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Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

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Original poster

I might have found us a caravan!

23 replies

Ineedmorepatience · 25/02/2015 16:55

Been to look at it today, it is older than I really wanted but in really good condition. Owned by friends of friends and will come with everything we need bar kitchen equipment which we have in our camping gear anyway!

I am so excited, just need to phone my mum later and see if she will loan us some money!

Fingers crossed the owners dont change their minds and decide to keep it.

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VivaLeBeaver · 25/02/2015 21:22

Exciting.

I'm picking up my new caravan on Friday, can't wait. Though a bit nervous that the sale may fall through at the dealers. Have been hearing horror stories of dealers looking at the part ex caravan and refusing to pay as much for it as agreed on the day!

VivaLeBeaver · 25/02/2015 21:29

Have you checked it with a damp meter?

Original poster

Ineedmorepatience · 25/02/2015 21:47

No viva not yet but we are borrowing one off a friend and will do.

Hope your sale goes through ok!

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VivaLeBeaver · 25/02/2015 21:50

Thanks.

What is it you've bought?

Original poster

Ineedmorepatience · 25/02/2015 22:18

A swift challenger 5 birth!

It seems to be in great condition, spotlessly clean and everything works, so depending on the damp metre test it should be good

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Original poster

Ineedmorepatience · 25/02/2015 22:20

Oh and meant to say, parents have agreed to loan! YAY!

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lavendersun · 25/02/2015 22:29

Very exciting - I have a longing for an Eriba caravan - makes my tent look like a bargain, DH won't do a caravan, I am hoping for a lottery win.

trashcansinatra · 25/02/2015 22:30

We have a swift challenger (though 6berth) and it's brilliant. You will love it!!

Original poster

Ineedmorepatience · 26/02/2015 08:17

Thanks both

Just need to get down there with the damp metre over the weekend. There was no smell of damp and it hasnt moved since October half term so I would expect it to be musty but it wasnt at all!!

Trying not to get too excited

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Original poster

Ineedmorepatience · 04/03/2015 11:03

Well very excited, have bought the caravan and picking it up on Saturday!

Nothing like jumping in with both feet. We are planning our first holiday in it at Easter

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Fabulassie · 04/03/2015 17:24

I, too, have just bought a caravan. Picking it up a week from Saturday. I spent yesterday finding a storage place for it and we're getting a towbar fitted on Monday. Ours was very cheap and I got it from someone who saw me posting about wanting one on here.

VivaLeBeaver · 05/03/2015 13:49

Glad your sale is going ahead.

Picked mine up last weekend and went straight to a site in it. I'm really happy with mine.

CatsCantTwerk · 05/03/2015 13:54

Ooh a Caravan thread, I feel right at home here :)

How exciting you all having new vans.

I have a Lunar Ultima 615 5 berth, She never got used last year but I have a great adventure planned for her this year.

Fabulassie · 05/03/2015 14:19

I'm a bit nervous about my caravan. On the one hand, it is exactly what I wanted: a very cheap, very old van that will give us a year to see if we like it. On the other hand, there could be something so drastically wrong that it will end up making us miserable in some unforeseen way.

There are some things I am prepared to work on - a slight springiness in the floor by the door, for example. I think I can figure out how to fix that if I think it needs doing. I'm really nervous that there's something wrong with the water or electrics. The people who are selling it strike me as very honest (they're not dealers - she's just a mumsnetter who saw me talking about wanting a caravan) and they have been forthcoming about what shortcomings they think it has. However, they have never hooked the thing up to a EHU mains and they haven't used it since early last summer.

youngestisapyscho · 05/03/2015 14:24

I'm trying to convince my DH that we should buy a pop up caravan... just have no where to keep it!

VivaLeBeaver · 05/03/2015 14:25

Well when I sold my old van I got £900 for it and I bought it 12 months ago for 3.5k. So not very good. The dealer I sold it to said the whole front end was rotten, Id never noticed.

CatsCantTwerk · 05/03/2015 14:34

Fabulassie The springy floor is fixable, You will need a delimitation kit. You have to screw holes in the floor and inject it then leave it to set.

If You rant planning on having a full service I would advise having the gas appliances checked before your first outing.

CatsCantTwerk · 05/03/2015 14:36

If you are having your tow ball fitted on monday please remember to inform your insurance company, a lot of people do not realise that having a tow ball fitted can void your insurance as it is classed as a modification.

Newquay · 05/03/2015 14:38

Any advice on a motorhome? We've only ever has campervans but with 2 DC of 3 and 4 months and DH who needs a surf fix, we need more space.

Fabulassie · 05/03/2015 14:46

I'll be sure to do that, Cats - I know we need different insurance if we're towing but didn't realise it had to be done from when the towbar is attached.

Original poster

Ineedmorepatience · 09/03/2015 18:59

Well I bought it!!

And towed it home on Saturday! It was scary but Ok.

I have booked Fforest Fields for the Easter hols so just need to get a few jobs done and check everything works and then we are off

My friend who tows her van is taking me out for a reversing lesson on Wenesday We are heading for a car park that is unused at night!!

I havent informed my insurance company so had better do that! My car has always had a towbar I didnt know I had to tell them

Hey ho you live and learn, I did only buy it from round the corner

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VivaLeBeaver · 09/03/2015 19:33

That's fab.

Things you could do with getting from a safety aspect are a nose weight gauge and a tyre pump thingy. I got an automatic pump from halfords for about £25. You can do your caravan tyres and car tyres and you must do them before every journey.

Look up caravan packing advice and pack as much heavy stuff in the car as possible. Loading in the caravan should be over the axle to avoid getting a wag on. Pendulum effect or dumbbell effects are bad. I saw one once and the caravan went over on its side and pulled the tow car over as well.

Check your nose weight before every trip as well. You can do nose weight with bathroom scales and a piece of broom handle cut to the right height to save you buying a proper gauge as long as you load the van up the same way every time.

Have fun with it!

Original poster

Ineedmorepatience · 09/03/2015 19:44

Oh phew, have just checked my insurance and am covered to tow

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