Carvaning with a tourer - does no one on mumsnet do it?

[notsofarnow]

I can't see anywhere to post about caravaning. Thinking about buying first caravan but some people are telling me I won't be able to tow, others are saying I won't be able to do it on my own with a 4 and 5 yr old. Any suggestions or helpful advice or people already doing it on their own with lo's

Well, I keep a largish touring caravan on a seasonal pitch, so I suppose I kind-of count. DH doesn't come with us very often due to work commitments.
Don't see why you can't do it on your own. The Caravan Club run some pretty good towing courses around the country - I did one myself.
If people are saying you won't be able to pitch the van, then get a remote control motor mover fitted, then you'll be able to place the van wherever you want without all that reversing.
Touring caravanning is great for kids at those ages. Always ask for a pitch overlooking the play area, and take a pile of books for yourself - you'll hardly see the kids they'll be so busy making new friends they'll only return for drinks and snacks. And kids love helping out with jobs like hauling the water etc.
Many 4 berth vans are quite light these days, so you won't need a huge 4x4 to tow.
I find time at the caravan with the children is really quality time. Especially love the evenings when we have our hot chocolate and read together.

Caravanners aren't trendy enough for MN

Post under Camping but put caravan somewhere in the title. (Like you've done) There are a few of us around.

Of course you will be able to tow! Agree with everything VWLady said, especially about pitching - get a mover and do a course first.

Happy caravanning!

MMMEEEEEEEEee!

tis all to do with the "kerbweight" of your car, and check the MIRO of your caravan-to-be.
No reason not to tow because of gender/single status etc etc (get teh kids trained to fetch water and suchlike and you're sorted)

I'm thinking of buying a touring caravan, with DD 5, baby No.2 on the way and a dog, finding it hard to find self-catering accommodation that takes both kids AND dogs!

Maybe we need a caravaning thread under camping?

right glad there's others of us around was looking at towing coarses but
will have to be next year now because can't afford it this year. So I think I will give it a go this year and if I struggle then will go on a course.

what do i need to kit it out with then girls as at moment there is nothing in it.

not that i've bought it yet like.

Hi I am a carravanner and a tenter, love both! To kit out a caravan is really fun because its like buying for a second home. I did it over a few months and a year later still find things 'for the caravan'.
I will start a list for you and add to it as I remember things;-
chopping board
knives
cutlery
colander
salad bowls / servers
disposable barbi
dustpan brush
cleaning stuff
washing up crate and bowl
games
books
matches
torches
door mats
bull dog clips (to keep curtains together)
air freshner
tea towels
towels
cushions
pillows
sleeping bags
sheets (if hot)
electric fan/heater
melamine dinner set
WINE GLASSES AND BOTTLE OPENER [
tea /coffee/sugar jars
deck chairs
sun umbrella
wind break
mallet
gas bottles
mirror
wet weather gear
fleeces
warm weather gear

We're touring caravanners! We've got a Bailey Pageant Provence, which is fab.

When you're buying, the important thing is to make sure that your car can tow your caravan safely - as Gigglewitch says, you need to get into geeky info like kerbweight and MIRO (mass in running order, I think!). A good dealer should be able to help you pick out some suitable caravans to match your car.

The Caravan Club website has loads of info, and so does Practical Caravan magazine (and its website). I agree with VWLady that a towing course would be a good idea, and that getting a remote control mover fitted might make life easier too.

The kids will absolutely love it - our two (3 and 4) have great fun whenever we go away in the van.

Do it - and enjoy it!

thanks ladies, hoping I can get away without buying too much and take stuff from the house for this year anyway. Have rung car manufacturer and found out maximum tow limit, have spoken to a friend who is caravan technician who is comming to look at van for me on wed evening.

Really excited like child with a new toy that I haven't even got yet

Oooh! What sort of van is it??

Message withdrawn

We have a bailey carolina and are off to the vendee on the second of August.
I dont tow.

Dh has done a caravan manoeuvring course through the Caravan Club.

Oooh we used to have a dart 556-6 but I couldn't resist the Eldiss 534 fixed bed so we chucked dd1 out into a tent and settled for the 4-berth.

We are off to the Northumberland coast at the end of August which will be the furthest we've ever towed and stopping overnight on the way up at a CL in York.

Hello to all the other caravanners on MN!

I have fond memories of the Bailey Prima we had when I was a teenager. I would Love to have a caravan now but even if we could afford to buy one we'd have nowhere to keep it. I think that must be the main reason people go for tents, not because they are more 'trendy' but because you can shove them in the loft for 11.1/2 months of the year .

Ace Jubilee Viceroy, going down to Cornwall on Friday for 2 weeks.

I love my caravan, its a dolls house for grown ups.

Go for it notsofarnow, after the initial outlay its cheap enough to go away all the time.

Looking at buying a second hand one in the spring, definitely can't afford a new one!

Have mine!

I'm also looking to buy a secondhand caravan in the spring (husband doesn't know yet - need to make him think it's his idea). I've always laughed at my parents and their caravan but something weird happened to me the other day while leafing through one of my mum's caravan mags and now I'm really excited at the idea of getting one myself.
Bailey Ranger 5 berth seems good as we can shut away baby in the bedroom at one end in the evening and get down to some serious wine drinking and barbequing.

And to those who say you won't be able to tow and pitch....how ridiculous! You're not helpless and if all these doddery old folk who you see on the roads can do it then I'm sure we can!

Go for it Vicky. Baileys are good vans.

Good luck with your husband!

Hi Birdly

I did laugh at your comment on another caravanning thread saying that you were getting over the embarrassment and startled looks from your friends. I'm going to confess to some of my friends this week and I know they'll think I've gone completely mad.

To be honest, I've looked at so many caravan websites now and am quite beside myself with excitement so I think that will carry me through the embarrassment.

I'm very envious of your Provence. That would be my number one choice but is just too heavy for our car.

Happy caravanning ladies!

Vicky - I've just about learnt to live with the shame now. Maybe someone ought to offer counselling for us caravanners, so we could hold our heads up high alongside our 'cooler' camping colleagues!

Never mind about all that tosh though. Enjoy the fun of searching for your van - you'll have great times in it, I'm sure.

Have to admit, we do love, love, LOVE our Provence.