Our First Year of Caravanning

We have had our Sterling Continental 570 for 1 year now. We changed from a MH after 9 years of brilliant service and adventures that took us as far afield as the Baltic Coast in Poland. 

We decided on the Continental 570 as we are a family of 3, with a desire to not have to make up the beds each night. We also wanted an all seasons caravan as we tend to do more ‘camping’ in the winter months. Having caravanned as kids in the 60’s & 70’s we wanted a contemporary look to the caravan, not something anchored in the past as so many we looked at were. 

We spent months trawling dealers and shows of various sizes, eventually ordering at the NEC in October 2014. We got a show offer that was a discount, free delivery and a full / tow cover. We did end up with both, but only use the tow cover when we know we can dry it on site. We ordered a motor mover, a powertouch  classic, and paintseal, together with the upgraded upholstery of leather / impala fabric. 

At the NEC show we also ordered a Bradcot Aspire Air 390 inflatable awning. We didn’t want a full size awning as looking from the lounge window into an awning end seemed silly. The dealer held the delivery until we had the caravan. 

Before ordering the caravan, a check on the match of the tow car, a Mercedes Benz W221 S350 LWB was done, together with the availability of a tow bar and electrics. As no tow bar installer would guarantee the interface with the complex electronics of an S Klasse, we opted for an OEM aftermarket tow bar and electrics together with the requisite cooling fan upgrade. The rationale being a few hundred quid for the cooling versus 12 grand for a replacement gearbox if damaged. 

We ordered on the Swift stand at the NEC not realizing we were buying from a dealer, Chichester Caravans, with collection from their then Winchester site at Colden Common.  We were told a delivery date and would have a months notice of the arrival of the caravan. As we weren’t part exchanging, and our MH was saleable we thought no more of it. 

Time rolled on and in June 2015 we got a call saying the caravan was at Colden Common and would we like to see it and go through it before the PDI. We duly did and picked up that the front seat cushions were incorrect as they were embossed ‘SWIFT’ not ‘STERLING’ and there was a bracket below a front window that was not affixed correctly. The dealer was to put in a claim to Swift to replace the cushions and the bracket would be fixed. We were also given time to sell the MH with no pressure to actually complete the sale. We advised a collection date 4 weeks later. We sold the MH on ebay in 7 days, with cheque clearance taking a further working week. 

Went to the Mercedes Benz dealer to order the tow bar and fitment. Stock availability, delivery from Germany, fit the following Tuesday. Tuesday came and went, no tow bar. We had booked our first holiday in the caravan. One week at a commercial site, Watergate Bay in Cornwall with a full fee due to time between booking and arriving, second week at Trewethett Farm Caravan Club Site. Collection date for the caravan was fast approaching and still no tow bar. Fortunately our friends who had convinced us to buy the caravan came to our aid and towed the caravan home for us using a Freelander 2. 

Holiday time approaching and still no tow bar despite escalation to MB Germany using Twitter.  2 days before departure MB UK authorized the hire of a Discovery for us, which duly arrived on the morning we were departing. So Saturday before August Bank Holiday we set off having not driven a Discovery before, nor towed for years. Great holiday in the caravan with the inflatable awning giving sterling service in terrible storms. Whilst on holiday MB Germany called each Monday to apologise for non delivery of tow bar. I asked them not to call unless they had good news as apologies are worthless. 

After 4 months MB delivered the tow bar. As a gesture of goodwill only the fitting cost at discount was payable. So what should have been a £3800 bill was £500. The moral here is don’t lose it with the dealer, be polite and stand your ground. 

Tow bar fitted, trial run for 60 miles. Then several consecutive weekends away, on Serviced pitch on a commercial site for £18 per night including leisure facilities. The CC sites in the area were closed for the winter.  A CL near Bristol at £14 per night and a rally at Longleat for £15 per night. Christmas was spent on the earlier serviced pitch for £23 per night. A full Christmas dinner was prepared and cooked in the caravan. 

We had an electrical failure whilst at Longleat, left a message on the dealers answerphone overnight on the Friday. The dealer called early Saturday morning and we popped over to get it fixed with a control unit from another caravan. Sergeant provided a replacement unit inside the week. We are still awaiting Swift to respond to us, as they will not deal with the site we bought the caravan from, despite them changing name, but with same people in same place. This will not be for 10 years trading apparently. So our warranty work has to incur a 102 mile round trip. Owners bemoan dealers, but in our case it is the manufacturer that doesn’t give a flying fig about caravan owners. 

We have had cause to replace the battery locker door under warranty, that the ways and means act was applied due to the stupid decision by Swift to not support caravan owners. 

Adjustment of catches on internal lockers has been undertaken by the dealer, who isn’t allowed to by Swift due to Swift’s stupid decision not to support caravan owners. 

We have had some great times away in the caravan including 3 magnificent country houses, Longleat for the lantern festival, Blenheim via Bladon Chains, and Chatsworth, all CC sites. 

We chose to join the CC for our first years ownership to fully get used to a caravan and then decide if to continue membership. We are continuing. 

A few figures: 

Number of nights away = 34.

Number of nights on CC sites = 15

Number of nights on CL = 2

Number of nights on commercial sites – 17 

Lowest cost night = £14 on a CL with 10 Amp electric.

Lowest cost night with electric = £15 on a CC Rally.

Lowest cost night fully serviced pitch with leisure facilities = £18 on a commercial site.

Fully serviced pitch night in school summer holidays = £30 on a commercial site with leisure facilities.

Grass pitch with electric night in school summer holidays = £33 on CC site.

Fully serviced CC pitch night in school summer holidays = £40

Serviced pitch night in school holidays = £23 on a commercial site near Alton Towers.

Fully serviced pitch night with leisure facilities at Christmas = £23 on a commercial site. 

CC Membership per night away = £2.71 

Miles on caravan = 2067

Miles towed with Freelander 2 = 21

Miles towed with Discovery 4 = 424

Miles towed with Mercedes S Klasse = 1622 

Longest single journey = 186 miles 

The caravan had it’s 1^st service to comply with the warranty terms. Replacement screw cap on the front offside grab handle, fitment of sufficient pipe clamps to hold the drainage pipes under the caravan were fitted, the toilet level switch was fixed, trim on the edge of a cabinet door was refixed, front locker strike plate was renewed as the original fell off,  and extra magnetic catches and plates were fitted to the panel above the microwave.