Newcomer?
Hi, not sure whether I'm on the right forum. But l recently lost my husband. We used to tow a Bailey Cadiz but unfortunately l am having to sell it as it's far too big for me. I'm hoping to sell it maybe in March next year. I have my eye on a a small Lunar
Stella as l like the layout. l am very nervous about towing on my own. I used to tow the Bailey even in France but only with my husband by the side. I'm going to go on a CC towing course soon. But my problem is the other things that could go wrong inside the
van. Like the heating or water problems. How do other females cope on their own when something goes wrong? Also do some people find it lonely on their own in their caravan? How does this Solo Caravanning work? I'm sorry if their silly questions. Sue
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Hello Sue
I’m delighted to hear that someone like you intends to carry on doing what they love. You can spend too much time worrying about things that may go wrong. It’s the stuff that insurance companies love.
Please don’t worry. I’m sure you will find some helping and understanding hands wherever you go. Take a look in the Solos section. I’m not sure what you’ll find there, but it may reap rewards.
I’d also suggest that you consider a centre rally. You may find it very friendly, especially if you contact the rally marshal at the time of booking.
I wish you the very best of luck.
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Hi Sue and welcome. Sorry for your loss but lots of solos in the same situation. Practice is the answer to reversing or a mover! (I needed practice with that too!) You should feel more confident after the CC course too. No question is silly if you don't know the answer so ask away! When I got this van a heap of things didn't work or I didn't know how including the dealer leaving the water open after service. A kind neighbour sorted that for me as it had stuck and water came out whichever way the tap was set! A good wriggle freed it up! I also called the tech team at the dealership to locate various switches but now most questions are answered by kind peeps on CT! Having been alone a long time loneliness doesn't bother me but being with other solos is good especially if you have a mishap like I did last year they were brilliant.
Watch the Diary dates and the chat section to see if there are any Meets or Greets near you. Where are you? I saw Solos in the magazine and went along to see and have had some great times in two years. Still enjoy going alone too. Hope to see you next year. Pippa
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Hi Sue and welcome to Solos. My wife died a year ago and I was on the point of selling the caravan as I really did not fancy going it alone, then I came across Solos. I thought I'd give it a try so went with the Cornwall tour last July. Had a wonderful
time, lovely people and most of the time someone doing something that you can join in with if you want to but no pressure to join in or just go it alone if you want to. The thing is that there is always someone to chat to if you need to and lonely isn't an
issue. On the solo female issue then I wouldn't worry at all if I were you. From my experience so far there seem to be a lot more female solos than male and they all seem to manage perfectly well. On the reversing onto a pitch thing, like Pippa said, make
sure you have a motor mover on your new caravan, it makes getting onto a pitch a doddle. I can and do reverse quite confidently but I never reverse onto a pitch it is so much easier to use the motor mover. I also do automatic leveling on my caravan. just
press a button and the caravan does it all, no going around leveling everything up and winding down corner steadies. If you lack a bit of confidence I'd suggest that you join one of the groups for your first few trips out, you'll see them turning up in the
Meets and Greets thread. Once youv'v been out with a group a couple of times I'm sure you'll be perfectly confident to go it alone if you want to. Keep caravaning and have fun. Peter0 -
Hi Sue. I too am sorry that you find yourself in this position but would encourage you to look at a smaller van which you'll find easier to manage.
Lots of good advice from fellow solo people on here. I'm not a solo as such but often go off with our caravan on my own when OH has commitments.
Good luck.
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Hi Sue, I am a mature female caravanner who had never towed. I went on a cc course and havent looked back. I have to useca mover and tend to go where I Know there should be help if i need it. Believe me i have asked questions with now o bvious answers and still do things .i.e. draining down with the book in one hand. When my husband was alive i would do the "pink " jobs (inside) and he would do the "blue" (outside). I now do purple jobs! I have a lot of firsts including towing to france, i hope you too can start to create your own list of achievements.
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I try not to use the mover too often on the "use it or lose it basis" (all those years of practice!) but a mover makes it much more friendly to the wardens and the site especially with all this wet weather - as you can avoid running over any grass which isn't always possible when reversing both together. It is good to be able to reverse though - especially if you meet someone who can't do it - MotorHomes towing a car apparently find it very challenging! But at least they could unhitch and drive away both!
