First Trip
This story happened on: 03/03/2014
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Well having bought the caravan last month and studied up on everything we took the van for its maiden voyage at the weekend, thoroughly enjoyed it and looking forward to our next trip.
It was my first time towing anything so I was very nervous, but by the time we got home im a bit more confident, had a few problems at first leaving my street, trying to manouevere the outfit and the caravan brakes were locking up while reversing, something I need to check before our next trip.
Also wasnt expecting as much pitching movement from the van after bumps in the road, is there normally quite a bit? and is it anything to do with the way the van is loaded?
Its a 1993 Swift Cappuccino so its only around 800-900 fully loaded and the cars a Mondeo weighing in at 1400kg, Its got an aks2000 stabiliser fitted which im guessing could probably do with replacement friction pads.
My biggest fear whilst towing was that the van was going to break free somehow, amazes me that such a weight is held by such a small point of contact.
We picked the closest site to us, Durham Grange as we had been before with family and its so easy to get to for us, and as ever really nice site.
Took around an hour to reverse into the pitch with the missus giving hand signals that were only visible in the blind spots of the five mirrors but damned if I was going to get out and handball the van onto the pitch.
If my neighbours had enjoyed my driving then they were going to love the awning errection, a good 2-3 hours of cursing and head shaking during the course of which I tripped over and ripped the pin off the zip for the main door, im hoping I can fix this somehow, The time spent putting it up was mainly due to the fact that it was my first time, I have no instructions for it and the previous owner had done such a great job of colour co-ordinating the poles you would need an enigma machine to decypher the patterns, maybes he was colour blind, heck maybes im colour blind, Im hoping to at least shave an hour off the time next time or invest in one of those new air awnings!
Definitely need a wheel arch cover, we have the skirts but that draught through the wheel arch is crazy!
Another fear in the van was using the carver 1800 gas space heater, somehow doesnt seem right having a gas flame underneath a big wooden box, im presuming theyre pretty safe right?
Had a good laugh at the waste disposal point emptying the toilet, I`d read about leaving the spout cap away from the disposal point so it doesnt fall in but why oh why did nobody mention the little flap on the top????
Im sure the neighbours were also amused the next morning as I located the screw to drain the hot water tank having read somewhere that it can be as much as 12 kilos of water to lug back home. Please beware that this water is under pressure and pretty hot to boot, luckily mine had cooled enough to just be funny to anyone watching.
Overall a nice night away from it all and a good fact finding session on what we need for future trips which include
More rockpegs!!!
Wheel arch cover
Waste pipe hose for bathroom, (why couldnt they just put the outlets near eachother?)
Replacement cap for wastemaster (Apologies for the trail of water back to pitch 11, I didnt notice till my return)
Filler hose for aquaroll (cracking invention got a little heavy holding it under the tap though)
New lid flap thingy for thetford
Tool for changing my water filter
Probably going to have another short trip to the Grange wit the inlaws to test their new van out (I hope to god he has instructions for the awning) before heading to Vale Of Picking site for Easter.
Apologies if this is in the wrong forum, Im still learning
No it's not in the wrong forum and it was a good story, very entertaining to read and you did well on your first trip! Hope you have lots more happy vanning times ahead (you'll be able to enjoy watching the in laws with their awning but at least you can help each other!)
brue
Motorhomer