Startup kit recommendations for rookies

Thanks again, we couldn't secure a Club site nearby, so its a small local site. The laundry pod idea is intriguing we'll look it up!

Any idea how we find awning size (haven't got the manual yet) I know its 1022 but not sure what that means for sizing!

Hope this might help.  Measure from the ground, along the awning channel and down to the ground again.

https://www.awnings.co.uk/awning-size-guide.html

You need a whistling kettle that you heat on the stove, wouldnt be caravanning without 1

Spirit Level, you don't want to roll out of bed.

I have had experience of dealers supplying 10 metre mains cables, bargain for or purchase 25 metre, you will need it.

Put a label conveniently in the car with the height of your van, and the total length of car and caravan, and watch out for height barriers on supermarket car parks. (I nearly went into a multi-storey car park with a roof boot on the car, thanks frantically waving French gent for saving embarrassment. Although I would probably have remembered if the caravan had been on the hook.

Maybe).

"Any idea how we find awning size (haven't got the manual yet) I know its 1022 but not sure what that means for sizing!"

You don't have to have a full size awning unless you particularly want one. A 'porch' awning is anything less than a full size one and can be anything from a very small one that just goes over the door to massive ones - over 4m long and sometimes 3m deep and even then, some makes offer the facility to have a zip-on annexe, making it even bigger! Depends on the size of your van.

You need to measure how much 'straight' awning rail you have (along the top of the van) and then work out what size is best going to suit you, bearing in mind it's best to avoid the edge of the awning going over a window.

Then go to a dealers and look at some erected and see what suits you.  There are those that favour air awnings (like me!) and those that hate them but this is a whole new debate and perhaps best left for later once you've got used to the van.

Good luck.

1022 is the length from ground, along awning rail and back to ground at other end of the van. 10.220 metres, otherwise known as size 15.

That is for what is known as a full awning, which has to be correct to fit. An alternative to the full one, is what is called a porch awning, which only attach to the caravan's awning rail along the roof and simply hang at the sides - usually sealed by pads and perhaps poles. 

The porch ones tend to be lighter, a little easier to put up and cheaper, though they do not cover an entire side of the van, so not as spacious. The 'not made to fit' usually means you can retain the same awning should you later change the van.

The porch come as both supported by pole versions and now the newer blow up type, where air bladders replace the need for poles.    

Before you go down the full awning route ,do you rally need one? they can be heavy ,especially air awnings do not rush into getting one until you have used you van a couple of times, we manage very well now with just a canopy

OK for the fine weather and when the rain falls straight down, but no so good when even a light wind gets up. On our last trip they had an open canopy behind us and left it up for the day as they went out. A bit of wind and the supporting poles fell, the canopy then flipped over the van, risking damaging the awning rail. We both got soaked rushing out to salvage things before there was any damage.

Sounds like lack of proper pegging down, but different makes stand up to wind differently.

We had a Fiamma roll out for many years, was quite surprising how well it did in winds when well secured.

We now have a Sunncamp Swift 390 canopy with integral sides, it is also good in winds.

I have no idea of the make, it just slotted into the rail, then a couple of spiked poles to support the front. The wind was such that it lifted it off the spikes, ripped the guys out and then just flipped.