Member Since: 28 Aug 2007
Location: East Yorkshire
Posts: 3292
Thanks so much for all the replies - this is incredibly helpful!
Apologies, so many auto corrections on the OP! Have tweaked. Am not that fat, and we only have 2 kids, was terribly worded!
John2020 SDV6 D5 HSE, Carpathian Grey +
2022 Tesla Model Y LR... almost Carpathian Grey
Previously : 2005 TDV6 SE Auto, Cairns Blue (288K) - ours for 16 years
20th Jun 2017 7:50 am
BBDisco3
Member Since: 23 Nov 2008
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 3646
johnlad wrote:
ive a 3 bedroom Vango tent available cheaply, with seperate cooking/living space, if you want to try camping,
also selling a large caravan if you want to go down that route
That sort of layout can be ideal for a family and at a reasonable enough price to use it for 12 months and then if it turns out caravaning isn't the right thing it could be sold with probably very little loss - or even no loss at all.
20th Jun 2017 8:10 am
Jarvis
Member Since: 16 Dec 2009
Location: West Berkshire
Posts: 280
I'd start with a single axle first to get used to things.
Our 12yo takes his tent and pitches whenever possible apart from single "legs down" type stops. Then we put up the front double and he "puts up with" his younger brother head-to-toe
We can also discuss awnings to great length, full/porch/roll-out/side-in. If you are spannerish (and I would guess so being on this forum) then the effort putting up full vs porch is minor (and it looks like you will have a helper). Roll-out stop you easily alternating between that and a full/porch. Slide-in doesn't give much security
So many choices and decisions!
20th Jun 2017 8:19 am
al cope
Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10361
if you take a look on www.caravanfinder.co.uk one option is the ability to search by layout as well as price
useful once you have an idea of what layout you might want
AlVolvo XC90 B5 Plus Dark
Gone - MY18 D5 HSE - Corris on 22's with Black Pack
Now gone - MY16 D4 SE Tech, Loire Blue, Almond Leather, Privacy, plus some other goodies.
Old - MY12 D4 SDV6 XS Auto - Ipanema Sand with Almond Leather - Plus other niceties, and D4.com sticker
Older - D3 TDV6 XS Auto - Lugano Teal with Almond Leather, 20" Stormers, Shiny Tailpipes, DVD/TV - and obligatory D3 sticker
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20th Jun 2017 8:27 am
gje
Member Since: 09 Mar 2014
Location: world
Posts: 488
Member Since: 02 Dec 2016
Location: blackpool
Posts: 408
johnlad wrote:
ive a 3 bedroom Vango tent available cheaply, with seperate cooking/living space, if you want to try camping,
also selling a large caravan if you want to go down that route
Member Since: 24 Nov 2015
Location: YORKSHIRE
Posts: 77
Over the years we have gone from in this order tent,caravan,tent,caravan,tent,static,caravan,tent,tent and now have a Dandy destiny folding camper 6 berth and love it. Its a pvc outer so not the worry of putting canvas away wet its up in 5 mins and kettle on. The comfort of a caravan we have added memory foam toppers as SWMBO has suffered with back problems for years. We keep it at home in same place we did the caravans we have had round the back of the house with 6 foot fence all round so no one notices it gone like they would a caravan. You can see over the camper when towing one advantage there are a few makes out there Dandy,Pennine,Conway,Trigano. Towing a caravan to me is a pain in the back side don't get me wrong its easy enough and I can reverse it to where I want to put it. I'm a hgv driver for a living and have been for years so might as well be at work pulling a 16 foot high trailer that's why every time we have had a caravan we have gone back to tent. Do you know what though I don't get that feeling with this folding camper.
25th Jun 2017 10:01 am
John C
Member Since: 28 Aug 2007
Location: East Yorkshire
Posts: 3292
Thank you so much for all the incredibly helpful tips and advice.
Am now the very very happy owner of an immaculate 2004 Bailey Ranger 550/6. Has bunk beds at the end for the kids, awnings and loads of gear. The previous owners were meticulous!
Couple of very quick questions on the essentials.
I. What’s recommended for insurance please
II. What’s a good lock (the only thing it didn’t come with) please?
Thanks very much
John2020 SDV6 D5 HSE, Carpathian Grey +
2022 Tesla Model Y LR... almost Carpathian Grey
Previously : 2005 TDV6 SE Auto, Cairns Blue (288K) - ours for 16 years
Last edited by John C on 27th Jun 2017 11:36 am. Edited 1 time in total
26th Jun 2017 10:45 pm
MorganD379
Member Since: 29 Sep 2016
Location: SA62 3PP
Posts: 425
Need a wheel lock, and a hitch lock... Dependant on who your insurance is with will determine approval rating for these.
