Caravan or Mobile Home?

Did you think we would be foolish enough to get drawn into this one? The choice of a mobile home or a caravan is entirely down to you, your way of life and the type of people you are.

As far as we can see, there are only two other things that matter – your budget and how you want to travel. Motor homes tend to cost more and to have the additional billing costs of running a large vehicle. The other main consideration depends on what you want to do when you arrive at your destination. So, for example, do you want to be continuously negotiating a large and awkward vehicle if you are going to stay pretty much on one caravan park? Or are you the touring type who wants to travel each day? In which case, hitching up a caravan may not be the thing for you. You might want to consider the type of road you are going to be travelling on as well. Britain has narrower and windier lanes than the continent, and this might persuade you that being able to leave your caravan on a pitch is better than negotiating bends in a mobile home.

Let’s be honest here, you are going to be conflicted between what you might want to have – a giant Winnebago which allows you to see and tour the world in comfort… -, the size of your budget and the number of people you want to sleep. You will probably spend far more time than you ought to poring over the latest models, bothering dealers and arguing amongst yourselves about the best buy. But, the truth is, most modern caravans and mobile homes are well-made, smart and carry almost anything that the serious or leisure caravanner could want.

New v’s old

New v. Old

If your choice is for a new model, then you have the reassurance of warranty and newness, which means that all the features you see in the showroom will work.

Even so, we recommend asking around amongst regular caravanners. They will enjoy making their own recommendations and offering advice about different models and the reasons they made their own choices.

If you choose to go second hand, then there are some things you should check before you make an offer:

• Check everything is functioning correctly
• Check seats, catches, fixtures and fittings
• Ask to see the water and gas systems working
• Turn lights on and off
• If the caravan is mains connected, check that it has been regularly inspected and that the inspections are up to date
• Check cupboards for sighs of damp, mould and water ingress
• Externally check for scratches and scrapes and other signs of damage
• Is the paintwork in good order
• Are grab handles secure
• Lower the corner steadies to make sure they are not bent through misuse.
• Are there any signs of metal corrosion? In particular, check underneath for signs of rust
• Check the tyres for cracks in the grooves and tyrewalls
• Ask to take the caravan for a run to make sure it is steady and that the brakes work well and smoothly

It never hurts to buy locally if you can to save a lot of travelling cost. And, if you have an experienced caravanning friend, take them with you, so you get the benefit of their questions as well as your own.

The Caravan Club has an excellent guide called “good as new” which you should read for more information.

Matching Your Caravan with Your Tow Vehicle

It would be wrong of us to recommend a particular manufacturer or type of caravan, but part of your consideration should be to think carefully about whether you have the right vehicle to tow it. Obviously, will be thinking how many berths you want, but this will be no good if you don’t have the power and reliability to tow your eventual choice.

Weight and balance are the key to a comfortable towing experience, so look into these before you make your decision and before you make your first trip.

When you are thinking about towing, you should also check that you have the right driving licence. Don’t forget that your licence will only cover you to a certain weight. This is especially important for anyone who has recently passed their test as the rules on what you can and cannot tow changed on the 19th January 2013.

The UK Government website can guide you on what you are allowed , or not allowed to tow.

A Christmas camping present

It’s nearly Christmas so probably the quietest time of year for the camper and caravanner, and we really wanted to wish you all a Happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

We are planning our New Year at the moment, so, despite the late timing, there is a lot going on. We have had glimpses of the new season products (some great ones, so keep your eyes peeled as we introduce them), but even as we launch into those, we thought we should talk to you our customers, and ask you what you particularly enjoy or want to see.

Some of the things we have planned for the blog include:

• A history of caravanning
• Walking in winter
• Things to look for when choosing a motor home
• Early spring getaways
• Your first caravan

The thing we love about camping and caravanning is just how passionate everyone is. When we talk to non-caravanning friends, we just think that they miss the point of the freedom to go where you want, and the joy of meeting and making new friends. Long may it be so. We certainly aim to up and about next year as soon as the weather starts to improve.

