 | Home > Camping, Caravanning and Holidays > Caravaning advice |
 
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| ken Member Since: 18 Aug 2009 Location: Banging Birds with my bitches !! Posts: 4328  
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QED
Sorry  |
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18th Sep 2015 5:08pm |
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| CatherineF Member Since: 22 Nov 2014 Location: Wiltshire Posts: 762
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Haha funnily enough I've not seen this breed as yet on a site. We've only been members since spring so they were probably still hibernating
We've booked to go to Cirencester for new year and I plan on BBQing on new years day for a giggle. 2015 Audi Q3 Quattro S Line Plus 184 TDI Stronic 2010 90 SMC Over Land Nero Edition - Santorini Black Metallic (Now Departed) Last edited by CatherineF on 20th Sep 2015 12:13pm. Edited 1 time in total |
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20th Sep 2015 10:39am |
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| Tiger Member Since: 06 Jul 2012 Location: Wales Posts: 2265 
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We really didn't want a Caravan, but a tent was too much work, a Motorhome / Camper wouldn't be practical (plus we'd have to get rid of the 110 probably)
A tent is my 1st choice but with young kids it's hard work pitching and breaking camp, also it's hot sometimes in a tent. We also were at the point of needing a trailer to carry it all. A VW camper van would be cool but too small and we tend to use the tent as a basecamp on holidays and go off so if it was our only transport a bit of a pain, a motorhome would be too big with the same issues. When we are on holiday we live outside so this seems to make sense of us 2adults, 2kids + 1 dog, it's basic, a place to sleep but it's quick, can be left behind, has a toilet, a fridge and can carry 4 bikes. It has no net curtains or brown twee fabric 
 Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge We also use a 'tent like' inflatable side awning Click image to enlarge |
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20th Sep 2015 11:02am |
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| gilarion Member Since: 05 Dec 2013 Location: Wales Posts: 5084  
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You are thinking of the Caravan and Camping club  Very odd lot in that club
The Caravan club is much more select For those who like Welsh Mountains and narrow boats have a look at my videos and photos at..
http://www.youtube.com/user/conwy1 |
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20th Sep 2015 1:27pm |
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| Thor Member Since: 17 Dec 2011 Location: Didcot Posts: 446 
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Thanks for all the replies, all points noted and will be thrown in the mix.
Tiger, yours looks lovely and very much out of my budget! For the the clubs, I'm all about having a beard. Not a neat, groomed caravaners beard but one considerably more Viking in appearance.....mainly to annoy the woman  but there's never an acceptable time for sandals and crocs!
I had a walk around Oxford and Thame caravan centres today to get hands on experience. Both the Mrs and I really liked the Swift Charisma 570 and Avondale Dart 556. The Swift slightly won it for me due to being able to turn of the bunks into bike storage (for my new MTB ). The lay out just seems to fit, with the option of more beds than we'd originally thought about for the daughters friends who will no doubt be joining us.
Having a look on line and there seems to be a couple newer, in better/nice condition inside , with some nice extras like a weaning, winter cover etc and for a bit less money (£1500 or so less). Strong people are harder to kill and generally more useful! |
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20th Sep 2015 9:53pm |
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| derbywill Member Since: 25 Mar 2010 Location: Derbyshire Posts: 540  
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We bought our first van last year a 2001 Swift Challenger Fixed bed, that was the main requirement as we didn't want to be setting up a bed every night. Ours is a 4 birth but it's only for the 2 of us and it suits us well, but would be cramped if there was 4.
Once you have purchased the van the next big expense comes buying the gas bottles, Aqua rolls etc as that can set you back some, but least when you have them you can transfer to your next van. We bought ours from a dealer which I'm glad we did because they showed us how to use everything and fitted new tyres and checked everything over, I must admit when we first went out, it was a bit of a learning curve but after a couple of times out you'll get used to it. We tend to do a few Steam Rallies with ours so we bought a solar panel which can keep us running without mains for nearly a week! That's with using the shower and watching TV ! Hope this helps Will 2005 90 XS 1954 86'' Series 1 tilt |
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21st Sep 2015 8:53am |
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| Rallymental Member Since: 17 Aug 2015 Location: The Garden of England Posts: 468 
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Thor, Viking beards =good, especially if you can light it and make it smoulder in an Edward Teach style to frighten the kids.
