Newbie from Bristol

Jennysheepdog
Jennysheepdog Forum Participant Posts: 22
edited January 2017 in Introductions #1

Hello Everyone

We are new to the Caravan club and new to caravaning

we pick up our Baileys Unicorn Cadiz sometime in February

we are very excited and tiny bit apprehensive as we have never even stayed in a caravan so we haven't got a clue how things work!

hubby has been on a manoeuvring course and I had a little 15 taster at the NEC

off to look at what to do about insurance soon.

we have bought all of our bedding and we have bought a starter pack too

Going to have a good look around the forum to find out if there is anything else we should know about or buy.

we have been passionate campers under canvas until now but we think we have reached an age when I nice warm bathroom is appealing!

Comments

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,138 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #2

    Hello, JSD, and welcome.

    Beware of buying too much until you've tried the van and discovered what is essential. I'm sure we've all bought useful looking things that have never seen the light of day again.

  • N1805
    N1805 Forum Participant Posts: 1,092
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2017 #3

    Good luck at handover. Having been canvas campers you’ll have good background knowledge of how sites work & you’ll find lots of useful info on here.  Enjoy your caravanning.

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,666 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #4

    Hi jennysheepdog, and a warm welcome to Club Together 2 the Caravan Club.  Glad you have found us here and delighted to hear of your new purchase.  I agree with Tinwheeler: don't buy too much stuff until you know what you want.  Straightforward bedding and kitchen equipment are the main things.  You will also need a fresh water container (Aquaroll) and a waste water collectors container (wastemaster).  Don't forget the toilet chemical, and a container to fill up the toilet flush tank.

    I always think it is a good idea to make your first nights stay on site fairly close to home.  That way if you forget anything you can quickly pop back to get it.

    Make detailed lists of the equipment you need - it will serve as a useful check list when you go out for trips in the van.

    Do post any questions in the appropriate section on here.

    All the best.

    David

  • JillwithaJay
    JillwithaJay Club Member Posts: 2,485 ✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #5

    Hello Jennysheepdog and welcome to Club Together.  Good advice above.

    Feel free to ask any questions.

     

  • HelenandTrevor
    HelenandTrevor Forum Participant Posts: 3,221
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2017 #6

    Hi and welcome jennysheepdog,  have to agree it's a good idea to stay somewhere local for your first trip, we started out taking items from home in the van and then bit by bit bought the items we found we needed. 

    Hope all goes well and you enjoy your new caravan.

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,581 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #7

    If your first trip is to a club site let the wardens know it is your first time in a caravan and I am sure if they have time they will help you. If not do not be afraid to ask others for help as most of us are only too happy to assist.

    You will find several videos showing how to site a caravan if you check u tube.

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2017 #8

    Hello  &  welcome  to  both  the Caravan  Club  &  to  CT 

    as  well.  If  you  have  a  browse  thro "Introductions"  to  see 

    the  posts  that  other  newbies  have  received  you  will  find 

    lots  of  them  all  saying  the  same  sensible  things  !!

    The  point  of  the  first  run-out  being  close  to  home  means 

    that  you don't  have to take  a  lot  with  you,  but  anything 

    that  you really  do  need  is  only  a  short  drive  away  !  

    Whatever  you  take,  don't  take  or  discard    remember

    the  Sense  Of  Humour  --  you  will  generate  a  few  giggles 

    from  all  those  "Old  'Uns"  watching  you  &  remembering

    that  they  made  exactly  the  same  mistakes  back  when

    Moses  was  a  New  Member wink  !!

    Brian  A B M

  • Bellsboy
    Bellsboy Forum Participant Posts: 68
    First Comment
    edited January 2017 #9

    A warm welcome to the Club and CT from me too and long may you enjoy using your new toy when it gets handed over. Do let us know how your first trip pans out.

  • wye
    wye Forum Participant Posts: 241
    edited January 2017 #10

    Welcome to the wonderful world of caravaning ,look forward to seeing comments about yr trips , make sure you ask plenty of questions at your hand over .....

