Newbie - what to take on a long trip
We bought our first caravan back in September and have taken it out 3 times now. Next month we're taking 3.5 months off work and going to travel up and around Scotland before heading down through Northumberland and some other places we fancy seeing before
we head home.
Is there anything that anyone recommends we take with us so we can do any running reparis etc? We have an electronic tyre gauge thingy but I wondered about things like fuses (what type do we need and where to get them).
We've got caravan insurance and breakdown cover - anything else anyone recommends for a long trip?
Any advise on routes up and around Scotland suitable for towers and good sites would he helpful too - we are not in a rush and like to avoid motorways where possible because they seem to close them willy nilly these days and we live in fear of being stuck
on one with 2 dogs!
Comments
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Do you want Club sites or CL's or a mixture of both? I suggest going up the West side and back down the East. Dunnet Head is a must as is Kinlochewe. There are a number of threads on CT regading recommending routes, perhaps you could search for them.
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What a wonderful trip! I wonder if your tool kit includes a small hack saw - I borrowed the one from my caravan and wanted it for something and found out no one else on site had one either! I was only cutting up waste pipe or something. You might need midge repellant towards the end of your trip but that's easy to buy. If you have dogs take plenty of pooh bags they get expensive in far flung places! As do all plastic bags and batteries etc etc.
i wouldn't want to miss the Outer Hebrides or the Orkneys although there is lots of mainland to see!
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In terms of clothing and personal items it goes without saying that you can't carry (for example) three months worth of underwear so plan how often you will need to wash clothing and bedding. This might result in you doing a small clothes wash every two
or three days and a big clothes wash about every ten days albeit some people believe that clothing and bedding stays cleaner for longer when on holiday
. So clothing for a fortnight might be about right. You can cover the bases by having quality waterproofs (including overtrousers or whatever)
and good boots/shoes ideally with a gore-tex lining along with some fleeces. Three months on the road is quite a long time and is likely to have some (mainly positive) impacts on your wellbeing. We use camping towels which dry quicker stay dry longer and are
easier to store.Have a chat with your caravan supplier to see what spare parts etc he recommends you take e.g. a spare water pump (not cheap). You may want to take some duck tape and a selection of fuses and spare bulbs. What you take will also depend on your level of
competence and confidence with electrical and mechanical stuff.Have a fabulous trip. It will be a big adventure
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Personal items have already been covered so I will not mention them except to say that you could be going from winter (!) to early summer so far as weather is concerned. Insect repellant is a must for west coast of Scotland in spring/early summer. You should not have any trouble getting spares if needed on your trip. Fuses are probably spade type the same as in your car. Make sure you have a jack that will fit under the caravan (unless you are going to call out the recovery for a flat tyre), Duct tape, Super Glue and WD40 always handy (WD40 also do a water repellant spray as well as the lubricant could be useful if damp gets into your 13 pin connector), a small but comprehensive tool box and multimeter. Over the years I have accumalted a comprehensive spares kit which includes those fragile bulb connectors for rear lights! The only things I have used over the last 5 years of long european trips are a rear light bulb for the caravan and an 'O' ring for the water connection pipe to caravan perhaps I've been lucky. Have a great trip.
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I don't know what tools you normally carry in your car but we have a battery charger, torgue wrench and a tyre inflator & pressure gauge as well as a couple of tool boxes.
BTW good tip about O ring, comeyras!
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Enjoy your trip,
For me personnaly a Hi Vis Vest is a must and check you have a warning triangle to hand either in the car or van.
Check spare tyre is in good order and inflated. As others previously mentioned a basic tool box with a veriaty of fuses bulbs relevent to the outfit.
A good tourch/lamp for the unexpected at night.
Hope this helps
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I would agree that a comprehensive tool kit is required, and a good selection of spares, especially if you are heading to more remote areas, caravan dealers are thin on the ground up here.
My tool kit contains all the usual stuff, plus several types of glue, electrical tape, a multmeter and soldering gear.
We also carry a 12v compressor, a trolley jack, a torque wrench, and a decent battery charger.
Spares we carry include fuses and bulbs for both car and caravan, O rings, water pump and uptake pipe, gas regulator, jubilee clips, water hose, appliance fuses and a spare plug, flex, break-away cable, Aquaroll screw top, curtain runners, various screws, a few bits of wood, and a tube of silicone sealant.
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Torch (wind up type), car bulbs hi viz jackets and triangles are in the car anyway latter three being a legal requirement on most of continent. Forgot to add; first aid kit and get one of those green tools for realigning 13 pin socket should it get out
of line - a few pounds from a dealer; I have bailed out a few caravanners in my time with mine! My tool box/spares look a little inadequate compared with some!!0 -
Thanks everyone for your very useful comments. Luckily we have someone house sitting for us so home insurance all covered (although Direct Line would have actually covered me for a 3 month trip if I'd let them know in advance and it was a one off which
is useful to know).Last trip out the gearbox on the car conked out so we have a new gearbox, clutch and flywheel, service and brakes all done.
