Complete caravan virgins

Henzy

Evening all

After many many months of looking around, researching, discussing, looking around again, getting in and out of different models, we have finally taken the plunge.  Hoping to pick up our Lunar Ultima 560 on 1 July.  We have a zillion questions and though
very excited, must admit to a few nerves.  Any help and advice anyone would care to offer would be gratefully received.  We will have the usual starter pack and herself will no doubt be purchasing the usual fripperies for inside, but what other essential kit
would you suggest?   Thanks in advance.

 

paul56

Corkscrew. 

Freelander359

Kettle

JillwithaJay

General advice would be not to dash out and buy every conceivable thing in the accessory shop.  Have a few trips out and talk to other people on site about what they couldn't live without.

Try to manage with things from the house for a couple of trips until you see how it would best work for you.  My van is complete with bed linen, towels, pots, pans, crockery, cutlery and toiletries, first aid kit, tool kit, television and CDs so all I need to add is clothes and a certain amount of food and I'm ready for the off.

The obvious things are aqua roll, wastemaster, pump, EHU cable, step, small container for daily freshly drawn drinking water.

Oh and yes - kettle and corkscrew.  

 

SteveL

A bottle to use the corkscrew on!

Agree with Jill. Try to manage with things from home - cutlery, plates etc but invest in lighter weight stuff as soon as you know how much you need. ( we have enough 'kitchen stuff' to feed 6 for when the family ( who are usually in tents) join us for meals

Dottydingle

We got our first caravan this April and love it. A pen and pad is great for noting things you need to remember for the next trip. 

Our Lunar Quasar is short on plugs but solved using a couple of adaptors. 

Tea, gin, wine, mugs, glasses and a chair each are our 'essentials'!

Tinwheeler

Some non-slip rubber matting to line shelves with because everything will try to shift when you're on the move.

Freelander359

An odds and s*ds box for fuses, spare torch batteries, electrical tape, tube of glue  etc and anything else that's useful to have with you in case of need.

ChrisRogers

A good door stop comes in handy to keep the door open on those hot days.

 

mjh2014

First aid kit; pack of cards.

1Tracey1

Just a tip. Get the rubber matting to line your shelves from Pound shops and not the caravan places.

fur ball

I think jill raises great advice, can I suggest the first trip is a weekend at a site about an hour from home in case you forget something major and don't be afraid to ask for help from the wardens or others while on site, we have all been there and most
love having the opportunity to part with years of knowledge.

Pippah45

Great advice to start near home then you can get back for essentials - Clumber Park - perhaps - Poolsbrook - or Market Rasen.  Lots of choices as long as there are vacancies!  But perhaps you will have more questions before 1st July!  I would record the
handover with the Dealer it is impossible to remember everything they say - if not record - take a notebook and scribble like mad! 

AndyNYorks

For your first trip, somewhere not too far from home with easy access and EHU is good as it keeps it simple and gives you the chance to go home if you forget something. While you are away try everything in the van to ensure it works correctly. This includes
everything that works from just battery and/or gas. It is worth disconnecting from EHU to test these out in real use.

Don't go out and buy every accessory, you will find out what you need with use of the van. If your payload is not too well used you can save some cash by purchasing glasses, crockery etc. from charity shops. This works for us as we prefer real glasses and
china but inevitably have a few breakages over time which can be easily and cheaply replaced.

Finally, consider all the different options for how you use your caravan. These range from the expensive full facility sites, CLs with various levels of facilities and rallies. The sites speak for themselves but can be as much £30 a night. CLs vary greatly
but many have hard standing, EHU and other facilities whilst others can be very basic (just a water supply and elsan point). Rallies can be good for novices as there is a lot of advice available and can be a good opportunity to make friends.

richardlorraine

could anyone tell us where to get good sleeping bags. also my grandchildren love benidorm, but i dont like the campsites near the beach they are so crowded the in altea, could anyone recommend a site about maybe ten miles away from benidorm, i would be so grateful

Moderator Edit:

You might be better to ask your question regarding campsites overseas in the Overseas Sites and Touring Section.

richardlorraine

sorry meant to say the same in altea

brue

For sleeping bags look on line at Amazon or a similar web site. I bought some good cotton sleeping bags on line, they are large and roomy and have got us through winter and summer fairly well. Some sleeping bags are bulky, others will roll into small bags.
Have a think what might suit your your needs, you won't need expedition type ones in a van!

