What do I need to know about caravans?

[CaravanningNewbie]

I'm hoping to pick the brains of some experienced caravanners here! I recently found out that I won a caravan - am really excited and DH and I are busily planning a summer of exploring the UK (with baby, and possibly Labrador, in tow). We're picking it up in about six weeks.

However...neither of us have any experience of touring caravans. Where do we start with learning what we need to know? A towing course is included in the prize, which is super helpful. I've been reading about loading, nose weights etc, is there a single good source to learn all this stuff? And what do we need to think about - storage, insurance...what else? Any top purchases?

Any advice welcomed!

I'd suppose you could start by subscribing to some campervan magazine and join some suitable Facebook groups...

Wow, great prize.

What sort of caravan? Is your car heavy enough to tow it? You can probably find a tow match site via google to put your car details in and caravan details and it will tell you. But if you’re struggling let me know and I will do it via the caravan club matching service.

Hitch lock and wheel lock a necessity. A tyre inflator thing, one which you plug into your car cigarette lighter. You must check tyre pressures before each journey. You’ll need an aqua roll and pump and a waste master. Carbon monoxide alarm, I would have died last year if it wasn’t for my alarm. A nice set of plates and mugs. Light saucepan, frying pan, etc. Small tv. Small plug in heater just in case your heater every stops working.....never had to use mine but I’m happy it’s there. I don’t use toilet chemicals. I use persil pods in the toilet cassette and a bit of fabric conditioner in the flush tank. You’ll need a funnel to fill your loo flush up with....I got one from a caravan place with a flexible end.

Spare fuses, spare bulbs, spare breakaway cable. Levelling ramps. Caravan breakdown cover....ie one which will take you and the caravan even if it’s the caravan which breaks not the car. aA don’t do this, you need either RAC arrival cover or green flag do one and then Mayday if you’re in the caravan club.

Low wattage kettle, hook up cable, steps, aquaroll, waste master, water pump, insurance, smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector, cutlery, dining set, pots and pans, tin opener, toilet chemicals, bedding.

We started caravaning just 2 years ago and EVERYONE appears to have 3 staples. 1 a dog (you've got a Labrador so you're part way there!) 2 a cadac BBQ and an inflatable awning.

If you want to avoid arguments the inflatable awning is a must!!
I also recommend having a battery hoover with you, we have a GTECH so always take that but SIL has her dyson.

depending on how new/modern the caravan is it may self level and have heating you control on a smart phone, hopefully you'll have a fixed bed, nothing worse than making and unmaking a bed every morning.
I guess final point is check out the plug sockets, with 2 teenagers and not many spare plugs I have a charger that takes 4 USB leads to avoid the arguments.

Finally, take wine, lots of it and laugh - its supposed to be fun :)

Now if you want an inflatable awning I can sell you a brand new vango one for £300. . Was £650 new, never used.

Thanks all, some great tips. I do love a magazine subscription...

Viva we're good on the car to tow, which is a good start! And an inflatable awning is part of the package. I hadn't thought of breakdown cover, we're due to review car insurance/breakdown so I'll look at all that together. It's a small 2 berth caravan, which is good for us as newbies.

Time to start a long list, I think and google the bits I've not heard of!

I would join the caravan club - they are a mine if useful information plus access to lots of club sites.
They do good breakdown cover and insurance deals too.
The CL (certified location) network is the thing we use most though. There are thousands of small (no more than 5 pitches) sites all over the country. Some are very basic - my favourite is a farm site 10 mins from Conwy with spectacular views, just a tap and a chemical toilet emptying point - but £5 per night. Others fully equiped - Shropshire Hills, heated shower rooms, wifi, hard standings, electric hookup- £16 per night.

If it's a modern van it will have all mod cons, from central heating to a proper oven and fridge, so you will just need to put in pots and pans, and bedding.

