Member Since: 27 Mar 2008
Location: Wirral, UK
Posts: 3067
Pictures of our first ever caravan trip!
In much nicer news from this weekend, we had our first small trip just to try out the new (to us) caravan after collecting from Gary (Rockcrawler) several weeks ago. With my wife expecting twins in just a couple of weeks, we didn't go far or do much, but I was desperate to try everything out and just have a general play really
I picked a site about 40 mins from our house, Lamb Cottage near Tarporley. It was very nice, pristene site, adults only and very quiet. A lot of rules and regulations though!
When I was getting the joining briefing off the warden he looked at the outfit and said said "Obviously it's not your first time caravanning" - I had to correct him and he said "crikey, you don't mess about do you"
Still getting used to towing such a long caravan, I worry about catching bollards at junctions and have to take quite a wide turn. But we just took things slow and steady and got there and back fine.
Arriving in the tippling rain on Friday PM
It's huuuuuuuuge
Similarly huge SWMBO crashed out
Got the TV working well - Was quite impressed with this. Didn't want to buy yet another TV so used one of my monitors from home, mini sized Youview box from Currys for £35 and my Bose speaker as a soundbar. Cricking HD picture and ace sound!
It was fun packing away all of the stuff we'd bought for it (plates, cups, etc). As I said in the thread where the van was for sale, it was immaculate and I'm still so grateful to Gary for letting us have it in such a great condition!
Rear view
Even the dog seemed impressed (despite the miserable face - that's normal)
A lovely weekend, caught some sun and just enjoyed having a play with everything, with a few Guinness in-between
JamesD4 XS, gone, much loved, never forgotten
2018 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography - Gone to someone with less sense and more time to enjoy it
2016 Toyota Hilux Invincible - Liberating experience
4th Jun 2017 4:26 pm
geoffsnook
Member Since: 13 Jun 2014
Location: south wales
Posts: 3169
Glad you enjoyed itDiscovery 3 se gone
Range rover sport supercharged here:)
Thats not a caravan but an apartment block good one Home of RLD Hidden winch mounts Spare wheel Locks Trailer Body Fabrication ray@rld-tech.co.uk D3/4 sump plates MY 14 sump plates and the Discovery Sport wheel protectors Discovery 5 wheel locks
more Helsport tents and other things for camping Law of Mechanical Repair:
"After your hands are coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch and you'll have to pee!"
Looking good bud
You will soon get used to the wardens ,some are great poeple who can't help enough,others well ,better not ,I've met a few inept ones
Now it begins with all the little bits you will pick up that you don't really need when visiting caravan accessory shops
If your lady is like mine it has to match
We have just changed vans again and it's all change again
Enjoy
4th Jun 2017 4:34 pm
ratrunner
Member Since: 20 Nov 2015
Location: cotswolds
Posts: 194
Nice Rig,caravaning gets easier the more you do it.You got a mover on the TA ? Go to France if you can, better weather than the UK.
4th Jun 2017 5:01 pm
James W
Member Since: 27 Mar 2008
Location: Wirral, UK
Posts: 3067
Hi yes it has a mover on both axles. That's the most fun bit of the trip
France is definately on the plan. But it may be too soon next year with the babies. See how we get on.D4 XS, gone, much loved, never forgotten
2018 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography - Gone to someone with less sense and more time to enjoy it
2016 Toyota Hilux Invincible - Liberating experience
4th Jun 2017 5:25 pm
geoffsnook
Member Since: 13 Jun 2014
Location: south wales
Posts: 3169
12 Weeks we took our oldest to france at with the car and van fully loaded with baby stuff got everything we needed for the fortnight in the van so no supplies needed she is now 22 and no ill effects Discovery 3 se gone
Range rover sport supercharged here:)
4th Jun 2017 5:30 pm
James W
Member Since: 27 Mar 2008
Location: Wirral, UK
Posts: 3067
Good to know
TBH it is SWMBO who I need to convince D4 XS, gone, much loved, never forgotten
2018 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography - Gone to someone with less sense and more time to enjoy it
2016 Toyota Hilux Invincible - Liberating experience
4th Jun 2017 5:41 pm
Mogwyth
Member Since: 03 Oct 2014
Location: Pwllheli
Posts: 3976
Re: Pictures of our first ever caravan trip!