I shall get hubby to put together a tool box. Is there an easy way (without having to go visit the caravan in storage) to know what fuses I need to take (It's a Bailey Senator Virginia).
Thanks - everyone - good here isn't it
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You're getting good advice on here BUT dont forget something for your "Me Time" -- 3.5 months is a long time to be closetted together in a 'van!! and what ever you do or don't take please please take your Sense of Humour -- that'll get you out of lots of sticky situations !
Please have fun & tell us all about it when you return.
Brian
P.S. Take lots of pictures -- they will remind you of the tour in 40 years time !!
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Re fuses. If your Senator is like my Ranger there will be an electrical 'box' with circuit breakers and electrical test button under the front seat and you will see the fuses there - all conveniently labeled by Mr Bailey! One of each size should be more than adequate - never had to change a fuse in my caravan. You may need the sense of humour when putting up an awning!
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Great tip about that alignment tool - have ordered one from Amazon today! I have struggled with the new to me plugs and even my helpful neighbour who is really handy has had trouble!
I wouldn't pack too much food (although I don't always take my own advice) as it is such fun browsing new areas for local produce. I have a couple of standbys in case not feeling well like a tin of soup etc. A pack of favourite frozen veg is good too especially
way up at the northern end.Have you thought of a medicine chest along with the first aid?
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You're getting good advice on here BUT dont forget something for your "Me Time" -- 3.5 months is a long time to be closetted together in a 'van!! and what ever you do or don't take please please
take your Sense of Humour -- that'll get you out of lots of sticky situations !Please have fun & tell us all about it when you return.
Brian
P.S. Take lots of pictures -- they will remind you of the tour in 40 years time !!
Write your comments here...Nice one ABM
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...... Is there an easy way (without having to go visit the caravan in storage) to know what fuses I need to take (It's a Bailey Senator Virginia).....
Modern cars' fuses come in 3 sizes (physical not amps), a lot use the standard fuse which is aout 20mm across, though there are quite a few that use mini/micro fuses .... c10mm and you might find maxi fuses under the bonnet 25/30mm across. I'd imagine your
caravan uses the middle sized, standard fuse like
these though Halfords seem to be the most expensive place to buy anything from these days.0 -
....(which I am told is law in this country anyway but does everyone carry enough?)
Since when? It is in French France, but not in Blighty.
Write your comments here...I may wear one tomorrow so SWMBO can keep tabs on me as I check out HMS Victory and Warrior for the umpteenth time. Then around what fleet that are docked.
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....(which I am told is law in this country anyway but does everyone carry enough?)
Since when? It is in French France, but not in Blighty.
Write your comments here...I may wear one tomorrow so SWMBO can keep tabs on me as I check out HMS Victory and Warrior for the umpteenth time. Then around what fleet that are docked.
We watched Warrior being towed into Pompey from the Gosport ferry terminal more years ago than I care to Google
The sky got darker
& darker so as soon as it was parked up, we walked back to our car, as soon as we sat down the heavens opened! And walked past Victory to FLJ every day (swing
that lamp)0 -
....(which I am told is law in this country anyway but does everyone carry enough?)
Since when? It is in French France, but not in Blighty.
Write your comments here...I may wear one tomorrow so SWMBO can keep tabs on me as I check out HMS Victory and Warrior for the umpteenth time. Then around what fleet that are docked.
We watched Warrior being towed into Pompey from the Gosport ferry terminal more years ago than I care to Google
The sky got darker
& darker so as soon as it was parked up, we walked back to our car, as soon as we sat down the heavens opened! And walked past Victory to FLJ every day (swing
that lamp)Write your comments here...aye aye
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Wisaacs bunree cc site is lovely , so is new england bay which is also cc : blair atholl is not cc site but is also a lovely site next to castle where piper plays on the hour : also the fishing village of crovie on moray firth is worth a visit but dont try
and take your caravan down there (cars arent allowed in actual little fishing hamlet) and the deli in pitlochrey sells best carrot cake ever !!if you like books wigtown is is a booktown happy wanderings you lucky traveller cheers mrs bc ps if its midge
time take brewers yeast tablets or a spoonfull of marmite apparently they dont like it
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A pack of Zip-ties of various sizes. Avon "Oh So Soft" Original as midge repellant.
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One of my caravan best-buys has been microfibre towels from Lakeland. Not quite as nice to use as cotton towels, but they dry quickly and never smell, even if the weather isn't right for washing them frequently. Super for wet weather as they just dry off
in the bathroom, you don't need to hang them outside.wouldn't go away with cotton towels ever again. Have had them five years, still like new and we tour three months each year.
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They do say you just need 2 things .... gaffer tape for stuff that moves but shouldn't and WD40 for stuff that doesn't move but should
very true, not needed that often but two great 'tools'....
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Battery charger either in case your main charger fails, or if you stay on a site without EHU, but they offer battery charging facilities, having a charger means you can take advantage (if you are willing to take out your battery!). Also, a good battery charger
is useful for occasionally fully charging the battery (with a voltage above 14.4V) which most onboard chargers don't.0