For you first trip, don't go too far, for a weekend. Practise putting your awning up at home - watching first timers put up a new awning is a spectator sport on most sites!

Insure your caravan. So many get stolen.

What a fantastic prize! I assume it's new? Not jealous at allowed need to know make and model!!
If I was buying one now I'd also say inflatable awning.
Sat Nav is worth every penny.
We use loads of caravan club sites and esp the small CLs. Which part of the country are you in?

Averylongtimeago please can you name the site near Conwy - would be ideal for us! CLs are best on recommendations.

Glen Urcha near Rowen near Conwy.

Been going there years, 18 +. If you have a long outfit, be aware that the access from the Rowen side (check map) involves a sharp left turn going up a steep drive to the farm- risk of grounding. If you approach from the other side, take it steady as the road is narrow.
A really old fashioned basic Cl, on a working sheep farm.

Check your driving licences to check whether you will need to take a driving-towing test.

Wow! Caravan WAG here-slightly jealous of your win! Congratulations though! Fab you got the inflatable awning too-we have one, its so easy!
My DH is the caravanning nerd, I just let him crack on but I have learnt a lot too!
I got a book from the library-'Caravanning for idiots' or some such. It helped! Also I'm on Caravanning WAGs on fb- a very friendly page! And helpful!
As far as sites go, pick a nearby site for your first trip so you can go home if necessary! We've had a lot of help from other caravanners on site, sitting outside having a glass/bbq and chatting!
Good luck! Do share a picture of your prize!!

Ukcampsite is a great resource for checking out caravan sites.

We are members of both the Caravan Club and the Caravan and Camping Club. You get monthly magazines with both plus a map of all their sites and a big handbook.

Oops, also hitch locks (alko) and wheel locks as caravans are stolen regularly! Storage-a yard/farm with secure entry and cctv is best-shop around, ask other caravan nerds-ask in your local caravan shop/dealer.
Insurance-CC is good but there are others.
Meanwhile, we personalise our van with a name-our new to us one was already named and we put up family pics of our holidays in the van!
Its our home from home amd we love it!!

I like the idea of Certified Locations - do they tend to be a bit more predictable quality than just random sites? Definitely planning on the first trip being a trial run within an hour of home - we have nowhere to practice unfortunately, so we will provide awning entertainment on site .

Prize is a Swift Basecamp. It's small enough that, dependant on car, we don't need the towing license. Probably too small for experienced people, but for us transitioning from tents it looks perfect (though dog will be relegated to the awning!).

We are south east - not far from Milton Keynes. Which puts most of the interesting bits of the country we'd like to see just beyond a day trip (3 hours drive to the beach etc). So I'm hoping this will allow us a few weekend trips when we wouldn't normally be able to justify two nights of accommodation.

Double check your driving licenses allow you to tow. After a certain year ( I forget which), the standard driving test does not permit you to tow.

Ooh, congratulations!

I would also recommend UKCampsite.co.uk for the information forums and campsite recommendations.

You can use Certified Sites without being a member. I find the C&CC sites immensely bossy and regimented, with a certain ‘vibe’, but that could be bad luck over the sites we have used.

Driving license: it did change, there is a weight limit. I will have a look.

Wow what an amazing prime, well done to you what a great start to the new year ! We are members of the CMC (caravan and motorhome club but used to be called caravan club) we like that all the sites are similar and you know the format but mostly we enjoy the CL sites

I dont know if there is any soon but id recommend going to a show if you can and need to pick up new equipment or want some advice, there is often so much more information there than just the caravans for sale

I'd recommend a group on facebook, i cant recall its exact name but thinks its CTUK, there is loads of advice on there

just had a quick search of a swift basecamp and i love the look of them, they look perfect for 2

www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/driving-advice/towing-a-caravan/

Here you are, towing rules.

You do definitely need to check your license as if you need lessons (if you passed your test after a certain date) then towing lessons take about 2 weeks and cost about £600.

That basecamp looks great