Let’s hope we meet, say hi and share this wonderful world of together!

When we said we were going to write about this, it sparked a really heated debate in the office. Some suggestions attracted a great deal of mockery while others were tossed back and forward like a game of ping pong while we considered which were the best. Even after we decided on our final list, the camp is split into two, the ones who think caravanning and camping should be as luxurious as possible, and the others, who think that any luxury is a waste of space and weight.

Anyway, eventually we came out with our ten best caravan accessories we thought we should share with you. It’s a mixture of the expensive and some suggestions for a few stocking filler accessories that anyone could afford to buy their Mum and Dad so that they can have the house to themselves over a weekend.

Help, here comes another missile…..

• Canopy and Awning – at least we all agreed on this one.
• Satellite dish – this really split the hardy from the members of the team who think caravanning is another way of going to the pub.
• A set of folding chairs – in summer we would agree, but for Christmas?
• A caravan heater and cooler – now you are talking, great for winter or summer and all times in between.
• A 12v kettle – we don’t care what time of year it is, there is always time for a cup of tea or coffee.
• Some hand warmers – perfect for this time of year at least and only a few £s.
• A box of bulbs and spare fuses – this idea will grow on you, because how many times have you found yourself without that spare bulb or fuse when you really needed it?
• A wind up torch – perfect for finding the more powerful torch to find out if you remembered to put in new batteries.
• A carbon monoxide alarm – to go with the fire extinguisher and blanket and other essential safety items you have already.
• A first aid kit - yes we know this makes 11 in our top ten, but you really should have one of these.

Some of the ideas we rejected? We thought you would ask, so we added them….

• Richard’s idea of “a wife” was rejected by Richard’s wife who suggested an alternative we didn’t want to get into.
• A lucky charm to protect against Steve’s driving (this was considered so essential, it was ruled out as a gift).
• A bottle opener – yes it’s essential, but we had already got to the pub (see item 2 on our real list).
• Caravan mirrors – this nearly made it, but we assumed you were sensible enough to have already bought these.
• Anti-theft wheel clamps – they might be on the top ten list of essentials, but did not seem exciting enough for a Christmas gift. (basically noone seemed to like the idea of opening a gift-wrapped version of these.
• A table and chairs – only rejected because it was winter and you could get them in the spring.

But enough of our suggestions. We wondered what you thought? Just what do you give to the caravanner who has everything already? If you need some inspiration, then you can head for our site and see what we came up with as suggestions for real Christmas gifts.

Be Prepared… Be Prepared… Be Prepared

If you are a regular winter camper, you will already know the importance of being prepared for the conditions. If you are considering it for the first time, we cannot stress how important it is to make sure you have the right equipment, clothing and food for winter conditions in Britain. They can and do kill.

In a way, the colder it is, the easier it is to be prepared. If it is a typical wet British day, the enemy is wind and rain and the difficulty of getting everything dry. If the conditions are cold, frosty and dry, this is much less of a problem. Look for areas of woodland and for caves to provide basic shelter from the elements. Don’t forget to avoid areas where there are streams close-by, or where a stream can suddenly generate in storm conditions, so choose your pitch carefully.

Here are some short suggestions for winter camping:

1. Use a tent that is fit for the conditions
2. Check where you are pitching your tent for wind and shelter
3. Make sure you have a good stove with fuel to back it up, or if you love the Ray Mears style, then make sure you can make a fire to keep you warm
4. Eat and drink plenty to keep hydrated and to ensure your energy levels are high
5. Make sure you carry emergency rations to keep you going in case of an emergency
6. Something warm to insulate you from the ground
a. Well insulated mattress
b. Blankets laid on coniferous leaves
7. Invest in the best quality sleeping bag you can afford, one designed for winter use.
8. Good lighting in the form of torches and other types of lights
9. Wear wool or synthetics rather than cotton which loses its insulating capability when it gets wet
10. Good headgear protects against loss of heat
11. Don’t be a hero… If conditions really are going to be too much, it’s better to stay somewhere warm
12. If you are going wild camping, make sure there are people who know where you are going
Food and water

Keep your body warm with plenty of carbohydrates. Hydration is just as important as it helps the body process the food you take in, so don’t skimp on either in winter when your body is going to need more calories just to survive.