I'm afraid though I believe Crocs to be an almost essential piece of modern caravan equipment, being able to be left out in the rain, easily slipped on to emergency walk the dog when half asleep, being able to keep them on in the shower and to walk back to the van without doing the squeaky walk in flip flops Tha then for no apparent reason twist as you slip and garrotte your big toe, of course, for men they should only be worn in suitable man colours like navy blue, black or olive green, never worn outside of the campsite and never, never regardless of the reason with socks (unless you are Dutch in which case all the above rules are void)  |
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21st Sep 2015 11:47am |
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| Thor Member Since: 17 Dec 2011 Location: Didcot Posts: 446
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Rallymental, the holes in crocs......are there to allow your dignity to seep out! I'll risk injury and even death in my Reef flip flops thanks!!
No more Croc talk on my thread please!!! lol Strong people are harder to kill and generally more useful! |
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21st Sep 2015 4:23pm |
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| Tiger Member Since: 06 Jul 2012 Location: Wales Posts: 2265
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It wasn't expensive, it's very very basic. |
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21st Sep 2015 5:10pm |
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| Rallymental Member Since: 17 Aug 2015 Location: The Garden of England Posts: 468
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Ok ok fair one! |
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21st Sep 2015 6:17pm |
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| Rallymental Member Since: 17 Aug 2015 Location: The Garden of England Posts: 468
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Tiger, what make/model is that then?
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21st Sep 2015 7:29pm |
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| Thor Member Since: 17 Dec 2011 Location: Didcot Posts: 446
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Pulling up an old thread....Today I bought my first caravan.
Thanks again for your advice and input, it lead me to seriously geeky Internet research sessions!!! I've bought a 2009 Sterling Europa 540. The same layout as the the Swift Charisma I was looking at, basically the same van. Going against some of the advice on here I bought privately as it seems that caravan centres/dealers were asking to much. For example a caravan canter near me has a 2006 Sterling Europa 540 up for £8250. I stopped there on a work trip chatted with the guy there and wouldn't budge on the price, but would throw in a free starter pack (hook up cable, toilet cassette etc) with 6 month warranty. My 2009 one has all the elec hook up including 3 pin adapter, French adapter, 2 clean water containers, grey water, toilet cassette, Isabella awning, porch awning, wheel lock, hitch lock, CRIS registered, TV/DVD player and a motor mover as well as lots of bits I've forgotten about, all, in the end for £7250. Spent a good few hours with the chap showing me it all working, and how to work it, hints and tips etc. Checked it for damp and it was fine, he had it stored when not in use. One owner from new, serviced annually with a 'service history book'. I'm genuinely chuffed, and it towed no issues at all, other than having to come out of the GKN overdrive on one hill. The motor mover is epic!!! Down the side of my house on the gravel and on the back driveway, tow bar against the garage, no sweat at all. I got home in the dark so the obligatory photos at the earliest oppertunity. Strong people are harder to kill and generally more useful! |
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21st Feb 2016 10:25pm |
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| RoddyK05 Member Since: 08 Apr 2015 Location: Inverclyde Posts: 633  
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Thor, good on you getting your 'van at last, you will enjoy it. Seems a very good price you paid, our old 'van that we traded in was being sold by the dealer for a fiver under 6 grand - and that was a 2004 Sterling 490. We have to wait until April or so for our new one to be built/delivered then it's all systems go again. As well as holidays, we also stayed in the caravan - which we keep beside the house - for about 6 weeks while we got some major work done to the house, which saved our bacon as I'm sure it would have cost a few bob to rent somewhere suitable while we were ousted. I used to be a member of one of the clubs, but quite happily 'single' now after realising that we were not staying on enough of 'their' sites to make the discounts etc worth the price of membership. Happy towing and many happy holidays.
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21st Feb 2016 10:54pm |
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| Striker Member Since: 04 May 2013 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 127 |
Click image to enlarge What caravan Is it? I suspect it's made in Europe. We've had burstner and tec caravans in the past and they are very well put together. Cheers Andy Never Knowingly Understood |
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22nd Feb 2016 9:04am |
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