Complete Newbies looking for tips
Morning,
My husband and I are picking up our first caravan next week (1996 Hobby Prestige) and hope to head off for weekend with our two dogs. Looking for any tips or advise you can share with us.
We're based in North East Scotland and will stay in that region for our first couple of trips out.
Our main reason for getting the caravan is that our dogs can holiday with us.
Thanks in advance for any tips/advise.
Órla
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Hello and welcome to CT and to our great hobby. Best to ask questions as you think of them or as they arrive.
For your first trip take the towing slowly, stay close to home, you can nip back for forgotten items 😉. Think about what you do during yoir day and pack accordingly e.g. bedding, cutlery, crockery etc. Don't go buying anything that looks nice and could be handy - we all have a stash of those 😂😂 that don't see the light of day. Make lists. Check carefully before you head off on the trip and when you're ready to leave the site.
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As bakers2 said...don't go to far away you are sure to have forgotten something...make a list of what you have to do setting up on site and packing up when leaving...just as you pull the caravan off the pitch get someone to check that you haven't left anything behind...I have been carravanning for a long time and . I still forget things...the main thing is enjoy yourself and welcome and keep us updated on your travels ..ask questions don't think it's stupid because the only stupid question is the one you don't ask
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Orla
Enjoy your first trip away. Take things slowly and check everything before you leave. (Windows & roof vents shut etc). Make lists a week before and keep adding to them as you think of things. Buy some nice food and wine and relax once you get there. The magic of going away in the caravan will never leave you.
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Orla
We started caravanning two years ago for the same reason as you, and as we are now both retired, and we have loved every minute! All the above is good and sound advice, and my experience is that CMC members are very helpful, as are the CMC staff. However, it is also my experience that it is a rare trip that passes off without something going a bit pear shaped, usually, it has to be said, because of user error! I have now come to see these trifles as part of the quirkiness of caravanning. Hope you enjoy your touring!
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Just make sure the dogs are comfy and have the best seats in the caravan? We also like to go off cycling, so take our dog with us.
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Welcome orlafer - I am another one with a caravan because of the dogs.
One tip I suggest is reading the Rules about camping with dogs - I am sure you know how to behave re cleaning up after them etc. but if you have read the rules its easier. Because of some irresponsible owners we have all come in for a bit of flack from time to time! I was on a site once and a dog owner wandered off to chat to his neighbour leaving the dog frantically barking and straining at his tether - it was quite early Sunday morning - he was just laughing at the dog while just about the whole campsite was disturbed by the racket. I was sitting outside with my dogs getting crosser and crosser! 20 minutes later he returned to the dog and it shut up! No wonder dog owners get a bad name! Grrrr!
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Depending on where in the NE you are there are a few excellent sites near to towns which are excellent places to start as you will be able to pop to the shops for all the little items you have forgotten (sites like Forfar, Stonehaven, Banchory). As above, just take it steady and after checking everything, check it all again👍
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Thank you all for your responses, I can see a theme running through them all!!! Lists, lists, lists and more lists....
We are staying very close to home first trip (less than hours away) so hopefully all will be fine
Will update post trip!
@ChrisRogers lovely pics, I can see who's boss in your caravan!!
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We were in Scotland last year it was fab.
There is nothing that cannot be fixed or repaired.
My biggest tip is to plan ahead, use google earth and street view, read the Clubs directions on arrival and the reviews for the sites.
Plus always shop about for parts be that ebay or elsewhere.
But just enjoy it
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orlafer - another thought - do you have the handbook to your van? If not you can probably find it online and that could be one very handy thing to have. And if you haven't done the handover yet - tape record it - even with notes it is difficult enough! Too much information at one time!
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One thing I found helpful when we got our first van (and subsequent vans) before you go, connect everything up including EHU if you can at home, and work out how everything works goes together etc so if something does not work right then you know before hand and can deal with it, also will save frustration once you arrive on-site.