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Hi Sue,
my husband died 4 years ago and like you we had a large caravan towed with a 4x4. I didn't want to give up caravanning but didn't feel I could cope with the outfit I had. I changed the van for a Lunar Arriva, but soon found it was a bit too small, so a year
later changed it again for a Xplore 402. Still not perfect, but close enough. I also liked the Stellar, but again it has the small washroom. I presume you haven't bought anything yet? If not it might be worth going to the show at the NEC in February, (if you're
close enough) a few solo's often go, perhaps we could meet up and give you a hand.It was very odd the first few times going out on my own without anyone in the left hand seat. I always have a satnav, but go through the route with a map in the other hand before I set out and often check on Google street view for tricky junctions or site
entrances. If you let us know roughly where you are perhaps some of us could arrange a meet somewhere not too far away to help you over the first hurdle, you'll soon be up and running.Kim
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Hi to all and to Kim. I have only a small budget of about £6500. So l was of the understanding that people normally try and sell their vans around this time or just after Christmas so thought l would probably get a better price. I was going to sell the big
one around spring time as l thought people liked to buy something new for the summer. And yes that would be nice to meet up to show me the ropes l would really appreciate that. I have the caravan in storage in Burford which is in the cotswolds a lovely part
of the country. I don't suppose l could ask a question? I would like to buy a Stella Lunar possibly 2008/9. Not sure what car to tow with it. I would of liked either a Ford Focus not sure which one as there's so many of them or a Toyota Auris both around
2008/2009. Thank you all for your replies. It's nice to know there's help out there and your not on your own. Sue0 -
Hi Sue. Welcome to the world of solos 'vanning. Where are you located? If you are not near where the solo meets are it is worth looking at the New Companions Camping Club as they hold meets all over the UK. There is a thread giving contact details in this
section.Some of us changed to motorhomes rather than smaller caravans. Mind you it took me 5 years to do so! Good luck and enjoy the towing course. You will be surprised how much you already know.
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Sue I didn't have the budget to go new but found it very useful to go to the Show even if it was to discover just how little attention a lone female gets from the salesmen! This year the only one to talk to me was a saleswoman! There is definitely an advantage to having company when looking too! I think Biggarmac had almost 10 of us watching her back and noting every scratch and faulty lock on her newish MH as she was negotiating at the Lincoln show!
I went to a big caravan place for mirrors for the newer towcar and wondered if I would be tempted to swap vans But that didn't happen either I am not sure about modern heating for one thing.
The club tow car match is a good help and also a topic somewhere about them. I have had a succession of Skoda Octavia's and been very happy with them especially the automatic which makes towing SO much easier. I surprised myself about automatics but wouldn't go back now! The Octavia suited me very well, particularly for the dogs And the all wheel drive Scout version great for my remote home and better towing. I have been fortunate with finances in this my 70th year so a change in towcar has been great but I highly recommend Skoda Octavia Scouts - never had a Ford so can't comment on that. Peugeots were great tow cars too I had. 405 with over 200k on the clock and several 300 and sometings (305, 309, and 308). That's since 1984 In case it looks as though I change very often!
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Hi Sue,
I wanted a Focus estate but ended up with a Kia Ceed, it's managed to get me up to Orkney and to the Outer Hebrides, fine for most trips, but really not happy in a cross wind on motorways. That's the problem, you ask one question, then get so many conflicting
answers you end up no better off. If the van is near Burford that's an easy trip for me, we cold stay on the club site and visit the wildlife park opposite, they even allow dogs and you get reduced price entry. If you wanted a slightly longer journey there's
Morton in Marsh not far. I'm sure others will join us, even Viv has been known to go that far North!! She is a mine of information. Keep us up to date with how you're doing.Kim
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Thanks Pippah45 l think I'll have a look at the Scoda Octavia Im trying to find a car about the same size as a Volkswagen Golf as anything bigger wouldn't go on the drive. Also wanted something with low running costs. But thank you all for your posts. And
when l pluck up courage l hope to meet up with some of you. Especially if l go to the February Nec. Thanks. Sue0 -
Motorway crosswinds are horrid and I was glad I stopped last year for an extra night as the car alone was being blown around! The Skoda is quite long - in fact longer than my new one - I measured it agaist my sister's Skoda! All wheel drive helps with that too. But it isn't very wide. Don't let a slick salesman talk you into a Fabia - they have the power but they don't have the weight capacity unless you go for a really small van. But do look up the matching service - I had a go at that at the NEC and was surprised they asked about my towing experience. I know experience counts but not sure you would get away with saying so to a Policeman!
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Hi! I have just read your posts Sue! I live near Swindon!
Right! Now! Changing car and caravan! It's best to keep the caravan within 85% of the tow car! You are looking at a small car, so a small caravan is the only way to go! I tow my. 15 foot 1400kgs weight caravan with a Mercedes E class and also my new to me Freelander1, previously with Range Rovers! It is stability you need! Caravans get battered about a lot from lorries and wind etc, so the weight ratio is important for stability! I will never suggest a particular vehicle because everyone's choice is indIvidual, what suits one doesn't always suit someone else! I prefere large vehicles such as 4x4's but that's my choice!