  • bandgirl
    bandgirl Forum Participant Posts: 440
    100 Comments
    edited January 2017 #11

    Hello, and welcome to the world of caravanning.  Good advice above.  Just remember, we were all beginners once, and it's OK to ask people on site for help.  I recall having problems getting the lights on, getting water through the taps, and all sorts of things which, invariably, are easily sorted out by someone with a bit of experience.  Soon you'll be someone with that experience to help someone new.  Have a great time in your new holiday home.

  • Runr1g
    Runr1g Forum Participant Posts: 13
    edited January 2017 #12

    hi jennysheepdog we pick up our first van the rnd of february too , let us know how your first trip goes hope its not too eventful,good luck

     

  • Jennysheepdog
    Jennysheepdog Forum Participant Posts: 22
    edited January 2017 #13

    What a lovely thing.

    we are looking forward to it. We always help tent campers and I do hope caravanners help us. Very excited now

  • woodlanewanderers
    woodlanewanderers Forum Participant Posts: 28
    First Comment
    edited January 2017 #14

    Hi Jennysheepdog,

    Welcome to the club.

    We have just returned from Baltic Wharf Caravan Club Site in Bristol.

    It's a small site and would be great for your first caravanning trip.

    Why don't you call in and introduce yourselves to the wardens, the site is very busy, but I'm sure they would be able to find you a pitch for a couple of nights.

    Enjoy your new venture.  

  • RowenaBCAMC
    RowenaBCAMC Forum Participant Posts: 1,732 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2017 #15

    A warm welcome to The Caravan Club and Club Together jennysheepdog. We have some great advice for beginners on the website but as you can see, other members are also always happy to help. Happy 'vanning! laughing

  • ColBur
    ColBur Forum Participant Posts: 72
    edited January 2017 #16

    Hello Jennysheepdog and another warm welcome to the club and Club Together. We echo all the sentiments above and there is no better way of finding out than actually trying your new 'van!! \if you can store it at home, then why not have a practice at home to try out everything before you leave! Best bit of advice is don't be afraid to ask no matter how trivial the problem!! We are off to Baltic Wharf in Bristol this weekend and this would be an ideal site for you except that it is a small site and very popular!! Good Luck and have fun!! 

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited January 2017 #17

    Stop tormenting the poor soul. Everyone knows you need about a hundred years seniority and a slush fund of a couple of million to stand a chance of a pitch at Baltic Wharf.  Welcome to CT, anyway. wink

  • Jennysheepdog
    Jennysheepdog Forum Participant Posts: 22
    edited January 2017 #18

    I can virtually see Baltic Wharf from my flat! It is somewhere we will book into when we have family down. We will moving into the caravan and let the family have the fflat when booked our first campsite in Broadway. It is a few miles away from the place we are buying the van from. We called in there today and had a chat with the wardens and told them we were clueless newbies. They were lovely, well actually I think they were assistant wardens. The caravan went into production last week. Exciting

  • catherinef
    catherinef Forum Participant Posts: 647
    edited January 2017 #19

    If they will accept the caravan for warranty work, Chipping Sodbury Caravans will be an excellent dealer to get the service and warranty work done.   

    There are also some fabulous sites not too far from Bristol.  We can recommend the site at Cirencester.

  • Malcolm Mehta
    Malcolm Mehta Forum Participant Posts: 5,660
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2017 #20

    Welcome, jennythesheepdog. Like yourselves we also have a Bailey Unicorn caravan which we purchased in 2015.  We purchased it from Chipping Sodbury Caravans. I can imagine you must be looking forward to the handover. It may seem a lot to take in at first but it soon all falls into place. You'll be able to look forward to visiting many places. Good luck with it!

  • Flyingfox
    Flyingfox Forum Participant Posts: 45
    edited January 2017 #21

    I would suggest that you get a notebook and take it with you on the handover. You can then make notes in your own way to help you remember what was said during the handover. There can be a lot to try and remember and the salesman may give you tips that are slightly different to the way it's in the hand book. Good Luck

  • Merve
    Merve Forum Participant Posts: 2,333
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2017 #22

    You're gonna love it Jenny! Warm, comfortable and dry! You can look out at the rain and the campers and thank God you are in a caravan!! Seriously though, hope you have as much joy as we have had. 

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