Whittakerr

I got a good sleeping bag from Go Outdoors. Dont forget to get the discount with your CC card.

Pippah45

I hate sleeping bags - and I don't think I am alone in that - especially in a hot country - but in your case it might not be practical to take bedding from home?  Sorry gone off topic from the original post - but then they too might like to consider using
bedding from home rather than splash out on new sleeping bags. 

Moetmum

I always carry a few fuses, check which size are in your van.  I had one blow this week.

Henzy

Thanks so much for all your advice, good to know that there will be other caravaners on site who may not mind putting us straight if we get it wrong.  I think we will make sure we have our sense of humour with us above all else and enjoy this new experience.
 We have booked into Clumber on 1 July, could only get the one night as they are full on the Saturday, so if anyone is there that day and catches a glimpse of we novices, feel free to come over and say hello.  Thanks again, very much appreciated.  

Pippah45

You might be lucky and get a cancellation to enjoy 2 nights at Clumber keep phoning the site asking.  I hope you have a great time and a good start to your adventures. 

notite

Hello Henzy,  welcome from fellow Notts member, have you thought of The Firs CC Site at Belper, which at the moment is showing vacancy for 1st and 2nd July or as Pippah says keep phoning Clumber direct, with it being a big site, I feel sure someone will
cancel during the next week.

Shout up should you need advice, there is always someone, that will have the answer.

Henzy

Fantastic, will give Clumber a call and see if they can squeeze us in an extra night for our trial run.  Thanks again so much for the friendly and helpful advice, it seems caravanners are a friendly, non judgemental and non elitist gang and we are very much
looking forward to our travels.  

Maysie

could anyone tell us where to get good sleeping bags. also my grandchildren love benidorm, but i dont like the campsites near the beach they are so crowded the in altea, could anyone recommend a site about maybe ten miles away from benidorm, i would be so
grateful

Moderator Edit:

You might be better to ask your question regarding campsites overseas in the Overseas Sites and Touring Section.

Get duvalays instead of sleeping bags...google them. Best ever investment we EVER made!

Oldgirl and Staffy

I always carry a few fuses, check which size are in your van.  I had one blow this week.

...I very much endorse this.    The 5amp fuse for the water pump in our van went last week and we hadn't another.  We ended up having to use bottled water for several days before we could get a pack of fuses as it was a weekend.  Bought a whole set in Geant Casino supermarket for €1.97.  Lesson learnt

Shuttleworths

Apart from all the ideas everybody else has put forward, from experience of our first year you need mole grips to help in changing gas bottles and I would also suggest a portable BBQ. Best of luck to you, we have found all caravanners friendly and helpful,
surd you will find the same!

wye

Welcome.

Well you have started well by asking questions on here .

My father inlaw who Caravaned for almost 50 years , told me to speak to other vaners and look at what they buy , best advice I had , and can offer , good luck .

nelliethehooker

Henzy,you need not go to the expense of purchasing sleeping bags. We use an old duvet cover as an inner sleeping bag and then just take one of the duvets that we normally use at home. That way you can decide on the thickness of the covering you'll need depending
on the weather. There's nothing more as uncomfortable as trying to sleep in a bag thats too hot, we find.

Henzy

Thanks for that Nellie, we are going to use a duvet from the house for the time being rather than purchase new from the outset, I think it was another member asking about sleeping bags.  On another thread on here have picked up a tip for plates from Ikea called OTFAST or something of that ilk, 50p per plate, much cheaper than the Corelle that was originally being perused.  That will do to get us started.  Caravan Club directory arrived today, its all coming together, can't believe how excited we are

nelliethehooker

Sorry Henzy, it was richardlorainne who asked the question. My response should have been directed to them.