My First Ever Caravan Towing Holiday

[TONUP]

Well after buying a caravan last October (1400kg Single Axle Bailey) and the Terrano a month before to tow it I can honestly say I don't have any regrets. I loved my Peugeot 406 and tent, but there is no comparison in the levels of comfort offered, Just getting back from a long weekend in Somerset, which was only a 75 mile journey from my home I thought I would share a few observations... in no particular order and just for fun!!

• The thought of towing a caravan is a lot more worrying than actually doing it. The caravan didn't wave about like a puppy dogs tail and it will fit on normal A Roads without any problems.
  
• The Terrano 2 went like a dream. Cruising a 60mph was no problem and changing down from fifth for motorway hills was largely avoided. Obviously fuel consumtion was changed. I reckon I got something in the low 20's I.e from full to just above three quarters for the 75 mile journey.
  
• Electric Hook Ups are essential in the winter and I think probably in the summer.
  
• You'd be amazed how much water two of us and three dogs got through. I filled the 40 litre aquaroll at least twice a day. Same for the empting the Wastemaster thingy. I still don't know if I'd pay the extra for a premium pitch though.
  
• Awnings are hard to put up ... hopefully the first time only
  
• Emptying the toilet cassette seemed to be my job, but wasn't that bad or smelly.
  
• Other caravanners are really helpful.
  
• Reversing on to the pitch was a nightmare and something I need to practice. I hope it will get easier in time.
  
• Having hot water on tap, a table to eat at, somewhere conmfortable to sit and complete weather protection is great. Also toilet close to hand for the night time seems like a real luxury, especially after camping.

All in all I can say I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next trip.

Regards

Alan

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

reversing comes with practice but its alway easier if its a right hand curve that
way you can see down side of car and van, even pro truck drivers will support
this where left hand'blind' reversing takes more skill / confidence.

The caravan club say reverse upto peg which is in middle of van and pitch. ok
was easier when peg was offside rae corner but at most few feet out now. so
either move post, lay it down as saves knocking down with van or get someone
to stand where you want the rear right hand corner of van to be.

 

[zippy656]

join the caravan club. they do causes worth doing. ot borrow a LITTLE trailer, if you can back up with a trailer you can Just about see a caravan is seay.


also drop into 4wd low, its so slow in 1st grear you can nearly get out and look at whats happening without stopping the car.

 

[dinky]

Place hands on bottom of wheel when reversing,whichever way you feed the wheel is the way the rear of the van goes.Best thing i got was attachment for 18v drill to fit nut on legs.Qyuicker to put up or down in rain.Enjoy:thumbs

 

[zippy656]

Place hands on bottom of wheel when reversing,whichever way you feed the wheel is the way the rear of the van goes.Best thing i got was attachment for 18v drill to fit nut on legs.Qyuicker to put up or down in rain.Enjoy:thumbs

i do that too,

but get the kids to drop the legs.. even better in the rain!

 

[Paul]

Place hands on bottom of wheel when reversing,whichever way you feed the wheel is the way the rear of the van goes.

Dinky showed me this way to get our van where we wanted to put it, first time we meet up last year. Works great.:thumb2

 

[scubadude]

We've had a caravan for a while now and towed with a Renault Laguna, can't wait for the first trip out and see how we get on with the Terrano.

We started with a tent when some friends of ours invited us out for a camping trip. We packed up our 4-man tent and off we went. During the weekend my mother called and said there was a tent show locally, off we went and had a look and ended up buying a 14-man dome tent!! Cut a long story short we used the new tent twice and then bought a caravan!! No looking back now and we really enjoy the life.

 

[TONUP]

Thanks guys,

Some nice tips there especially the reversing and leg dropping.

Regards

Alan

 

[tezzer]

something to check tonup, in the gas locker you will find rubber gas hose, check it or better still mchange it, i bought a van from a dealer and went away, in the morning, no gas to cook eggs and bacon,:doh, on checking pipe was split and drained through vent hole in bottom. there another thing dont cover the vents. enjoy your caravan. i hope you have a bbq <a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZSfox000%2526i%253D36%252F36%255F1%255F72%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_72.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D36%252F36_1_72%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a>







tezzer

 

[lacroupade]

We've had a caravan for a while now and towed with a Renault Laguna, can't wait for the first trip out and see how we get on with the Terrano.

We started with a tent when some friends of ours invited us out for a camping trip. We packed up our 4-man tent and off we went. During the weekend my mother called and said there was a tent show locally, off we went and had a look and ended up buying a 14-man dome tent!! Cut a long story short we used the new tent twice and then bought a caravan!! No looking back now and we really enjoy the life.

14 men in a tent? sounds a bit gay! LOL

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

14 men in a tent? sounds a bit gay! LOL

YMCA,.....Scouting for boys??? in cub scouts we had 6 man tents, well boys..
double and a bit must be some tent...?

 

[scubadude]

it was!!! also a pain in the backside to put up hence why we ended up with a caravan. Great tent though.

 

[BigBlack]

Yer, buying a massive tent always seems a good idea - till you and the missus need to try put it up alone, after a long journey, with whinning kids round your feet and in a strong breeze!!!! :augie