:58
.......or get one of these....
https://colapz.co.uk/collections/all-products/products/trunk-kit
David
Posted on 17/05/2022 01:58 by DSB.......or get one of these....
https://colapz.co.uk/collections/all-products/products/trunk-kit
David
Posted on 16/05/2022 17:39 by Phil n TracyA piece of pipe about a metre long with a piece of string? thread through the top. This will enable you to hook it over the water tap and put the other end into your aquaroll and you can stand and chat without the annoyance of a hose flirting off the tap. A simple but very useful item of equipment that ensures a job is done without fuss!!! (Hopefully someone might give a better technical desc ription)
Posted on 17/05/2022 09:33
We use a slider off an anorak hood on the string of our piece of pipe so we can tighten it up over the tap also we removed the filter off the end of our truma inlet water pipe and slide on some plastic conduit refitted the filter now the pipe stays at the bottom of the aquaroll
Posted on 17/05/2022 09:49 by eurortravellerEven easier…use the on site facilities building and fill the coffee pot at the nearest tap when you come back. We caravanned for 50 years without ever having an aquaroll, or the bit of pipe to fit into it, or the string.
SteveRachM
Caravanner from Derbyshire