Went off to buy a motorhome. Came back with a farkin' big caravan (as you do). Are we going to have trouble finding sites who'll accommodate such a beast?

[Doodlez]

Title says it all really.

Caravan length is 7 meters in total. Never owened a caravan before. Have we cocked up 'ere?

My tent is 5m x 7m and we don't have problems, so surely you won't with a caravan?

... can you reverse it though.

And what car have you got to tow it... weight limits and all that?

Ours is 7.4m and not had a problem yet...though people ask if it is single or double axle. Which is yours?

AMMENDMENT

Total length is 7.9m

Double axle.

Will JUST fit on the drive but it is mahoosive - just been out there, measuring franctially.

Impulse buy - we're dick'eads, ain't we?

what caravan is it?
If you've never owned a caravan and are starting out with one that big I'd suggest you do a towing course and make sure your legal to tow it here

Doodlez - we did the same!

Unfortunately we couldnt afford the motorhome, so ended up with a caravan, though not as big as yours! - but it's FAB.

We've only had it a few months and try to go away every other weekend, just somewhere local. (within 30 miles)

You haven't cocked up......you will really enjoy it, tis fun, especially with the summer holidays comming up.

We have a twin axle . don't generally have too many problems. It's a good idea to check out sites before you go just in case there are any access problems .
Also check pitch sizes as you will need a slightly bigger pitch.
We have come across a small number of sites in France that say no twin axles but that is generally the smaller ones, although it is also used to prevent the much larger traveller type caravans.
Moving it by hand is a bit more difficult than a single axle so we got a motor mover put on it.

Borderlass, it's an Elddis Odyssey 634

link here

Thanks for the towing / licence info. Think we might both benefit from finding a course, although we both drive minibuses towing big trailers and box trailers (for Scouts), so reasonably competent.

Furball - I heart you! Thank Gawd it's not just us that make wild decisions on the hoof!

Thanks Welshdeb - France isn't on the agenda just yet!!! I was thinking about finding sites less than 2 hours from home. I really want to find a fab site for next year, book a seasonal pitch, get the wretched thing up there and set up and then just potter back and to over the course of the summer holidays!

Just now trying to locate winter storage close to home but it's easier said than done.

Talk about going into something without doing the research first!

Mind, sometimes, decisions on the fly turn out to be the best ones - right?

It is gorgeous. We will be in this position I hope, this autumn as I would like to pick up a second hand van. Am fed up with massive prices for holiday flats and would like to fit in a few more weekends away without worrying about the weather.

My friend has a double axle van and is often off and away in it, it is very lovely.

looks lovely we just traded ours for a brand new bailey ranger off to devon tomorrow can't wait

Gah, that sounds enormous! What sized engine would you need to tow that?!

DH was dead set against a caravan, but we got one last year then when we realised how much we would use it, got a new one this year with a layout that suits us better. Until you've tried it you don't know!
Out DCs love the freedom and we go away so much more than we ever could if we had to stay in B7Bs. And the weather isn't an issue like with a tent. Happy times

Doodlez - don't think our purchase was as quite 'on the hoof' as yours! Ours happened over a month the few weeks with motorhomes then the next 2 weeks with caravans.

Looks fab - especially the fixed bed - we have to make ours up every night, which is a faff to be fair.

We've kept ours on the drive since we bought it and will store it in the winter at dh's parents - luckily they have the room.

happy caravening!

Oh now see, I'm starting to feel quite positive about it now! Thank you gals!

Love the Bailey vans, Borderlass - had my eye on one of those!

Big car to tow - we do have a big car thankfully! Got to have, for all our Scouting stuff. S'like a tank!

Found storage (for now) but it's not cheap! £15 per week but it's fully secured, guarded 24/7 365 days of the year and we do have 24/7, 365 days a year access. It'll do until we can find a nice, local farmer who'll let us hog a corner of a field! Nice, local farmer already found but no space - he's gonna phone us when he has a slot!

Now researched some campsites which are OK with this size of van and have seasonal pitchs which we have to apply for (for next year).

Been camping for years and years but never noticed "Access" information on campsite websites before - very handy info!

Doodlez, your caravan is gorgeous. We have a rather large Elddis Avante 636 twin axle. Not sure of exact length but we havent had any problems on sites. We are also members of caravan club and have been members of camping & caravanning club too and no problems there either.

Glad we're not alone in the impulse buying thing. We normally take forever to decide about things like this but got all impulsive about the buying a caravan! We've enjoyed our first weekend away and are off again on Sunday. I just want a big chuff off 4x4 now - something high up and steady as a rock.

I am looking to buy a second hand caravan to start caravanning and see if we will like it.
I went to 3 sites of the Caravan Club last Saturday just to see how things are and I loved them. Very clean, peaceful, etc...
The Caravan Club has Sites with storage as well, and I found a nice one for £45 per month, but I have to pay 4 months in advance. No problem with that.

Now I need to find a nice clean Caravan to go away on holiday.

Does anyone now any second caravan for sale?

Chris,

Where in the country are you? If its your first caravan you could be betetr off getting one through a dealer rather than risking getting ripped off on ebay with one that leaks/is damp. I know good caravan dealers near me and other MN'ers may be able to recommend ones near you if you are too far away from me.

Or join the caravan club or caravan and camping club now and see the ads in their magazines.