Collected our first caravan
Just picked up our new Crusader Aurora from Mike Hodges at Glossop Cavarans a few days ago - Caravan is perfect so far, was worried about the collection process, but it was very smooth and we are very happy with the service from Glossop Caravans.
Spending a few days in the Caravan at the CC site at Buxton, then on to Snowdonia next week then Brecon Beacons after that. Happy that all our prep and purchases have all worked out perfectly - so now let the fun begin !
Comments
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Hope you enjoy it ,with no stresses or teething troubles:)
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All, we collect our first caravan (Bailey Unicorn Cadiz) this coming weekend from Chris Jones Leisure in Worcester. It will be my first time towing a caravan. Thankfully mainly up M5 & then M6, approx 90 miles. Any advice for our first adventure welcome.
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Welcome To all our New 'vanners
For a first trip out I suggest a site fairly close to home if at all possible.
1) it reduces the strain of towing a strange huge beast down to manageable proportions
2) you are close enough to return & collect the bits you have forgotten ( and you will
)!3) you won't be bitten by the "Must get up and out & do some holidaying" bug ! You can just sit back & relax & think "Where Next" !!
4) you can relax and have a smile { as any experienced old 'vanner does,} at those Newbies over yonder struggling with the awning
The one thing you must never forget to take, your sense of humour -- more vital than anything, honest !
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We collect our first caravan at the end of this week, excited and daunted in equal measure.
hope to post some news once we get fully ready for our first trip
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BW, my biggest fear is going down a road which proves to be too tight for our rig. Also dont want to scratch the new Caravan before we even get it back home. But like you excited and daunted. Hopefully we feel much more confident by Sunday night having driven
back from Worcester.
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BW, my biggest fear is going down a road which proves to be too tight for our rig. Also dont want to scratch the new Caravan before we even get it back home. But like you excited and daunted. Hopefully we feel much more confident by Sunday night having driven
back from Worcester.Write your comments here...
been there - done that! if worse comes to worse do what we had to do, find a handy drive or gateway, unhitch and turn the two units around seperately then hitch up and off you go (easy for me to write!) You can get satnavs which you put in your outfit
width/length and it avoids all such nasties. A bit expensive but if this is your worst fear then it might buy peace of mind. Happy vanning
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Geoffeales,
Thanks for the sound advice, planning to buy a satnav at the NEC in October.
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Geoffeales,
Thanks for the sound advice, planning to buy a satnav at the NEC in October.
Wouldn't rely on a sat nav when towing unless you're going to pay megga bucks to get one similar to those used by wagon drivers. Many will give you the shortest route and take you along roads/lanes not suitable for towing a caravan along. Stick by the routes
given in the site directory or on the web site when you get off any major road.0 -
Geoffeales,
Thanks for the sound advice, planning to buy a satnav at the NEC in October.
Wouldn't rely on a sat nav when towing unless you're going to pay megga bucks to get one similar to those used by wagon drivers. Many will give you the shortest route and take you along roads/lanes not suitable for towing a caravan along. Stick by the routes
given in the site directory or on the web site when you get off any major road.agree with Nellie, a satnav set to 'shortest route' will take you down minor roads to save a few yards.....sacing distance, not time (or blood pressure...)...
however, one set to 'fastest route' even a non-towing specific one, will choose a wide fast A-road over smaller roads, saving time, not distance (and your blood pressure....)
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I never rely on satnav alone, but used with maps and CC instructions they're great and as I told UKChesire the more expensive ones do take your outfit size into account. I once heard a story about an American tourist who keyed in "Windsor Castle" and ended
up at a pub by that name in Weston-super-Mare. Like all these things a little common sense comes in handy!0 -
Hope your enjoying your new vans, as a newbie myself, I can only say, dont be shy, you`ll be suprised how naturally the caravan will follow you, just be aware of narrow parts on roads, some drivers will still go like a bat outta hell even when they see you
and expect you to make all the adjustments, some donkey trashed his mirror on my mirror extension the weekend, not a mark on mine, just had to sweep the glass from his mirror out of my footwell!.You`ll be fine, enjoy it...........
And good luck
Dave
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Well we survived! The biggest surprise was the amount of buffeting that we felt due to wind. I kept our speed to 55-60 mph on the motorway, which is 25 mph less than my normal speed. The experience was a bit like when you have a go on computer car racing
game for the first time, and everybody is passing you! Even Caravans. Looking forward to going to The Firs in Derbyshire in a couple of weeks time.0 -
Well we survived! The biggest surprise was the amount of buffeting that we felt due to wind.
I kept our speed to 55-60 mph on the motorway, which is 25 mph less than my normal speed. The experience was a bit like when you have a go on computer car racing game for the first time, and everybody is passing you! Even Caravans. Looking
forward to going to The Firs in Derbyshire in a couple of weeks time.You've just admitted that you normally exceed the speed limit as 55 + 25 is 80 mph if my maths is correct.
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Well we survived! The biggest surprise was the amount of buffeting that we felt due to wind. I kept our speed to 55-60 mph on the motorway, which is 25 mph less than my normal speed. The experience was a bit like when you have a go on computer car racing
game for the first time, and everybody is passing you! Even Caravans. Looking forward to going to The Firs in Derbyshire in a couple of weeks time...Is that just on 70mph roadsyou normally exceed the speed limit
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Well we survived! The biggest surprise was the amount of buffeting that we felt due to wind. I kept our speed to 55-60 mph on the motorway, which is 25 mph less than my normal speed. The experience was a bit like when you have a go on computer car racing
game for the first time, and everybody is passing you! Even Caravans. Looking forward to going to The Firs in Derbyshire in a couple of weeks time.Write your comments here...High UK Cheshire , I'm from Cheshire too . The buffetting from big vans passing you , I think I dont move the wheel at all ,just let car tyres take the flex and then the van has to follow . Be careful quoting any speeds on this
forum , the forum police chastise you . I too have been told off for that . If I pass lorries I usual speed up by about 5mph ,not saying the speed , it keeps the van uneffected . Went over the M62 with about 50 mph crosswinds and slowed to about 40mph as did
everybody else last winter . I prefer to keep in front of lorries so the veiw is not restricted. I cruise at their speed approx 60 mph indicated, 56mph true speed ,so you are not alone . One thing load the hitch up to maximum permissable ,mines 100kg .
van tows far better . Good luck with van . Martin0 -
No need for sarcastic comments Martin. The poster admitted exceeding the speed limit and it was noted by other posters. Perhaps it was a typo or maybe not.
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Well we survived! The biggest surprise was the amount of buffeting that we felt due to wind. I kept our speed to 55-60 mph on the motorway, which is 25 mph less than my normal speed. The experience was a bit like when you have a go on computer car racing
game for the first time, and everybody is passing you! Even Caravans. Looking forward to going to The Firs in Derbyshire in a couple of weeks time.Write your comments here...High UK Cheshire , I'm from Cheshire too . The buffetting from big vans passing you , I think I dont move the wheel at all ,just let car tyres take the flex and then the van has to follow . Be careful quoting any speeds on this
forum , the forum police chastise you . I too have been told off for that . If I pass lorries I usual speed up by about 5mph ,not saying the speed , it keeps the van uneffected . Went over the M62 with about 50 mph crosswinds and slowed to about 40mph as did
everybody else last winter . I prefer to keep in front of lorries so the veiw is not restricted. I cruise at their speed approx 60 mph indicated, 56mph true speed ,so you are not alone . One thing load the hitch up to maximum permissable ,mines 100kg .
van tows far better . Good luck with van . Martin..You will find that 99.9% of caravan hitch are 100kg max
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