I tend to spend a good few hours in the new van, making a note of the switches, where all the sockets and trip switches are and how the heating works, pour over the manual (if you don't have one most can be downloaded for free) and if there is something you don't understand before you go you can either look it up or come back here and ask.
Most of all don't stress as that defeats the object.
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Good luck for your first weekend away, I'm sure you will love it
just take your time and you'll be fine.we now double check items on our list first one checks then the other... all windows closed and locked, roof lights all done and locked, all doors and drawers properly closed, table secured, microwave dish removed from microwave and stowed safely, to aerial down. Steadies fully raised... not that we have ever driven off something not done, oh no 🙄😁
never done this myself, but once you've unhitched make sure your electic cable to the car and the breakaway chain aren't still attached, pulling away while still connected made a right mess of a car and caravan we saw earlier this year
as for tips, if you're stuck just ask for help, people don't like to intrude, but I've found help is only a step away if you needed... on our first weekend away I managed to knock the plug out of the sink but didn't notice until water started pouring out of the drawer unit... before I knew it I had more kitchen rolls mopping up the mess donated from all sides and two wardens taking the plug out of the shower so I could still use the sink
. As another poster, things going wrong are part of it 😁No one told me this at first, but when you empty the loo (sorry, lowering the tone!) but there is a little button that you pres when emptying it which allows air in to the tank so it's less... err... spashy 🤢 Oh and don't leave the cap for the loo where you could knock it into the septic tank...
you and your Hb will probably have words... ours are mainly when I'm trying to direct him onto a pitch and he doesn't follow my instructions. Him saying I'm standing where I can't be seen or has no idea what my gesticulations mean are clearly just an excuse 😝
Have fun and let us know how you got on
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Welcome to your new hobby you might have gone by now and know how pleasurable it can be
Lots of good advice here I like another David’s point about not borrowing from the house we have all done that and forgot something I suspect.
Take time with the towing it is not as hard as it looks, even reversing is not as bad as you think; if you haven’t had a towing course there are lots of advice on Utube for you.
The dogs will enjoy it (we have 2 Springer’s) just remember to keep them in hand as they will be excited.
Lots of good advice here about taking it in your stride so long as you remember to take the dogs and the wife everything else can be dealt with.
In time you might have more exact questions just remember there are no wrong questions and when on site if you’re not sure about anything just ask, most of us are more than willing to help a new camper on site and before you know it you will be the one giving advice to new campers
Relax and enjoy
R
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Just a mundane thing but squeeze the tube of your loo roll. Then it won't unravel as you travel along.
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Thanks all, we picked her up last night and will be heading off later today with the two dogs, really looking forward to it
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Good luck orlafer, I hope you and the dogs enjoy your first trip.
Dogs usually love going away in the caravan as they are so close to their owners 24/7.
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Well , we had a ball! What did we forget 😂Bedding (got some on route from family) and Rios blanket (he's a rescue and likes to suck it) spent a while stopping him sucking the seats!! Went to Huntly and the site was fab with great walks. Made a wish list of things that may make life easier on the road but will do a couple of more nights before buying!
thanks for all the advise think we have found our new family holiday!
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So glad you had a good time and managed to pick up the bedding! A check list is helpful and keeping as much "caravan stuff" as you can. I forgot dog bowls a few times until I got some for the van. Leads was another one! I also invested in dog coats too on a very wet trip to Ireland. I had only had a coat for a mini dachshund years ago, not the labs or GSDs but it does help in a caravan and those dry out on hooks in the shower, the coats not the dogs!
Happy exploring
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So glad you had a great time.
Whoops forgot the bedding and dog blanket 😲. Glad you got some, forgetting food eat out but forgetting bedding means back to hotels/cottages 😂😂
Good idea to do another trip before buying specifically for the van but I'd sort bedding buying immediately 😉
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Banff links (not a club site) is a great site especially if you have dogs with the whole beach for dogs to walk on, and large pitches. The beach front pitches can be on a bit of a slope but a bit of practice their easy to get onto, and other pitches are level.
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