Newbie mishaps in need of advice

Lunar Tony
Lunar Tony Forum Participant Posts: 35
edited February 2018 in Introductions #1

Hi all, would like to introduce myself.

Bought a Lunar quasar 462 limited edition caravan in may last year. Its me, my partner & Poppy the wire fox terrier [22 year old daughter will come on the odd trip]. Have visited Hamble, Winchester, Charmouth in the van but had a few teething problemslaughing The ones i can remember are, winding the jockey wheel the wrong way on site & snapping a large metal piece offyell Luckily a seasoned caravaner came to my rescue with some blocks of wood & years of experience.

Next time out I nearly gassed the whole campsite by attempting to disconnect the gas bottle to travel home without switching off gas firstembarassed Again a very nice caravaner came to my rescue.         Then I drove all the way home without realising I hadn't attached my wing mirrors.

I'm starting to think about the 2018 season now & am wondering whether to make some kind of checklist for the basics?

Having said that i've loved every minute of it so far & we are going to go on a trip to France this June so fingers crossedlaughing

Regards Tony & Linda

Comments

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited February 2018 #2

    If  you  click  on   "ADVICE & TRAINING  at  the  top of  the  page  you'll  get  a  start  L Tony,  and  there  must  be  lists  for  caravanners  on  here  somewhere.  But  check  here  occasionally,  others  will  reply  I'm  sure.

    Good  Hunting  wink

  • Lunar Tony
    Lunar Tony Forum Participant Posts: 35
    edited February 2018 #3

    Cheers, thanks for the advicelaughing

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited February 2018 #4

    Ah  Now    !!  --  Scroll  down  to  very  bottom  of  page

      Click  on   SITE MAP

    Scroll  down  that  page  ,  find  " things  to  check "  &  click  in  THAT  wink  You  should  find  an  abundance  of  help  for  you  on  there  ( Well  I  hope  so  innocentsmile  )

    Brian

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,666 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2018 #5

    I've driven in error without the wing mirrors before now.  In the Landrover Discovery, its not too bad as the view isn't too bad, but it does come as a bit of a shock when you realise they are still in the locker, but you still need to stop to put them on.

    David

  • Lunar Tony
    Lunar Tony Forum Participant Posts: 35
    edited February 2018 #6

    Yes it was a shock that i'd forgotten, towing in a BMW X3 so not too bad a view without.

    Tony

  • Lunar Tony
    Lunar Tony Forum Participant Posts: 35
    edited February 2018 #7

    Thanks for the "things to check" advice, I'm going to print it off for future reference.

    Cheers Tony

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited February 2018 #8

    Glad  to  Help  wink

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2018 #9

    Welcome LT, hope you enjoy 2018laughing

  • JAMESAK
    JAMESAK Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited February 2018 #10

    Hi Tony,

     

    im also new to caravaning, purchased in September last year went out on our first trip locally to have a trial run. All went well until leaving the site when I pulled out of the site (junction on a brow of a hill) I accidentally pulled out in front of a Range Rover in my opinion he was speeding but couldn’t be sure. He the proceeded to run me off the road I had to mount the roundabout to avoid hitting him. Not a pleasant experience on our first outing. like yourself fellow caravaners were great and helped me out a couple pulled over and offered a hand and reassured me I did nothing wrong. 

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,426 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2018 #11

    just think every single one of us and those experienced caravaners all started just like you at one time and we (well certainly me) only became experienced by making mistakes.

    And yes people on site are only too willing to help out. Wardens are good too

     

  • Milothedog
    Milothedog Forum Participant Posts: 1,433
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    edited February 2018 #12

    Cornersteady makes a good point. I have lost count the amount of times I have seen wardens going the extra mile. Last year In Devon I watched the wardens help someone put a twin axle van on a pitch more suited to it. lent them a second EHU cable and supplied extra packing in the form of cut logs to level and steady their caravan..

     

  • Lunar Tony
    Lunar Tony Forum Participant Posts: 35
    edited February 2018 #13

    Thanks for the replies, Range rover incident sounded nasty, in my opinion he is probably was one of the idiots that sped up when he saw you pulling out & had he's not getting in front of me syndrome,idiot!!!

