So, we've bought a caravan - now what??

[PacificDogwood]

This one. Big fecker as it needs to sleep 6. Bought privately a couple of years old.

Dh will have to collect it this weekend. Several hundred miles away. So will have to tow it back
He has some caravanning experience (as a child, mind), I have none.

Any tips?

Enjoy it!!
I would suggest going away in it just for 1 or 2 noghts very close to home, so you can sort out teething problems (or forget essentials). Make a list of everything you pack that you consider essentail, and add things to it. Then you always have a listto hand of everything you will need when goin away.
We tend to leave pretty much everything in oiur van so that if we decide togo away, it's simply a case of packing food and clothes then off we go.
Have you got an awning with it?

DH tells me that twin axle caravans are much more balanced to tow that single axle ones. I have not yet towed ours, but it doesn't bother him in the slightest!

Oh and make sure you get a wheel lock as this reduces your insurance premium loads.

Thanks, millimat .

Yes, got an awning - just arrived today: ex-demo Isabella
Got wheel lock and towing hock lock thingmy

Stability of twinaxle was one of the 'selling' points DH quoted when he was on the campaign trail to get me to agree to such an outlay.

I am still scared - he will do the weekend away to get it from the MIdlands to Central Scotland with an overnight stay with our 2 older boys. I don't know who is more excited - I am just glad that I can stay at home with our littlies .

towing hook, sorry

It looks FAB - you will love it.

We're booked at Beecraigs in Linlithgow for Easter in ours and I can't wait.

Top Tip. Leave DH to do the setup stuff and mind the DCs while you plump cushions and drink wine

DistantShip, I like your thinking .

Beecraigs far, far too close to MIL's for comfort .

Our joint membership in the Caravan Club seems to be very important to DH.
I cannot quite get over the whole... naffness properness of it all

I've just booked Cobleand at Aberfoyle for the last weekend in March - a bargainous £33 for 3 nights! We well I if truth be told joined the Camping and Caravanning Club as they seemed to have a bit more to offer north of the border.

We got an old banger of a van last year, got hooked, and upgraded to a more swish one last month, thats already had 2 outings.

With you on the MIL being too close for comfort; we just dont tell her where or when we are going!

Just dive in and get on with it, somewhere thats not far from home so that you can get to the supermarket/pound shop and stock up on all the stuff you didnt think you would ever need.

if you have many bodies sleeping overnight in the colder weather, the "caravanners enemy" of damp will stalk you - make sure to dry all the windows and their rubber seals in the morning and if you can get some of those dehumidifyery damp traps (pound shop) to dot around the van that helps massively. Not a problem so much in summer although it can be when its pissing down outside

It looks great.

oh dogwood it is gorgeous you lucky girl!

We bought ours last autumn and have been up the road (about 40 mins away) for a couple of nights..the lake district and loved it.

Dh has never towed before so we didnt want to venture far.
We are off in April for a week, then have booked a music festival in June, Wales in August and weekends away in between, we cant wait.

I have bought loads of stuff from home bargains to keep in the van, so kitcheny things, flash wipes, shampoos, soaps etc, so we only have to chuck food & clothing in.
We joined a caravan club just cos it has a catalogue of places to visit with info about each area.

We keep going and sitting in it! Saddos that we are

I can just foresee loads of brilliant times ahead with my boys in it that will be remembered forever

Its SO exciting

Is the caravan home now?

YooooHoooo. Pacific how are you getting on with the caravan?

Packing mine now for a cheeky weekend...