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

firebobby · 31-05-2015, 19:39

Just make sure anything heavy...awning etc is be kept on the floor over the axle, tyre pressures are correct and keep the speed steady. I try not to overtake going down hills on motorways, I wait until I'm on the flat or going up hill.

nemofish2000 · 31-05-2015, 19:54

AS already said take it easy, 1 thing i would advise is make sure you get tyron bands fitted, ive had a blow out at 60mph and and it aint pretty but as the terranos are a good heavy truck i got away with it. Also a decent awning is a god send and can double your space.. Enjoy. Also noticed you have an alko stabiliser hitch fitted make sure you have the correct ball hitch fitted to allow it to work correctly and dont forget NO GREASE.

Lazy-Ferret · 31-05-2015, 20:13

Either Lidl or Aldi, I never remember which, do a great acetone based spray degreaser, for cleaning bike chains, White can, black writing and red cap. I keep a can of that plus a couple of rags to clean the ball before I hitch the van up, as I often have to tow trailers with normal greasy hitches.

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

zippy656 · 31-05-2015, 21:33

Any questions just ask.

See my sig...

newfy · 31-05-2015, 21:38

Hi I am relatively new to caravans myself going into my 3 rd season
You will soon get into the swing of it. Most of it is straight forward
All I would say is every time I hitch up I use the jockey wheel and
Wind it down and watch the rear of the car going up that way you
Are sure its 100% locked on
That's really what's important all the rest will come
The more you go out the easier it will get

31-05-2015, 18:47	#8
Banshee Moderator Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: West Midlands Vehicle: 04 2.7 SWB Terrano II Van Posts: 13,525	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!!!

31-05-2015, 21:38	#15
newfy Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Scotland Vehicle: Nissan terrano regulus Posts: 43	Nice caravan Hi I am relatively new to caravans myself going into my 3 rd season You will soon get into the swing of it. Most of it is straight forward All I would say is every time I hitch up I use the jockey wheel and Wind it down and watch the rear of the car going up that way you Are sure its 100% locked on That's really what's important all the rest will come The more you go out the easier it will get

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: 14,136	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, 19:39	#9
firebobby Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: South Bucks Vehicle: Terrano 3.0 SVE 2005 Posts: 3,499	Just make sure anything heavy...awning etc is be kept on the floor over the axle, tyre pressures are correct and keep the speed steady. I try not to overtake going down hills on motorways, I wait until I'm on the flat or going up hill.

31-05-2015, 19:54	#10
nemofish2000 Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: cumbria Vehicle: terrano 3.0 sve Posts: 96	AS already said take it easy, 1 thing i would advise is make sure you get tyron bands fitted, ive had a blow out at 60mph and and it aint pretty but as the terranos are a good heavy truck i got away with it. Also a decent awning is a god send and can double your space.. Enjoy. Also noticed you have an alko stabiliser hitch fitted make sure you have the correct ball hitch fitted to allow it to work correctly and dont forget NO GREASE.

31-05-2015, 20:13	#11
Lazy-Ferret Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Sevenoaks, Kent Vehicle: Terrano 2.7TDi SE Touring Posts: 5,221	Either Lidl or Aldi, I never remember which, do a great acetone based spray degreaser, for cleaning bike chains, White can, black writing and red cap. I keep a can of that plus a couple of rags to clean the ball before I hitch the van up, as I often have to tow trailers with normal greasy hitches.

31-05-2015, 21:22	#13
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

31-05-2015, 21:33	#14
zippy656 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Devizes Wiltshire Vehicle: Nissan Note Ntec 1.5 Posts: 14,136	Any questions just ask. See my sig...