A hot meal can make such a difference to the way you feel as well as your food intake, so we would recommend one pot cooking. It takes about 10 minutes to heat the water and add the ingredients for a meal which will make all the difference. There plenty of places where you can find emergency rations and food that can be cooked simply that will provide the calories you need.

Sites or wild camping

If you are going to use a camp site, then try looking in places like www.pitchup.com or www.ukcampsites.co.uk, or go the Camping and caravan Club for more advice.

Travelling in winter

TV is big on suggestions on surviving winter camping conditions, but not so good on the things you should take with you to make sure you can travel back again if you need to.

Make sure your vehicle is equipped right with good tyres, plenty of fuel, and things to keep you warm if things go wrong. Check your battery, oil and your antifreeze regularly and keep a shovel in the back where it can easily be reached. For tips on surviving winter conditions, go the RAC or AA websites and check on the things they recommend you take.

If you follow this and other sensible precautions, there is no reason why you shouldn’t enjoy the wonderful sites of Britain in winter. Have fun and good camping!

Some of us, of course, love the winter, and the prospect of a good weekend means we will be off to the few sites that stay open all the year round. (We hope to add some more content about these on another occasion). But, for the rest of us, it’s time to recognise that we have come to the end of the year and we need to think about preparing it for the winter lay-up.
Where to store your caravan

It seems obvious, but the first thing to think of is whether or not you have storage space. It is great if we can keep it at home because then we can keep an eye on things, but we don’t all have the space.

The ideal place is in a large garage or similar outbuilding as this will keep the worst of the weather off your caravan. If you need to store it outside, you should invest in a specialist winter cover to keep your tourer in top shape over the coming months.
Cleaning

Before you stow it away, you should give it a good clean, both inside and out.
Wash well and make sure you remove the cosmetic scratches and dirt from last year on the outside.

Inside, remove the remains of any food to prevent insects, mice and other rodents from taking up residence there. Check the upholstery and woodwork thoroughly for stains, scratching and marking now rather than waiting till next year comes around.
Getting ready for winter

Once your caravan is clean, then you can set about a proper winterisation.

• Once you have found your permanent winter spot, lower the four corner steadies

• It is best to jack up the caravan on to axle stands so that the wheels are not supporting the full weight over winter.

• Drain off water systems to avoid the risk of freezing in the system. You will find that most systems will have a draining plug or a screw. If not, make sure the pump is turned off and the water supply is disconnected and turn on the taps until no more water comes out of them.

• Make sure the gas system is turned off.

• Remove the leisure battery (if you have a 12v system) to preserve it over winter. If you leave it in, it will almost certainly be flat by the start of the next caravanning season. It is best kept in a cool, dry place. Charging the battery regularly helps to maintain the battery life longer – ideally every 2 weeks or so.

• Make sure that all windows and vents are closed.

• Apply all security devices (such as wheel locks, hitch locks etc…)

• Clean down everything inside, not forgetting to vacuum under the bunks and under furniture.

• Make sure you have removed all food items as these may go off and attract pests and rodents.

• Take out the bedding. Ideally these should be stored at home, but, if you lack space, then next best is on top of the bunks.

• Allow air to circulate inside by leaving cupboards and doors open wherever possible.

• Do the same for the fridge door by propping open with a towel or something similar to prevent mould from growing.

• Because of the risk of condensation, try pulling the seat bases and other upholstery items away from wall and windows. Again, if you have enough room, you can take them out and store them at home.
Periodic checks

Now that you have readied your caravan for winter, there are a few checks you can carry out from time to time to make sure everything is still ok.

If you can connect to the electric hook-up, turn the heater on periodically to circulate some warm air, but try to avoid situations which will result in condensation build-up. NEVER leave the heater on unsupervised.