    Forgot to tell you I also had my electric cable drag on the floor as i hadn't put a proper kink in ityell Had it renew'd on my service. Caravaners I speak to in my area have all said they did it at some time or another.

    Cheers Tony

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,426 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2018 #14

    yes done that too, have you left the mover remote control on the A frame? left the hand brake on? tried to drive away with mover engaged? tried to fill up the tank with the drain plug open? Wondered why there is no 240V electrics then remembered you haven't switched the master switch on? 

    I wouldn't admit to any of those of course...embarassed

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2018 #15

    LT.  Don't worry it is a learning curve, and sometimes a long one!  I have been caravanning for many years and still make the occasional error!  For example, I have been known to attempt to drive off with the mover still touching the wheels, the handbrake on and with the jockey wheel downsealed.  I have not got a check list but a routine - walk round caravan checking lights etc before moving off; of course, it is always whilst you are doing this that someone will come and talk to you!

    Enjoy your trip to France in June, you may find it worthwhile joining ACSI.  DFDS are giving 20% off if you are over 60; Tesco points for Tunnel and DFDS.

  • Bluemalaga
    Bluemalaga Forum Participant Posts: 936
    edited February 2018 #16

    Not sure if it has been said before, but it is equally important to remove the towing mirrors when you are pitched up. I was advised it is illegal to have them on unless towing and carries a £60 fine.

    More enlightened may confirm or dispel this.

     

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,599 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2018 #17

    Listen, we've been 'vanning for over 25 years and this weekend I forgot to print out the checklist before coming away. Got to site and no waste water container! Fortunately I carry a spare large bucket for just such occasions as this has happened before. We've (I've) forgotten so many things that I do surprise myself when I see the OH sitting in the car with me!smile

    Don't worry but do make a checklist. The older you get, the more invaluable it becomes.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,636 ✭
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    edited February 2018 #18

    Been caravanning for 40+ years and have done most if not all of those. Last trip I forgot to pack the handle for the aquaroll so had to purchase a new one, so now carry 2!!

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited February 2018 #19

    That's  the  same  for  the  gas  bottle  spanner  --  now  I  carry  Two  --  One  to  use  and  one  to  lose 

  • Lunar Tony
    Lunar Tony Forum Participant Posts: 35
    edited February 2018 #20

    Feel a lot more positive now after hearing all your mishapslaughing

  • Merve
    Merve Forum Participant Posts: 2,333
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    edited February 2018 #21

    Oh yes indeed- it has happened to all of us. And even experienced vanners make the odd mistake or forget to do something they should.  I tend to stand and go through everything in my head as far as the hitch up is concerned- amazing how many times that damn break away cable isn’t in position! We tend to leave site very early to avoid and problems on the narrow roads near the sites we visit and to have empty roads- Only one problem to that- you haven’t been awake very long and can still be tired- it really isn’t a good idea to try to drive off with the steadies down!! No harm done! 😂😂

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited February 2018 #22

    Guilty on all counts ...... and setting off with the hook up cable still attached, fortunately spotted before any damage was done. embarassed

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited February 2018 #23

    Mine's on a piece of cord attached to the inside of the gas locker cool

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,666 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2018 #24

    This is my understanding also, Bluemalaga - not sure about the £60 though.

    Totally guessing here, but unless you are causing an obstruction or an accident, I would guess that if you were pulled over for it, I would think that a policeman could very well just ask you remove them, unless he was having a bad day!  Don't quote me though... 😀

    David

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,666 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2018 #25

    I'm sure I have a spanner somewhere, but I've stopped using the pigtails that need a spanner in preference to a wheel which can be tightened and made loose by the fingers......

    David

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited February 2018 #26

    I  use  a  small  'Stanley'  tool-bag  from  B & Q   for  the  hand  tools  specific  to  the  'van  Goldie,  but  yes  the  spanner  'to  use'  has  a  length  of  bright  fluorescent  shock  cord  attached  wink   --  could  not  miss  that  even  when  half  cut  --  thats  ME  not  the  cord.

    B

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