First time caravanner

What have you already got? 

To be honest I’m not sure as we don’t collect the caravan till Friday 17th May. It comes with a starter pack also we got a air awning and mover. 

Thanks

What is in the starter pack and how long are you away for?

A few things to think about?  Is there a leisure battery? Do you have cutlery, plates etc and saucepans?  Loo chemicals?  I use elson organic which does top and bottom tanks. Don't forget food etc.  Bedding/ Towels?  Take a few tools.  Enjoy and come back with any queries.

As much as its tempting to buy stuff at the dealers accessory shop, its often better value elsewhere.

Cutlery, crockery, pots & pans.

If you have an Ikea near or en route to the dealer they do a product range called Oftast which is tempered glass. Lightweight and only 50p per unit as opposed to caravanning corolla at £100s

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/collections/oftast/

Similarly cutlery, kitchen knives and utensils. etc.

Pans - lightweight ceramic sets are available for peanuts eg 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cream-Cookware-Set-Fry-Pan-Sausepan-Glass-Lid-Non-Stick-Ceramic-Cooking-Meal-7Pc/392214274662?hash=item5b51cae266:g:W-gAAOSw11BcOu77

Mugs, drink 'glasses' (plastic), wine glasses, beer glasses

Bedding - sheets and duvets with pillows. from home until you decide if you want specific bedding.

Towels, washcloths, tea towels.

Low wattage toaster.

Washing up bowl as you may use on site facilities. Washing up liquid.

Whistling kettle, if you have a electric ring on the hob use that when on EHU (Hook Up)

Bottle opener.

Assume the starter pack has water container and waste water container, flexi pipe for waste water to container, loo chemicals (pink for flush, blue for cartridge) Loo roll for chemical loo. Hook up cable, Leisure battery. Mallet for awning pegs. Spirit level. Gas bottle.

Sense of humour.

Let the wardens know you are virgins. People will help on site.

Enjoy

If you are going on hardstanding, take steel/rock pegs and a lump hammer.  Probably not a good idea it rely on the pegs with the awning - it does vary, but sometimes they can be very poor.

You may need to get a full gas cylinder (get the red bottle), and check to make sure the caravan has a leisure battery.

Will you need a BBQ, a separate table for the awning/ outside and some chairs for the awning/ outside?  If you are there for any length of time and need to wash clothes, a bucket is useful as is a fold down rotary washing line.

Something to store rubbish/ waste?  Some sites are into recycling (we often use these bags - see below)

Carry heavy items in the car to avoid travelling with an 'overweight caravan' - it is easy to overload.  (look at your MRO and MTPLM)  Whenever I take anything these days, I always go for the lightest options.

Hope this helps a little.

David

Welcome to the forum. The things listed look more or less everything but if any minor things are missing you can usually get them on site although we do not know the one you have chosen.

We use Tesco big green bags or similar from other stores to pack clothes as they can be fitted into spaces more solid things will not go. They also work for getting the food and other items in so that they can be flattened once empty and reused when you get home.

Good luck with your first trip and do remember caravanners are usually happy to help if you have a problem.

Don't take too much for your first trip, manage with the essentials and see how it goes! Makes sure you have good working torches if you need to check things outside in the dark or walk anywhere (head torches are handy.)

Have a great time, it will be fun, let us know how you get on and how you lived to tell the tale. 

Don't buy special toilet paper, supermarket cheapish stuff is just fine.

Ikea is great for kitchen stuff, but if you do decide to buy new stuff for the van, do not get pots that are too  lightweight as the food will burn easily.

Folding chairs for outside - it can get claustrophobic and cramped inside a van with a family! I'll upset some by saying TV/DVD combo (from Argos or Tesco etc) - it will keep the cherubs occupied in inclement weather!