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

hello ladies -didn't get that caravan friend looked at it and found damp so offered what I thouhgt it was worth but they haven't got back to me. So its back to the drawing board. Little money to spend and struggling to find something. I keep searching auto trader and ebay but not found anything suitable yet. Going to look at a place near my mums this p.m. as i'm visiting her atm. Just don't fancy towing one all the way home 150 miles as a first tow.

Notso - sounds like you've had a narrow escape, as damp is the caravanner's worst nightmare! Avoid at all costs!!

Hope you find something soon.

went to look at another one tonight another load of rubbish. Think I on verge of giving up.

Don't give up!! I too am a newbie and looking to buy a caravan we're off tomorrow to look and hoping to get a good deal, waying which is best between a brand new on or one that is approx 12 months old. We have decided on the Bailey's Pageant Burgundy becuase of the fixed bed and will be towing with a Volkswagon Passat.

Janbo did you get one?

If you're not sure whether your car will tow a caravan you have seen, have a look at whattowcar.com. It's a really useful site to make sure the car and caravan are compatible. You need to aim for 85%(or less) of car weight for the caravan (when packed) for safe towing.

I towed for the last 12 years on my own with the children (now 16 + 18 ) but have now sold the caravan. I had no problems, and often help would be forthcoming on site if necessary.
One last point - I don't know when you took your driving test, but check that you can tow a caravan on your license - I think that there are now some restrictions for recently passed drivers.

Good luck

No, don't give us Notso! The search can take a while, and if you hold off for another couple of months there might be some end-of-season bargains around.

Keep looking!

hmmm friend now putting me off saying i wont get use out of it and site fees too expensive etc etc.

Why are people so down on those of us who crave a caravan? Site fees are nothing to hotels and in fact getting a caravan is the only way we're going to be able to have holidays from now on (maternity pay has just finished and not going back to work). And if it turns out you don't use it much you can always sell it. Better to give it a go than be talked out of it I say.

Looked at some caravans today and now I'm just confused about what I want. I am excited though. Don't give up notsofaroff

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Hi we're tenters,I want a van but OH say's we can't afford one - boo hoo. He just keeps reminding me how many tents we can buy for the price of a van or that we could have 2-3 really good holidays in an actual building! He keeps catching me looking at caravan websites and on ebay - I tell him it's caravan porn, so he now thinks I'm really sad! For more info check out UKcampsite.co.uk. They're a really friendly bunch, some families but mostly golden oldies (but who have camped for years with their own families so bags of knowledge and experience)

Orinoco - what site did you visit pls? And do they take tents?

Notso - just like everything else in life, there are cheap sites and expensive sites; good sites and bad sites.

If you join the Caravan Club, you can use their CL (Certificated Location) sites. These are great - just 5 vans per site and often very basic. There aren't the luxuries of a big site (eg washing machines etc) and there are often no loos, but many have hook-up.

The real benefit is that there is so little traffic, the kids are very safe to wander around and enjoy the sort of freedom they wouldn't on a big site with cars coming and going all the time.

Also, they're much cheaper - I think they start from around £6 per night. We're going to a CL for our main holiday this year - it has hook-up but no other facilities - and I know we'll have a great time for very little expense.

If you like this kind of caravanning (basic!), you'll soon recoup the cost of joining the Caravan Club. All CLs are listed in the handbook they send you, and I think they're trying to get more CL info on their website too, alongside the big sites already on there.

Finally, if you have Google Earth on your computer, you can put the CL's postcode in and have a snoop online to see if you like the look of it before you book.

Big sites are more expensive, especially in school holidays, but there are great alternatives available. We love CLs, and so do our kids. Give it a try, and don't let the anti-caravan brigade put you off!

Me and my family are caravanners. Last year we bought a new Swift Charisma 570 which has fixed bunk beds at the end and we love it. We like that people take the pi** out of caravanners, all the more room for us We only go to CL's as we like the space and quiet that they give. We've had loads more holidays than the average family which we couldn't afford to do without our van. Next week we're off to Yorkshire for the week, earlier in the year we were in the Lake District and North Devon and thats just the bigger trips, we also have lots of weekends away. Who's the sad ones here, the caravanners or those that stay at home every weekend???? I know which I'd prefer.

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can I join the group.

We have a sterckeman caravan which we got at the end of last year. To date we have been away 5 times - one full week and the rest long weekends and have another week planned soon.

We find the caravan club sites are great for their shower/toilet blocks and the toddler bathrooms are fantastic.

Another 'club' to look at is Best of British - its free to join and their sites are all 5* - the one we going to soon are on their register and we have no complaints - we been before and booked straight away to go back.

Have just returned from our main two week holiday on a CL in Cornwall, cost all of £140 for two weeks!! Yes it rained but on balance we had more sunny days and our kids body board whatever the weather!

We do tent as well but I have arthritis and DS2 has asthma, both are exacerpated by the damp night air!! Caravanning is great fun.

Sod Jeremy Clarkson.

To all you caravanners
Iam also trying to convince DH that a caravan is an easy option for weekend away with 2 young children. He's definitely coming round to the idea, despite being addicted to the caravan episode on Top Gear!
How much do you realistically need to be prepared to spend on a 2nd hand caravan to give it a go?

Millimat, for a second hand van I would suggest checking out any local dealers - or online - and ebay. We spent under 1000 on our first van and sold it pretty much straight away as it wasn't as described so definitely go and view first. Depending on make/year I would expect a minimum of 1500 to 2000 for a reasonable van.

We are thinking of getting a caravan for next summer... you all would recommend it then?

Mysterymachine, that doesn't sound half as much as I expected! Do others agrees - £1500 - 2000 for a 2nd hand caravan for trying it out?

Millimat, as I said it would depend on year/make but I have seen reasonable ones around that price. Also depends on when/where you buy.

Boysboysboys - go for it, we got ours at the end of last year having had tents and trailer tents in the past. I am happier with the caravan with lo as I feel I have a little more control over him. Also the times we have used the van - even for long weekends and going in our own county - we have thoroughly enjoyed them. If you not wanting one till next summer, I would suggest maybe consider looking at the end of this year if you can store as people sell if they can't store them and you get bargains - that's how we got our 6 berth.

Serin - lol at 'sod Jeremy Clarkson'!

Jezza might not be joining our ranks anytime soon, but there's something about James May that makes me think he could be a potential convert.

I can see him reversing perfectly onto the pitch, having his van absolutely central to the peg (Caravan Club rule!), then making merry with his spirit level while he levels the van meticulously front-to-back and side-to-side.

And just think of all the fun he'd have with his pre-tow checks! His tyre pressures would be textbook, his noseweight spot-on, and the loading of his caravan utterly meticulous.

He's such a tecchie perfectionist, I think he'd really love that side of things. Am sure he could sink a few beers under the awning light in the evening too!

we have a static, struggling to pay the fees though

would like a tourer but no were to put it and I would be scared of towing it lol lol