James W wrote:
I picked a site about 40 mins from our house, Lamb Cottage near Tarporley. It was very nice, pristene site, adults only and very quiet.
Sounded great up until this bit:
James W wrote:
A lot of rules and regulations though!
We prefer the "find a spot, pitch up and we'll be round at some point during your stay to collect the money, otherwise stick it through the door in an envelope" approach.
James W wrote:
A lovely weekend, caught some sun and just enjoyed having a play with everything, with a few Guinness in-between
James
That's the important bit though, OH are realy sad that we didnt discover caravaning earlier in life.==================================
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
4th Jun 2017 6:06 pm
James W
Member Since: 27 Mar 2008
Location: Wirral, UK
Posts: 3067
Haha. Yes it was all very official. I wouldn't want to leave the impression they were unfriendly or anything and it's a lovely site to visit, but I'm with you on that one. I like the low-key approach. For example we had to officially book in two visitors (my in-laws drove out for a coffee and to see the caravan) and felt they weren't too happy about it.
To be honest I picked the site based on Google earth reconnaissance to find somewhere with wide open roadways and spaces as I was worried about maneuvering the van with the curtain twitchers watching D4 XS, gone, much loved, never forgotten
2018 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography - Gone to someone with less sense and more time to enjoy it
2016 Toyota Hilux Invincible - Liberating experience
4th Jun 2017 6:21 pm
Mogwyth
Member Since: 03 Oct 2014
Location: Pwllheli
Posts: 3976
Join one of the clubs and uses their small sites licensed sites generally much more laid back and often very cheap, we were at one last week in Shropshire alright basic facilities but then we have a toilet and shower on board, why rent when you have already brought one but it was only £9 a night including electricity.
You'll soon get used to the size, ours is as big as yours and we are quite happy taking it down single track lanes and far tracks.==================================
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
4th Jun 2017 6:45 pm
Andy Foster
Member Since: 27 Dec 2009
Location: Liverpool
Posts: 6551
Looking good James
When we went for the 1st time we went to Delamere again only 40 minutes away. Will swap stories with you and tell you where we go with ours at our next meet. Which reminds me I'll have to look into when the pub opens again.
AndyD4 MY15 SE TECH
D3 gone but never forgotten.
4th Jun 2017 6:48 pm
James W
Member Since: 27 Mar 2008
Location: Wirral, UK
Posts: 3067
Good advice thanks and £9 a night sounds much better than £27 a night!
Any recommendations on clubs to join?D4 XS, gone, much loved, never forgotten
2018 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography - Gone to someone with less sense and more time to enjoy it
2016 Toyota Hilux Invincible - Liberating experience
4th Jun 2017 6:49 pm
Mogwyth
Member Since: 03 Oct 2014
Location: Pwllheli
Posts: 3976
Choice is really between Caravan and Camping Club and The Caravan and Motorhome Club (formerly The Caravan Club), not a lot to choose between them, we are with the former due to other family members belonging, many belong to both and we may go that route. Most we pay is £18 a night.==================================
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
4th Jun 2017 6:56 pm
Andy Foster
Member Since: 27 Dec 2009
Location: Liverpool
Posts: 6551
James W wrote:
Good advice thanks and £9 a night sounds much better than £27 a night!
Any recommendations on clubs to join?
Riverside in Betws y Coed is a nice site and easy to get to. Also Stockgate in The Lakes just outside Keswick in Braithwaite is another good one. Plus the village pubs are spot on D4 MY15 SE TECH
D3 gone but never forgotten.
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