Once you have chosen a caravan, have a motor mover installed, it will save you red faces and ambarresment! I can reverse my caravan, but it's nothing but trouble on your own! I just pull up, unhitched and then use the motor mover, so much quicker and you can get it right first time!
I have been caravaning since 1982 and solo for the last 4 years! I have travelled towing Thousands of miles, some north, some south ,Lots west and not many east! It is nice to know your safely tucked up in your own bed on a site you want to be in! It's even better to have friends on site to chat too that are like minded! This is why Solos has came about! Friends for free whilst away! There is no membership fee's, there are no databases kept and you do your own thing as and when you want! You even pitch where you want! But see the Solos sign and you know there is someone on the same boat as yourself! The diary dates at the moment are thin on the ground at the moment, but as breaks away are booked after New Year, there will be a steady increase of meets! Last year there were well over 100 meets and greets that I know of!
I do visit Burford, last time was in Spetember when I was joined by 3 other Solos! Solos is at Moreton in Marsh for Christmas for a week starting on the 22nd before moving to Devizes for New Year On the 29th! You would be most welcome if you want to drop in for a coffee etc! There are Meets and Greets through the year held all over the place! You would be most welcome to come and meet up!
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Hi Vivienne, l have a few worries though, l have only a small budget. I have around £7000 for a little caravan. And I've just been out to a couple of car sales places and was offered only £3500 for my lovely immaculate Hyundai i30 with 18000 miles on the
clock l was shocked as I'd seen on Autotrader cars like mine but with more mileage for about £5000. I'm wondering whether to sell it privately. Problem is it doesn't give me much money for a tow car probably no more than about £6000. Feeling a bit disappointed
as l so wanted to keep up with caravanning. Also l wouldn't be able to have a 4 x 4 As the running costs would be too much. I have done my sums and can afford the usual like :- caravan insurance, breakdown, caravan service. That's ok. Hope someone can come
up with the answer. By the way l am not far from you l live in the Berkshire area. Sue0 -
Sue don't be disheartened you don't need a 4 x 4 for a smaller caravan. I am batting at 1500 kgs but there are lightweight vans at far less. Actually with the Skoda Octavia for example the running costs from normal 2 wheel drive to all wheel dive are seriously minimal maybe only a mile or 2 per gallon difference - depending on your driving style. If I was back to more modest cars it wouldn't be a problem. Those Peugeots I mentioned in a previous post were all second hand diesel cars (one bought off eBay!). The 305 towed 2 big horses all over but I suspect that would be illegal now! It was my opinion that it towed better than either the LWB Landrover I drove for some years and many miles here and Germany or the nice SWB I owned briefly! Not on soft ground obviously but on roads.
I am not necessarily advocating a specific car just relating my experience
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Sue, just checked your Hyundia's towing capacity at 85% and you would be able to tow with that up to 1298kgs which is very good! So, do you really want to get rid of your low mileage car??? Or just replace your caravan with something smaller??considering
the low mileage on your car, I personally would keep it! The trade in price you have been offered for a six year old low mileage car is ridiculous!most small caravans would be more than capably towed by your car!
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Hi Vivien im really surprised you say l can tow with this car? what sort of caravan would that be? i thought the stella was a light van? The only van l wouldnt like to tow would be a Eriba Also would it be manage the steep inclines in France? Sue
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Hi Sue
I have been a member of Solos for a few years and live in Berkshire with too many years of caravanning experience than I really care to recall! If it would help you I am happy to meet over a coffee and chat about your options....bit easier than loads of
thread entries
We could even make it at a caravan showroom and have a brouse!!As far as I know there is no way of emailing / PM on this site so if you do want to get in touch can I suggest you register on solos@prophpbb.com where we can.
I will keep a look out for you over there
Martin
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Hi to you both. Sorry to reply so late. But l store my caravan in Burford and l was over there starting to empty it. And just got back home. Yes that would be nice to meet the three of us for a coffee. Unfortunately I'm not free until after Christmas as
sadly I'm still working. I'm free on Monday 28th December or perhaps your both busy. Or maybe Saturday 2nd or Sunday 3rd. ? or maybe you could make a suggestion. Sue0 -
I can't make 28th but am currently around on 2nd/3rd. Good point about Xmas closures Viv....just drove past The Caravan Company Padworth and that looks shut 'til the New Year.
Sue ..I am happy to meet on 2/3rd but you may prefer to wait until after that.( I am "Wolfie" on the other Solos site if you want to em/pm)
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