Bought our first caravan

Sweety · 31-05-2015, 17:27

Well at long last we have bought our first caravan a 2007 2 birth Bailey Ranger

it's going to be a huge learning curve as never towed a caravan before

My parents gave up caravaning a few years ago due to health reasons but they kept their awnings, aqua roll, waste master, towing mirrors etc which they are giving to us

Picking up the van on the 12th of June

Sweety · 31-05-2015, 17:28

side shot

Lazy-Ferret · 31-05-2015, 17:55

Nice one.... it's pretty easy, 50% logic, 40% common sense, and 10% patience.

Only down side with having a caravan is now your weekends are going to be really busy, what with working on the truck, you now have the caravan to work on, as well as trying to actually get away on some of those weekends.

zippy656 · 31-05-2015, 18:02

Looks good.

Few caravaners on here.

Not sure what they tow with though.

Lazy-Ferret · 31-05-2015, 18:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by zippy656

Looks good.

Few caravaners on here.

Not sure what they tow with though.

Well, it's not a wing and a prayer like a lot of people tow with.

Sweety · 31-05-2015, 18:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazy-Ferret

Nice one.... it's pretty easy, 50% logic, 40% common sense, and 10% patience.

Only down side with having a caravan is now your weekends are going to be really busy, what with working on the truck, you now have the caravan to work on, as well as trying to actually get away on some of those weekends.

I have the time Clive as i'm on permanent sick due to health & being classed as disabled. We normally went away camping during the week as sites are quieter & whiny kids are at school so the weekends should still be free for the truck

The van hasn't got a stereo fitted so that might be on the to do list but i'm thinking of adding some LED strip lights for a bit of mood lighting in the van probably purple as that's my wife's favourite colour

One thing is for sure we'll be able to get away more often & over a longer period as won't have a tent to dry out

normally we would have been away a couple of times by now but the wet weather has stopped us

jims-terrano · 31-05-2015, 18:38

Nice! Wish we still had a van but probably be wasted now as we dont have much spare time these days.

Banshee · 31-05-2015, 18:47

Only caravans I've ever owned have been picked up for £50 and have had no windows in

I picked one up last week and flogged it for £150.... easy money

Blocky10 · 31-05-2015, 20:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweety

I have the time Clive as i'm on permanent sick due to health & being classed as disabled. We normally went away camping during the week as sites are quieter & whiny kids are at school so the weekends should still be free for the truck

The van hasn't got a stereo fitted so that might be on the to do list but i'm thinking of adding some LED strip lights for a bit of mood lighting in the van probably purple as that's my wife's favourite colour

One thing is for sure we'll be able to get away more often & over a longer period as won't have a tent to dry out

normally we would have been away a couple of times by now but the wet weather has stopped us

Looks a tidy van.
Only uncovered ours this week after winter lay up!

Sweety · 31-05-2015, 21:22

Cheers for the tips guy's

@nemofish2000 Bought a new Alko tow ball today as the tow ball i've got on the truck is just a standard one but it's badly worn so needed replacing anyway

My parents have 3 awnings for us to try but TBH even the porch awning they have should be big enough for us as it'll give roughly the same amount of room as we had in the living room part of our tent which was comfortable

@firebobby my parents who caravaned for years have told be to keep the awning & anything else heavy over the axle which makes sense as you want the centre of gravity as low as poss
@Lazy-Ferret cheers i'll have a look for it

Alko recommend using brake cleaner so did so as i've got some
One thing I like about this van is the weight as fully loaded it's 1131kg

Blocky10 · 25-06-2015, 22:50

Quality. Enjoy. Going far?

Sweety · 25-06-2015, 23:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blocky10

Quality. Enjoy. Going far?

Going about 45mins North of us to Belford in Northumberland where we've been camping in the past as it's a nice quiet site & not far from the coast plus we know a few green lanes in the area so may do a couple depending on what the weather has/is like

Blocky10 · 26-06-2015, 11:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweety

Going about 45mins North of us to Belford in Northumberland where we've been camping in the past as it's a nice quiet site & not far from the coast plus we know a few green lanes in the area so may do a couple depending on what the weather has/is like

The furthest I've towed to is Oswaldkirk. Would like to try further north though. The missus fancy a look at the Beamish museum, so 1 day.

Paff · 26-06-2015, 12:03

I assume that the place you bought it from has serviced the van and checked over the gas bits for safety?

31-05-2015, 18:47	#8
Banshee Moderator Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: West Midlands Vehicle: 04 2.7 SWB Terrano II Van Posts: 13,526	Only caravans I've ever owned have been picked up for £50 and have had no windows in I picked one up last week and flogged it for £150.... easy money __________________ Moderator 04' Terrano II SE 2.7 TDi SWB Commercial in Silver - Project Thread Toyo Open Country M/T 33's on 10J Steels, Super Strong Steering Job Navara D22 Snorkel, Front LOKKA, Maunal Hubs, EGR Blank TunitII ECU Chip, 3" Body Lift, 2" Suss Lift, Heat Exchanger Black Interior, 3.0 Borg&Beck Clutch, Eckes Heated Fuel Filter 99' Y61 Patrol GR SE 2.8 TD6 LWB in Blue/Silver - Project Thread Engine Transplant - In Progress!!!

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31-05-2015, 17:55	#3
Lazy-Ferret Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Sevenoaks, Kent Vehicle: Terrano 2.7TDi SE Touring Posts: 5,221	Nice one.... it's pretty easy, 50% logic, 40% common sense, and 10% patience. Only down side with having a caravan is now your weekends are going to be really busy, what with working on the truck, you now have the caravan to work on, as well as trying to actually get away on some of those weekends.

31-05-2015, 18:02	#4
zippy656 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Devizes Wiltshire Vehicle: Nissan Note Ntec 1.5 Posts: 14,137	Looks good. Few caravaners on here. Not sure what they tow with though.

31-05-2015, 18:38	#7
jims-terrano Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: UK Posts: 12,965	Nice! Wish we still had a van but probably be wasted now as we dont have much spare time these days.

31-05-2015, 21:22	#10
Sweety Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Northumberland Vehicle: Terrano 2.7TDI SE LWB Posts: 3,604	Cheers for the tips guy's @nemofish2000 Bought a new Alko tow ball today as the tow ball i've got on the truck is just a standard one but it's badly worn so needed replacing anyway My parents have 3 awnings for us to try but TBH even the porch awning they have should be big enough for us as it'll give roughly the same amount of room as we had in the living room part of our tent which was comfortable @firebobby my parents who caravaned for years have told be to keep the awning & anything else heavy over the axle which makes sense as you want the centre of gravity as low as poss @Lazy-Ferret cheers i'll have a look for it Alko recommend using brake cleaner so did so as i've got some One thing I like about this van is the weight as fully loaded it's 1131kg

25-06-2015, 22:50	#11
Blocky10 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Welcome to Norwich, a fine city Vehicle: 2004 Terrano 3.0 SVE Auto Posts: 3,601	Quality. Enjoy. Going far?

26-06-2015, 12:03	#14
Paff Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Just north of Ipswich, Suffolk Vehicle: Terrano II 2.7 SE+ Auto Posts: 1,094	I assume that the place you bought it from has serviced the van and checked over the gas bits for safety?