Charge the leisure battery periodically to keep it topped up. It should read 13-14volts.
If the caravan isn’t jacked up, try rotating the wheels periodically to avoid flat spots on the tyres.

Keep checking for signs of damp.

If you follow this guide, your caravan should survive the winter months. Be sure to make regular checks on your caravan but you should have no trouble with it. You should also find a winterisation.

But for one night away camping do you really need all your camping equipment and camping accessories?

Cut it right down, just take the very basics to ensure that have an excellent camping weekend. Make sure you pack some spare clothes in case the glorious sunshine lets us down (as tends to happen often in Great Britain).

You will need to pack your tent, a roll out mat and a sleeping bag for the night time along with some comfy pyjamas. You may choose to pack a mini throw-away BBQ instead of the large one you usually take away with you on a camping trip. This will take up lots less room but cook your burgers just as well.

Leave the rowing boats and rock climbing stuff at home, this is a weekend away in a new place can so you have a whole weekend to take advantage of the scenery available to you, go for walks or bike rides into the countryside, maybe stop for a pub lunch on the way or a sneaky glass of wine on the way back to the tent.

Don’t worry about taking books, iPods and games consoles for the kids, instead make the most of the quality family time you have. In the evening you can snuggle up in the tent together with torches to your faces telling spooky stories – don’t make them too spooky though or you’ll never get the kids to bed!

Make sure you take your camera with you as there will be loads of great things you can take pictures of including the scenery, the erection of the tent, sunrises in the morning and sunsets in the evening.

If it’s a one night camping trip you don’t need all your camping gear, just take the very basics and you’ll still have an amazing weekend away.

You need to ensure that you have all the camping accessories you need including tent pegs, poles, ground sheet and a mallet. Stamping your tent pegs in with your feet is not a great idea and it will hurt. Most importantly, when packing up your camping equipment for your holiday – don’t forget the tent!

When you arrive at the campsite ready to start your holiday have a look at the best location, you want somewhere on flat land that isn’t on a slope or will turn into a pond if it rains. You need to think about your neighbours too. If for example you have young children you don’t want to be near a group of rowdy campers who may stay up late joking and laughing loudly when your children are trying to sleep.

You may want to take a broom with you, so when you find your pitch you can give it a quick sweep before you unload all the camping gear – this means you will not find a rock under your back at 1am when you are trying to get to sleep.

When you are erecting the tent make sure you do it as the instructions require so you don’t end up damaging the tent on breaking the poles that keep the tent together. It is really important to keep the tent taught and a good way of doing this is by pulling each corner out at far as it can be safely done and then pegging each corner one by one. Make sure you tuck the tarp under the edge of the tent too and this will help to make sure than any rain water or dew doesn’t collect under the tent.

Most campers try out their camping and caravan equipment before they go on holiday, this can be s really good way of getting used to the equipment and knowing how to use it. You may also choose to take a few extra duvets or an airbed to make sleeping more comfortable.

• Camping Table and Chairs are an excellent form of camping gear that you may want to take with you, this could be a hard surfaced top where you can prepare food, or a small table where you eat meals or play games around. It’s a good idea to look for fold up tables and chairs as these take up less space when travelling and storage in the tent.

• You may want to consider taking a torch; this is great for avoiding the tents guide ropes on dark evenings, and even finding your tent after the sun has gone down.

• Purchasing a fridge for your camping holidays is an excellent idea to help you store the basics like bacon, milk and butter – maybe a beer and a bottle of wine too?

• If you are camping in the colder weather it is definitely recommended that you look into purchasing a heater to help keep you and your family warmer on colder nights.

• You can purchase some really great camping lights for the inside of your tent, these are great for darker evenings when you are preparing the evening meals or getting changed for bed – this can be very hard to do with a handheld torch.

• Have a look at the available attachments for your tent or caravan, if you find awnings or porches attached to your holiday home can offer you lots of additional and sometimes much needed space.

It’s very important to invest wisely for caravan supplies and camping equipment for your holidays, a few well purchased accessories can make your holiday a very enjoyable and comfortable one.