Wheel lock is a vehicle specific alko wheel lock, which is quite expensive new, but plenty on the bay... Use the website to find out what model number you need https://secure.al-ko.co.uk/will-it-fit.html
Hope this helps, nice choice in caravan
27th Jun 2017 2:50 am
Mogwyth
Member Since: 03 Oct 2014
Location: Pwllheli
Posts: 3976
We use Milenco wheel clamp and a milenco heavy duty hitch-lock. RAC for insurance that's not a recommendation as such as not yet had to claim but they were the best value for us.
Think about breakdown cover too, normal car cover may not be good enough, thing there are the main choices are GreenFlag Mayday through the Caravan and Motohome club and RAC Arrival through the caravan and camping club. We have just signed up to Mayday considerably cheap than Arrival but Arrival cover is slightly better.==================================
05 D3 HSE V8 4.4
04 MG TF 135
03 MG TF 115 Cool Blue Edition
02 MG TF 160
00 Hymer B564 Lionheart
1971 Series III 109
27th Jun 2017 5:50 am
Pelyma
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Patching, Sussex
Posts: 15496
We use the Caravan Club for insurance, for your age van you can get new for old so if it gets stolen or written off you get s brand new van. The insurer will tell you want standard of security they want.DS3 TDV6 HSE - Silver with Alpaca (old one) Gone
DS3 TDV6 HSE- Silver with Alpaca (new one) Gone
D4 HSE Lux - Montalcino Red Gone
Porsche Cayenne V8 Diesel S
27th Jun 2017 6:09 am
John C
Member Since: 28 Aug 2007
Location: East Yorkshire
Posts: 3292
Fantastic - thank you very much for all the help - much appreciated.
Sorry - I made a typo on the post - it's a 2004 (not 2014) - which I think means I don't get new for old 2020 SDV6 D5 HSE, Carpathian Grey +
2022 Tesla Model Y LR... almost Carpathian Grey
Previously : 2005 TDV6 SE Auto, Cairns Blue (288K) - ours for 16 years
27th Jun 2017 11:36 am
ratrunner
Member Since: 20 Nov 2015
Location: cotswolds
Posts: 195
kirkyworld wrote:
Having camped with 2 kids for 10 years we finally moved to a caravan almost 2 years ago. We paid £3250 for a large twin axle 5 berth Bailey with everything included. It is the best £3k I have ever spent and we had 40 nights away in the first year. I pay £26 a month to store it and £100ish a year to insure it. My family absolutely love it. It has all the advantages of camping, cooking outside, sitting outside for lunch and a glass of wine but none of the disadvantages. It sets up and packs down in a fraction of the time. We can now camp all year round too. The beds are more comfy than air beds and it is warmer at night. I can't sing the praises of a tintent enough tbh.
Totally agree !!
1st Mar 2018 8:22 am
Bluestone-Wanderer
Member Since: 21 Sep 2015
Location: Tegryn Pembrokeshire
Posts: 28
I've had dozens of caravans over the years including twin axles and fixed beds and currently have 2 on my drive.
One is a Vanmaster which is a luxurious van with every thing you could possibly want including underfloor wet central heating and an automatic satellite dish on the roof.
I also have on my drive a 2000 elddis whirlwind which is a small relatively basic 2 birth and this is used for long distance hauls and island hopping as I regulary take it on 4000 mile trips around Scotland and the lslands. Despite the luxury of the posh van I far prefer the cosiness and feel of the much older smaller van as it is far easier to tow and if I am on a single track road and meet a bus coming the other way I have no worries about throwing the car and van off the road to get out of the way. The outfit can look a little strange as the caravan is shorter than the car but it does mean that if I need to I can do a 3 point turn in a single carriageway road with the caravan on the back. The small van has also been towed up a 40 degree grass bank to pitch in the most spectacular pitch that would normally be only suitable for a small tent.West Wales Section Discovery Owners Club
West Wales Landrover Owners (Facebook group)
Red D4 SE Tech 'Rosie'
Green D2 ES Premium 'Esme'
Blue P38 DSE 'Saffi'
4 years ago we paid just under £5k for a 2003 6 berth Bailey. Only use it when with the kids (usually at a music festival) or when heading up to Scotland for the rallying. Solo stuff I tend to use canvas.
Never been a huge tin tent fan but I accept that they have advantages, especially with the kids around, we’ll probably run this one until it dies & accomodate the kids getting bigger by using a 2nd awning.
Only major disadvantages are travel speed & storage (we’re lucky enough to have the space, others pay for storage).Paul.
06 Java Black HSE - gone
12 Baltic Blue HSE - gone
15 Fuji HSE Lux
Club Biscuits, mmmm nice!
Traxide/Luna hybrid & Yellow top
Some Prospeed bits
+ some other stuff
Club N.E.R.D.s.
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